Amdrew Cunanan's Deadly Spree

America's Most Wanted first profiled Andrew Cunanan in May 1997.  At the time, he was the prime suspect in the murder of Chicago real estate developer Lee Miglin; cops believed that Cunanan and Miglin had never met and offered the theory that Miglin interrupted Cunanan during the burglary of his multi-million dollar estate on Chicago' ritzy Gold Coast.

The Miglin murder was a grisly one.  Cops say Cunanan sawed Miglin's neck, stabbed, and bound him; he had most likely been tortured for hours.  Cunanan then helped himself to a ham sandwich, an apple, $2,000 in cash and some of Miglin's personal possessions.  Cops soon tied Cunanan to two other murders in the weeks prior. 

On April 24, 1997, Cunanan held a going away party for himself in his native San Diego, Calif.  The proposed move was to San Francisco, but first he told friends that he was headed to Minneapolis to take care of some business.  On April 29, 1997, one of Cunanan's friends, 28-year-old Jeffrey Trail, was found dead in a missing man's loft apartment. According to authorities, 33-year-old David Madson had been missing for two days.  He was one of Cunanan's former lovers, and police believe he may have been killed when he found out about Trail's murder. On May 3, 1997, Madson's body was found in an abandoned farm an hour north of Minneapolis.

After Madson's death, cops believe Cunanan took Madson's red Jeep Cherokee to Chicago.  On May 5, 1994, it was discovered in Lee Miglin's neighborhood.  The 72-year-old real estate developer had been killed the day before. 

By May 7, 1997, Andrew Cunanan was wanted for three murders.  Police were able to partially track Cunanan through Miglin's car phone.  Cunanan's next stop was New Jersey at Finn's Point National Cemetery.  Police believe that the 27-year-old murder suspect not only needed to swap vehicles, he also needed a place to dump Miglin's body. 

Unfortunately, 45-year-old cemetery caretaker William Reese paid the price for Cunanan's arrival, found shot dead in the cemetery's office basement.  Miglin's Lexus was found not far from the cemetery and missing from the scene was Reeses' red Chevrolet pickup truck.  Cunanan had slipped by, and once again, with deadly consequences.

Andrew Cunanan's Endgame In Miami

After New Jersey, Cunanan headed to Miami Beach, Fla.  It would be there that Cunanan would kill fashion designer Gianni Versace on the front steps of his mansion on July 15, 1997. 

The murder of Versace would shock the world and intensify the manhunt for Cunanan.  Near Versace's home, William Reeses' stolen red pickup truck was discovered in a parking garage.  In the days following the murder, tips flooded in to the AMW hotline placing Cunanan in locations across the country, but specifically in Miami.  Cops even found out that Cunanan had pawned a gold coin stolen from Lee Miglin's residence at a Miami pawn shop. 

On July 23, 1997, a caretaker reported to police that he heard a single gunshot coming from inside a two story Miami Beach houseboat.

The boat was docked a mere two-and-a-half miles from Versace's home.  Police and the FBI responded to the scene and an intense four hour standoff began as the whole world watched as the international media surrounded the scene.

After several volleys of tear gas, authorities moved in and discovered the body of Andrew Cunanan.  The suspected murderer had killed himself with a self-inflicted gun shot to the head.  By his side was the .40 caliber pistol that police say was used to kill Madson and Reese.

The reign of terror started by 27-year-old Andrew Cunanan had ended.

Cunanan's Suicide Ends The Murderer's Manhunt

On July 23, 1997, Miami Beach police confirmed that the body of Andrew Cunanan was discovered on a house boat.  The 27-year-old suspected serial killer was killed from a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head.

Shortly before 4 p.m., a caretaker reported to police that he had heard a single gunshot coming from inside the 2-story houseboat -- docked 2 1/2 miles away from where Cunanan's last victim, Gianni Versace, was killed.  The police and FBI responded and set up a perimeter around the boat. 

After a four hour standoff and multiple unsuccessful attempts to contact anyone inside the houseboat, authorities volleyed several rounds of tear gas before moving in.  Once inside, cops discovered the body of Andrew Cunanan.  Cunanan's death marks the end of a three month manhunt during which police believe he was responsible for the deaths of five men: David Madson, Jeffrey Trail, Lee Miglin, William Reese, and Gianni Versace.  The gun found near Cunanan's body was a .40 caliber pistol that police believe was the weapon used to kill Reese, Madson, and the renowned fashion designer.