André becomes suspicious when Stefano disappears and eventually finds his body in a construction site. The site is set for demolition, and collapses on André, who survives with a lacerated cheek wound. André becomes convinced that Hope murdered Stefano. He befriends Aiden's son Chase, and uses him to plant a bomb in Hope's place. Hope and Rafe frame André for Stefano's murder, and he is sent to prison until he convinces Aiden to get him released from prison. State being released, André tries to kill Rafe and Hope by rigging an old farmhouse to explode with them in it. but they survive. André forms a tentative alliance with Aiden to get Justin fired as the district attorney, and Aiden replaces him as the district attorney until he leaves town. André also forms a mutual beneficial partnership with Kate that evolves into a friendship as Kate encourages André to become a better man. André helps Chad capture Clyde when he escapes from prison, and he and Chad slowly start to bond. Soon after, André publicly outs for Hope killing Stefano and she is sent to prison where she meets Hattie Adams, whom André had previously romanced and framed for embezzlement. Abby returns to town, having been presumed dead for a few months. It is revealed that André had helped Abby fake her death and hide out with her grandmother, Laura. Because of that, Abby care to rely on André and often came to his defense.