Who was Andrew Cunanan? Everything You Need to Know

Quick Facts

Also Known As: Andrew Phillip Cunanan

Died At Age: 27

Family:

Spouse/Ex-: Mary Anne Schillaci

father: Modesto Cunanan

mother: Mary Anne Schillaci

siblings: Christopher Cunanan, Elena Cunanan, Regina Cunanan

Born Country: United States

Serial Killers American Men

Died on: July 23, 1997

place of death: Miami Beach, Florida, United States

More Facts

education: University Of California, San Diego

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1

What was the motive behind Andrew Cunanan's killing spree?

Andrew Cunanan's motive for his killing spree was believed to be a combination of jealousy, anger, and a desire for attention and notoriety.
2

What was the final outcome of Andrew Cunanan's crime spree?

Andrew Cunanan committed suicide on July 23, 1997, by shooting himself in the head on a houseboat in Miami Beach, Florida.
3

What was Andrew Cunanan's background and upbringing like?

Andrew Cunanan grew up in a middle-class family in San Diego, California. He was described as intelligent but also manipulative and prone to lying from a young age.
4

How did Andrew Cunanan manage to evade law enforcement for so long during his killing spree?

Andrew Cunanan was able to evade law enforcement for an extended period by constantly changing his appearance, using aliases, and staying on the move, making it difficult for authorities to track him down.
5

What were some of the key factors that may have contributed to Andrew Cunanan's violent behavior?

Several factors have been suggested to have contributed to Andrew Cunanan's violent behavior, including possible mental health issues, a sense of entitlement, and a desire for power and control over others.

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Childhood & Early Life

He was born on August 31, 1969, in National City, California, USA, to Modesto Cunanan, a U.S. Navy serviceman, who later became a stockbroker, and his wife, Mary Anne Schillaci. He was the youngest of the four children in his family.

His father, who was conscious of his reputation in the society, was a Filipino American, while his mother, a religious woman, was an Italian American. His parents often engaged in fights which made him very upset during his childhood.

He attended the prestigious ‘Bishop’s School’ in the La Jolla neighborhood of San Diego, California. He was a brilliant student with the IQ of a genius and often talked about having a bright future ahead of him. He was fluent in speaking seven languages.

In 1987, he graduated from school and enrolled at the ‘University of California, San Diego,’ to pursue major in American history, but later opted out of it.

When he was 19, his father abandoned the family to avoid arrest for committing fraud. The same year, his mother found out about his homosexuality, leading to a heated argument that ended with an act of his madness. He pushed his mother against a wall which dislocated her shoulder.

Later examination of his behavior indicated that he might have suffered from antisocial personality disorder, characterized by a lack of remorse and empathy.

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Offences and Incarceration

After opting out of college, he settled down in San Francisco’s Castro District. He became a male prostitute, targeting wealthy older men and also started committing thefts to provide for his drug addiction. He was also obsessed with violent pornography and also featured in some films.

His appearance changed over the years and he became an insecure and aggressive person. Most of the older wealthy men and his lovers left him and he exhibited symptoms of having AIDS, although it was later confirmed that he was HIV negative. Slowly, he turned into a maniac which eventually gave rise to his murderous instinct.

In 1997, he committed his first murder by killing one of his former lovers, Jeff Trail. It is believed that he became certain of the fact that Jeff was having an affair behind his back with an architect named David Madson, who was Cunanan’s former lover. He confronted both of them and while they tried to convince him of their loyalty, he was overpowered by anger and smashed Jeff’s head with a hammer and left his body rolled in a rug in a loft apartment belonging to David Madson.

After some days, he shot Madson in the countryside with Jeff’s gun which he had stolen. His body was recovered from the east shore of the Rush Lake near Minnesota with gunshot wounds to his head. Police also recovered Jeff’s body from Madson’s apartment and was able to make out a connection between the two murders.

His third victim was a 72-year-old real estate developer of Chicago, Lee Miglin. He tortured him brutally and took his vehicle after running him over with it.

He reached Pennsville, New Jersey, and shot his fourth victim, a 45-year-old caretaker, William Reese, and took his truck. After committing his fourth murder, he reached Miami Beach, Florida and hid himself for two months in a hotel.

He claimed his fifth and most well-known victim, Gianni Versace, the world famous fashion designer, by shooting him down with the same gun he used to kill Madson and Reese. This murder made him notorious and pressurized the police to arrest him.

Eight days after committing his fifth murder, he was located in a houseboat in the Miami-beach harbor and the police surrounded his houseboat. Unable to run away and unwilling to be caught at the hands of police, he pulled the trigger of the gun on himself and ended his miserable life.

Cunanan's cremated remains were interred in the mausoleum at ‘Holy Cross Cemetery’ in San Diego.

Major Crimes

He was found guilty of committing five murders; three of them shot with a gun, one of them bashed with a hammer, and another one stabbed in the chest after being brutally tortured. He knew three of his victims beforehand. It is assumed that he committed these murders out of jealousy, anger, necessity, or enjoyment.

Personal Life

He was a popular student and a self-proclaimed gay. He also earned the reputation of being a prolific liar among his friends. He also possessed the ability to change his appearances according to the situation.

He died by committing suicide on July 23, 1997.

Facts About Andrew Cunanan

Andrew Cunanan was known to have an impressive memory and could recite entire episodes of popular TV shows verbatim.

Cunanan had a keen interest in fashion and was often praised for his impeccable sense of style.

Despite his troubled past, Cunanan was considered quite charming and charismatic by those who knew him.

Cunanan was multilingual and could speak several languages fluently, including Italian and Tagalog.

Before his criminal activities, Cunanan was known to be a talented writer and had aspirations of becoming a successful author.

Andrew Cunanan Biography

You wanted to know

What was the motive behind Andrew Cunanan's killing spree?

What was the final outcome of Andrew Cunanan's crime spree?

What was Andrew Cunanan's background and upbringing like?

How did Andrew Cunanan manage to evade law enforcement for so long during his killing spree?

What were some of the key factors that may have contributed to Andrew Cunanan's violent behavior?