“There were screams, there were screams.” Those …
“There were screams, there were screams.” Those …
“There were screams, there were screams.” Those were the chilling words witnesses reported hearing moments after the failed home break-in involving Jackson Gilmour in Rye led to a murder. The case has now taken a shocking turn with a crucial legal development. But one detail investigators can’t ignore is the Ring doorbell camera at the house, which captured the final moments before everything changed… 
The quiet coastal enclave of Rye, nestled on Victoria’s picturesque Mornington Peninsula, is widely recognized as a premier holiday destination, celebrated for its serene beaches, upscale tourist rentals, and peaceful seaside ambiance. However, this idyllic reputation was violently shattered during the late-night hours of Monday, December 2, 2024, when a targeted, chaotic home invasion culminated in a double fatality that sent shockwaves through the local community. Emergency services and tactical police units rushed to a residential property on Parson Street following reports of multiple gunshots echoing through the neighborhood. Upon arrival, first responders discovered a scene of absolute devastation: 29-year-old Jackson Gilmour and an accompanying teenage girl had both sustained catastrophic, fatal gunshot wounds.
The immediate aftermath of the double shooting was marked by a high-stakes manhunt as the perpetrators fled the coastal area into the night, leaving behind a community gripped by fear. In the initial stages of the investigation, Victoria Police treated the incident as a cold-blooded double homicide, tracking the physical and digital trails of the suspects who had orchestrated the botched break-in. Neighbors and witnesses near the Parson Street property recounted a night of sheer terror, detailing the sound of forced entry followed by a succession of deafening blasts. Yet, the most chilling piece of immediate evidence did not come from ballistic forensic teams, but from the words of the attackers themselves, captured by ears in the vicinity just moments after the triggers were pulled.
THE CHILLING APARTMENT CONFESSION: “I F***ING MURDERED SOMEONE”
As the tactical investigation deepened, detectives focused heavily on the immediate behavioral patterns of the suspects following their flight from the Rye crime scene. In a sequence of events later detailed in criminal depositions, it was revealed that the gravity of the shooting had immediate, unravelling psychological effects on the perpetrators. Within a brief window of time following the fatal confrontation on Parson Street, local ears overheard a panicked, breathless admission that would become a foundational pillar of the prosecution’s initial case.
Moments after fleeing the home invasion, one of the primary actors was documented uttering the harrowing, expletive-laden words to an associate:
“I f*ing murdered someone.”
The raw panic captured in that chilling post-crime admission underscored the chaotic nature of the botched invasion, providing the police with clear insight into the state of mind of the attackers. Armed with witness statements detailing this spontaneous confession, homicide squad detectives rapidly closed the dragnet, ultimately arresting and processing 25-year-old Mason Matticoli and 30-year-old Tyler Van De Steeg. Both men were initially hit with maximum criminal counts, including double murder charges, as the state prepared for a high-profile, protracted trial in the Victorian Supreme Court. For over a year and a half, the legal narrative remained fixed around a calculated, intentional double execution—until a legal bombshell completely subverted the case.
THE LEGAL BOMBSHELL: THE MURDER CHARGES COLLAPSE
On Monday, June 29, 2026, the Victorian Supreme Court became the stage for a sensational and unexpected legal turnaround that fundamentally altered the trajectory of the prosecution. In a development that caught public onlookers entirely by surprise, the crown prosecution confirmed that a comprehensive plea agreement had been reached, effectively resulting in the total collapse of the original murder charges.
Instead of proceeding to trial on charges of intentional murder, Mason Matticoli and Tyler Van De Steeg stood before the Supreme Court justice and formally entered guilty pleas to the significantly downgraded charge of manslaughter. Simultaneously, a third co-accused individual involved in the broader conspiracy, identified as an associate named Smit, entered a guilty plea to a single charge of arson relating to the destruction of getaway infrastructure used during the crime.
This legal bombshell indicated a massive shift in how the state viewed the mechanics of the Parson Street encounter. Legal analysts note that manslaughter pleas in the context of a armed home invasion typically signify that while the deployment of lethal force was inherently unlawful and criminally negligent, the evidentiary thresholds required to prove absolute, premeditated intent to execute the victims beyond a reasonable doubt had become compromised or complicated by the specific, chaotic dynamics of the struggle inside the home. Despite the legal downgrade, the emotional weight inside the courtroom remained overwhelming as the court moved directly into emotional plea and sentencing hearings.
A MOTHER’S COMPASSION: “HOPE IS THE ONLY REASON I CAN STAND HERE”
The legal resolution of the case paved the way for the reading of profoundly moving victim impact statements, during which the family of Jackson Gilmour chose to confront his killers not with unbridled fury, but with an extraordinary display of grace and human compassion. The public gallery and judicial benches were packed to capacity with loved ones as four separate statements were read aloud, painting a vivid picture of a young man who was deeply loved despite his personal complexities.
Jackson’s mother, Kim Male, took the stand and looked directly into the eyes of the two men responsible for her son’s untimely death. As Tyler Van De Steeg openly wiped away tears and Mason Matticoli stared straight ahead from the dock, Ms. Male delivered a statement that stunned the courtroom with its focus on forgiveness and rehabilitation:
“Hope is the only reason I can stand here today. It is the reason I can say to the young men responsible… I offer you compassion.”
Ms. Male’s willingness to extend mercy to the young men responsible for fracturing her family stood as a defining moment of the proceedings. Rather than demanding the absolute maximum punitive destruction of their lives, she expressed a profound desire that both Matticoli and Van De Steeg would utilize their upcoming time behind bars to reform their characters, actively turning away from the anti-social criminal networks that led them to the doorstep in Rye.
THE LEGACY OF A BIG BROTHER
Following the mother’s powerful address, Jackson’s younger brother, Sam Male, also addressed the Supreme Court, offering a grounded and deeply honest reflection on his brother’s life and struggles. Sam openly acknowledged to the court that Jackson was far from a perfect individual, hinting at the complex lifestyle and personal vulnerabilities that routinely cross paths with home invasions and targeted disputes.
However, Sam emphasized that his brother’s flaws did not diminish his inherent human worth or the profound love he possessed for his family.
