Miglin's body was found on the floor of the garage behind his home, but there were questions as to whether Miglin was actually killed in the garage. Miglin was killed in the garage on May 3, 1997 by serial killer Andrew Cunanan. But in published reports, Miglin's family has consistently maintained there was no connection between Miglin and Cunanan. Certainly any sexual relationship was not an angle the police gave much credence to, at least publicly. The red Jeep he drove to Chicago was found parked two blocks from the developers house. Kate Middleton Makes the Case for Houndstooth, Prince William & Kate Middleton Visit Wales, Courteney Cox Hasn't Read Prince Harry's Memoir, Historic Photos of King George VI's Coronation. ''He went out in the afternoons and late evening,'' William J. Esposito, the bureau's deputy director, said at a Washington news conference, per the New York Times. Miglin's family said the same, releasing the following statement after Cunanan's suicide: "(The car) was taken by a complete stranger in a random act of violence who had no connection whatsoever to any member of the Miglin family.". The only evidence there is points toward Cunanan killing Miglin for his car and his money, even if that means there is a lot left unexplained about the murder itself. Wednesday evening, police sources said the proximity of the Jeep to Miglin's Gold Coast townhouse remained the only concrete clue to link Cunanan to the Chicago slaying.. Morrell's source said in that garage, Miglin was nearly decapitated with a pair of five-foot-long pruning shears, which were recovered in the garage. Former U.S. naval officer Jeffrey Trail had become friends with Cunanan in San Diego in 1991, while Trail was stationed there. But a day after Miglin's body was found, it still remained a mystery who had killed him. The episode opens with Miglins wife, Marilyn (the always excellent Judith Light), promoting her fragrance Pheromone on the Home Shopping Network. The Chicago Tribune also reported in 2018 that the couple was married for 38 years in 1997 and had two children. Emma Dibdin is a freelance writer based in Los Angeles who writes about culture, mental health, and true crime. He left no suicide note or explanation for his crimes. But some bizarre details about the crime scene began to emerge. He was described as an upbeat, fun-loving, compassionate man. ''He was a very visible person, not a recluse, not a shut-in.'' But that's just one theory. The drama introduces a note of ritual humiliation, with Cunanan telling Miglin that when his body is found he will be wearing ladies underwear and surrounded by gay porn magazines. He had been shot in the head, and his red pickup truck was gone, replaced by a green Lexus with Illinois platesthe same one Cunanan stole from Miglins garage. Jim Edgar event: A week before Lee Miglins death, Marilyn Miglin (played by Transparent star Judith Light) is shown praising her husband at a fundraiser for Jim Edgar, who served as Illinois governor from 1991-99. After murdering Miglin in his garage, Cunanan went into the family's home, ate a ham sandwich, shaved and rested. Robert Milan, who worked for the State's Attorney's office at the time, told ABC-7 that he believes Miglin was a crime of opportunity for Cunanan. Miglin was not so lucky. The investigation into Versaces murder ended July 23, 1997 eight days after the designers death when Cunanan apparently shot himself to death on a boat house, about two miles away from Versaces house in Miami Beach. Every product on this page was chosen by a Harper's BAZAAR editor. Cunanan's third murder in a spree that spanned Minneapolis to Miami was not immediately linked to him by authorities. In a 2017 interview with ABC7, the local Chicago affiliate, Duke denied that he or his father ever knew Cunanan. Versace had a longtime boyfriend, Antonio DAmico. According to Orth's report, a friend of Cunanan's had told the FBI that Cunanan had said he was going to start a movie set business with a friend. All Rights Reserved. He stole Miglin's care and got a head start on what became a nearly. He killed William Reese, a 45-year-old. All rights reserved. "It's a painful, painful thing that's happening," said Duke Miglin, Lee Miglin's son. Miami Beach Chief of Police Richard Barreto said later that night that a caretaker had heard gunshots in the houseboat and had called police. The series, which premiered Jan. 17, is slated for a nine-episode run. Cunanan would later try to pawn one of Miglin's coins in Miami prior to his murder of Versace. Separate fact from fiction with this timeline of Cunanans real-life murders. Miglin's daughter, Marlena Miglin, is now going through a bitter divorce from Tim Egan, 2nd Ward Democratic . Marilyn Miglin, who was married to Lee for 38 years, has remained relatively silent on the death of her husband. As ACS executive producer Simpson said, no one will ever know what happened in the moments leading up to Miglin's murder. Andrew Cunanan, left, and Darren Criss as Andrew Cunanan, Lee Miglin, left, and Mike Farrell as Lee Miglin, John Reilly/Sygma/Sygma via Getty Images and FX, Marilyn Miglin, left, and Judith Light as Marilyn Miglin, the family denied that the two knew each other, evidence that the person or persons did in fact avail themselves of food at the victims home and was walking around the apartment, Advocate writer Ted Gideonse disputes this, Robert Milan, a former assistant states attorney for Cook County, told ABC News, a Chicago bookseller repeated them to the Minneapolis Star-Tribune. The Cook County Medical Examiner's office said his clothes were saturated in blood, but the area around him was clean suggesting that his body may have been moved. CHICAGO (CBS) -- On May 4, 1997 - 25 years ago Wednesday - Chicago real estate magnate Lee Miglin was found brutally murdered under a car in the garage of his Gold Coast mansion. "No place and no one is immune from violence, yet tonight, we begin with a murder nearly as disturbing from where it happened as it is for who the victim was," Holt read