Murder Of Gianni Versace

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The murder of fashion designer Gianni Versace committed by Andrew Philip Cunanan was one of the most publicized murders. Versace was one of the most original fashion designers of the 20th century; he startled the world with his clothes. Years of designing for the theater earned him a respectable reputation in the fashion industry, but it was his collaborations with American photographer Richard Avedon that helped Gianni Versace become one of the world's most influential designers. His 1982 collection introduced metallic garments that would become his trademark and his elaborate stage costumes for Elton John in the late '80s helped cement his reputation as one of the “beautiful people”. At the time of his murder in 1997, Versace had an extensive empire that included boutiques, fragrances, and household products. He was shot to death outside his Miami Beach home, making him the last victim in the killing spree of fugitive Andrew Cunanan (BookRags Staff, 2005). Versace was shot dead on July 15, 1997, aged 50, on the steps of his Miami Beach mansion as he returned from his customary morning walk on Ocean Drive. His murderer Cunanan was a serial killer who had committed four other murders. Cunanan murdered five people, including Gianni Versace, in a cross-country journey during a three-month period in 1997 (Brown, 2000). According to an article in The Washington Post, after killing four people Cunanan went to Miami Beach, Florida.” While there he hid in plain sight for two months between his fourth and fifth murders. He went out mostly to gay nightclubs, and made little attempt to disguise his appearance. He even used his own name to pawn a stolen item, knowing that police routinely check pawn shop records for stolen merchandise. Finally, Cunanan murdered fashion designer Gianni Versace, on July 15, 1997 (Russakoff & Suro, The Washington Post, 1997).

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