Spree killers make homicide a full-time job. To some, the suspect brings to mind spree killer Christopher Wilder, a handsome race-car driver who killed a string of fashion models in 1984. Serial or spree, the hallmark of the multiple murderer, experts say, is selfishness. Cunanan's point, if he is guilty, is the subject of wide speculation. In Versace, experts surmise, the suspect may have seen an icon of the gay community.
Some experts believe serial murder, in whatever variety, is on the rise.
And those killers can be surprisingly competitive. Once they are captured, they're very interested in where they stand. As local and federal agents swarmed over South Florida in a massive manhunt, the likelihood of a deadly repeat performance sent chills through gay communities nationwide. The edginess could be felt from New York's Hamptons, where Cunanan was seen circulating last summer, to the suspect's hometown of San Diego, where his former roommate is under FBI protection. Officials advise caution in straight communities as well.