But in 1997, especially in those first few days, even the most basic of questions—had Cunanan ever met Versace, what was his relationship to the owner of the houseboat where he was found dead, did he have HIV/AIDS (he didn’t), why did he kill five people in three months, why did he kill Versace, did he kill Versace—abounded.

The youngest of four children and a native of National City, Calif., in true made-for-TV fashion Cunanan was handsome, well-groomed, witty, intelligent and cultivated, in the sense that he schooled himself in the finer things in life so that he would be ready to immerse himself in those finer things when his time came—and he hobnobbed just enough with the upper crust to make his stories of living the jet-set life believable. He certainly knew who Versace was but, though they’re said to have crossed paths about seven years before the murders, there’s no evidence that he ever particularly registered in the super-star designer’s consciousness.

In essence, it is a matter of “if…” Patricia HighsmithIn 1955, the story hadn’t been written. The Talented Mister Ripley could’ve been inspired by Andrew Cunanan. But at the end of the day, he didn’t look like someone you would see on the street, or even at your door, and be afraid of.

At some point in 1996, he moved out of the home of a wealthy La Jolla businessman, whom he sometimes accompanied to social events, where he’d been living for about a year. Although no one knows what caused his move to another address, it doesn’t appear that Cunanan was the cause.

Cunanan, who was then a friend of his father’s, told them he would be moving to San Francisco. He had previously lived in San Francisco for a while after dropping out from college. But he wanted to fly to Minnesota first to settle some business.