On a beautiful South Beach morning on July 15, 1997, world famous fashion designer Gianni Versace left his opulent mansion and walked to a nearby cafe.
When he returned, a serial killer was waiting.

Photo by Miami Herald
Gianni Versace’s murder was the biggest case in Miami Beach history. I was off when I got the call to come in and help with the investigation and manhunt. On my way in, I couldn’t help but think this had to be a Mafia hit. Nobody got shot on Ocean Drive on a Tuesday morning, we barely had any crime there.  Soon I found out it wasn’t a Mafia hit and when I  was told who his killer was, I couldn’t help but think this murder could have been prevented.
ANDREW CUNANAN
I first heard of the killer a couple of weeks before Versace was murdered. I was briefly assigned to a Federal Agency helping them search for subjects who had active arrest warrants.
An Agent approached me and asked for some help. He was searching for a fugitive who had killed 4 people across the country. He briefed me on the killings, and told  me the killer’s name was Andrew Cunanan.
Andrew Cunanan, 28, was born in San Diego  He was good looking and intelligent, with an IQ of 147. Cunanan moved to the Castro district in San Francisco where he worked as a part time gay gigolo. He liked to hustle older, wealthy gay men for money so he could live a lavish lifestyle. Cunanan sought fame and bragged about his exploits. Those who really knew him, though, saw a pathological liar with a violent streak.
THE SERIAL KILLER
Andrew Cunanan began to unravel in late Apr 1997 when he flew to Minneapolis, MN to visit his ex boyfriend David Madson and friend Jeff Trail.
On April 29th, just a few days after Cunanan arrived, he and David Madson beat Jeff Trail to death with a hammer. He had to be identified by his ankle tattoo.
Cunanan and Madson had disappeared.  Four days later, on May 3rd, David Madson’s body was found by Rush Lake near Rush City, Minnesota. Cunanan shot Madson with a .40 cal handgun in the eye, head, & back.
The following day, on May 4th, 71 year old Lee Miglin’s body was discovered in the garage of his home in Chicago. Andrew Cunanan tortured Miglin and cut his throat. Cunanan stole thousands in cash, clothing and rare coins, then drove away in Miglin’s dark-green Lexus.
Cunanan hid out in New York until May 8th when he drove to the Philadelphia area.  Cunanan and the stolen Lexus description were broadcast on the radio.
The next day, Andrew Cunanan exited the highway in Pennsville, New Jersey and drove to a nearby Civil War cemetary. He entered the caretaker’s building and located the caretaker, William Reese, and shot him in the head. Cunanan killed Reese for his bright-red 1995 Chevy pick up truck.
Andrew Cunanan had killed 4 people in 11 days.

CUNANAN IN SOUTH FLORIDA
After the Agent briefed me about the murders I knew Cunanan was a serial killer and would kill again. The Agent told me his information was that Cunanan was hiding out in Fort Lauderdale, part of a secret gay organization that involved matching gay, rich men with younger gay Gigolos. The Agent needed to find information about the organization, then he could capture Cunanan.
He asked that I introduce him to Miami Beach Police Officers who were active in the Gay community.
We drove to Miami Beach and met with a gay female officer. She was active in the community, but had not heard of the organization Cunanan was supposed to be part of. She called others in the community, but they hadn’t either.
The Officer asked for a Cunanan wanted flier so she could reach out to gay establishments on Miami Beach. She told the Agent “if Cunanan is gay in Fort Lauderdale, he will eventually make his way to Miami Beach”.