STILL A MYSTERY
Versace’s death, 20 years on
A NEW TELEVISION SERIES RECOUNTS THE BELOVED DESIGNER’S HORRIFIC MURDER
It was not so much a whodunnit, but a why did he do it? And two decades after serial killer Andrew Cunanan shot Gianni Versace dead on the steps of his Miami home, nobody still really knows why the popular fashion designer was targeted.
July 15 was the 20th anniversary of the killing that rocked not just the fashion industry but the whole world. The Italian designer, known for his exuberant couture-meets-rock ‘n’ roll-style, was much loved by a host of celebrities, from Princess Diana and Sir Elton John through to Sting and Naomi Campbell.
They were among the mourners at his funeral in Milan on July 22, 1997, while back in the US, police were frantically hunting the callous killer who had walked up behind Gianni (50) and put a gun to his head.
Two days after Gianni was farewelled, Cunanan (27) killed himself on board the houseboat where he’d been hiding. Police found no suicide note or anything else that would shed a light on why he had embarked on a killing spree.
“I don’t know that we are ever going to know the answers,” said Miami Beach police chief Richard Barreto.
Some of the theories behind why Gianni was killed will be explored in the televison series American Crime Story: The Assassination of G ian ni Versace, which is due to air next year.
The series stars Venezuelan actor Edgar Ramirez ( The Girl on the Train) as Gianni, singer Ricky Martin as his partner, model Antonio D’Amico, Penélope Cruz as his sister Donatella Versace and Glee’s Darren Criss as Andrew Cunanan.
Parts of the show have been filmed at Casa Casuarina, Gianni’s luxury 10-bedroom Italian palazzo-style mansion in South Beach, Miami.
The designer had just arrived home after walking to a local café to buy coffee and magazines, and was unlocking the wrought iron gates when Cunanan shot him in the face and neck at point blank range.
Bystanders rushed to Gianni’s aid, but he couldn’t be helped. One eye witness tried to chase Cunanan, who strolled away after the murder, but lost him in a crowd of tourists.
Within three hours, Miami police realised the man they were looking for was Cunanan, who was already on the FBI’s wanted list. In previous weeks, he had murdered four other men in a cross-country killing spree.
A male prostitute, who was well-known in San Francisco’s gay party scene, Cunanan had travelled to Minnesota where he used a hammer to bludgeon to death a good friend, Jeffrey Trail. His next victim was a former lover, David Madson, who was shot.
Cunanan then went to Chicago, where he killed real estate tycoon Lee Miglin, slashing his throat with a saw. The millionaire’s family were adamant the two had never met but later reports suggested they had known each other through another male prostitute.
Victim number four was a New Jersey cemetery groundskeeper, William Reese, who appears to have been killed so that Cunanan could steal his pick-up truck, which he used to drive to Miami.
He was there for several weeks before killing Gianni. According to a VanityFair article, the pair had crossed paths seven years earlier at a nightclub in San Francisco. Gianni appeared to recognise Cunanan that night and asked if they’d met at Lake Como in Italy. Cunanan thanked him for remembering.
FBI investigators believe the San Francisco encounter “most likely” happened but found no evidence that they had ever met in Italy. One theory is that Gianni was mistaken and Cunanan played along.
Before embarking on his murderous rampage, Cunanan told pals that if he was ever diagnosed with Aids or HIV, he would go on a “five-state killing spree and take everyone with me I could”.
Initially, this was thought to be the motive for the murders, but was discounted after the autopsy revealed that Cunanan did not have the virus.
Donatella Versace has her own ideas about why he killed her brother.
“He must have wanted to be remembered, like a star. Gianni was a celebrity and he attracted the world of Hollywood and music. When someone is well-known, they become a target. That’s just the way it is.”