at the top of the newscast. He killed William Reese, a 45-year-old cemetery worker in New Jersey, less than a week later. All Rights Reserved. "We always wanted to be very careful; even though there were blanks to fill in, we tried really hard to fill them in with what we believed to be true and framed through the larger themes. I am an advocate of Edgar from way back, Lee Miglin told Crains Chicago Business in 1994. "It was built by my father. Miglin proudly shows Cunanan the plans for his dream project, the Sky Needle, that at 125 stories was to be the tallest building in the world. Cunanan would then travel to Miami before shooting Gianni Versace on the front steps of his mansion on July 15, 1997. Earlier the same day, he'd gotten a haircut at Cote d'Or Coiffures, 40 E. Oak St. "He was in a very good mood," said Cote d'Or owner Delores Kimmel. Miglin's black Lexus was found abandoned in a New Jersey cemetery, near the body of cemetery caretaker, William Reese, Cunanan's fourth victim. After taking the life of the one of the world's most famous fashion designers of the time, serial killer Andrew Cunanan was on the run. Despite Miglin's wife and their son Duke vehemently denying any previous connection between Cunanan and Miglin, reports from several people indicate Miglin and Cunanan may have been involved on a romantic or even sexual level, according to ABC7Chicago. Brad Edwards is an investigative reporter and main anchor at CBS2 Chicago. Andrew was thrilled and Eli couldn't believe it. [RELATED: 'American Crime Story' revisits the Chicago murder of Lee Miglin], [A look at the Chicago TV and film projects set to premiere in 2018], [Taraji P. Henson producing, starring in film about Emmett Till], Darren Criss, left, plays con artist Andrew Cunanan and Mike Farrell plays Chicago real estate tycoon Lee Miglin on "American Crime Story: The Assassination of Gianni Versace., Lee Miglin told Crains Chicago Business in 1994, have long denied Lee Miglin and Cunanan knew each other, RELATED: 'American Crime Story' revisits the Chicago murder of Lee Miglin, A look at the Chicago TV and film projects set to premiere in 2018, Taraji P. Henson producing, starring in film about Emmett Till, Photos: Chicago cop shot, left very critical on Southwest Side, Colson Montgomery, the Chicago White Soxs top prospect, is taking it all in during major-league camp, Chicago mayor runoff begins with mutual attacks: Brandon Johnson would destroy economy; Paul Vallas failed everywhere he has gone, Do Not Sell/Share My Personal Information. Man With 'Interest in Killing Black People' Charged With Terrorism After Attempted Train Attack, The Secret History of the Shadow Campaign That Saved the 2020 Election. We may earn commission from links on this page, but we only recommend products we back. The Sky Needle is grounded in fact (the project was on track until 1990, when financing collapsed), though the portrayal of Miglin showing the drawings to Cunanan is probably entirely invented. Miglins family has consistently and vigorously denied that Leeor his 25-year-old son Duke, a rising actor whose name Cunanan had reportedly dropped to friendshad ever met Cunanan. Notably, Miglin and his business partner, J. Paul Beitler, unveiled plans in 1988 for the Miglin-Beitler Skyneedle, a skyscraper that would have risen 15 stories taller than the Sears Tower to become the new tallest building in the world. Cunanan didnt leave a note when he killed himself in July 1997, and Wednesdays episode relies heavily on alleged dialogue between Cunanan and Lee Miglin. As told by the FX series, Miglin was a closeted, 72-year-old real estate magnate who paid for Cunanan's services as a gigolo while his wife (played by Judith Light) was out of town. After starting his career as a door-to-door salesman and then broker, Miglin became a successful real estate developer. That is pure speculation, however, as is the scenario presented in The Assassination of Gianni Versace. A night later, it remained a mystery who had so brutally murdered Miglin. I have wanted to share this with you for a long time, but never had the chance, Lee Miglin is shown saying to Cunanan as he divulges his plans for the Skyneedle, which at 1,952 feet and 125 stories would be the tallest building in the world. I promise you, this will happen, Miglin tells Cunanan. Season 2 of .css-gegin5{-webkit-text-decoration:underline;text-decoration:underline;text-decoration-thickness:0.0625rem;text-decoration-color:inherit;text-underline-offset:0.25rem;color:#9a0500;-webkit-transition:all 0.3s ease-in-out;transition:all 0.3s ease-in-out;}.css-gegin5:hover{color:#595959;text-decoration-color:border-link-body-hover;}American Crime Story: The Assassination of Gianni Versace delves into the slaying of world-renowned fashion designer Gianni Versace outside of his Miami Beach mansion on July 15, 1997. The murder comes when Cunanan leads Miglin to the garage under the guise that they are going out together somewhere and then Cunanan proceeds to kill Miglin in the garage. Dirty dishes in the kitchen and beard stubble in the bathroom sink were Marilyn's next clues that something was amiss. The perpetrator stole $2,000 and some of Miglin's personal items. Police believed Miglin had been murdered between 2 p.m. and 5 p.m. the day before. The FBI also reported there had been sightings of Cunanan in the Palm Beach and Miami areas in the weeks prior. Police officers are later shown examining Miglins bloody body, which was surrounded by male pornographic magazines. Madsons body is found on the shore of Rush Lake in Minnesota. "He asked me if I would be willing to talk to my sister about helping him settle his divorce proceedings. Kate Recreated a Past Outfit for St. David's Day, American Crime Story: The Assassination of Gianni Versace, shooting Gianni Versace on the front steps of his mansion, Your Privacy Choices: Opt Out of Sale/Targeted Ads. An open pint of chocolate ice cream and a Coke can are shown on the kitchen counter. And in its 2017 article on Duke Miglin, ABC7 also noted, "The FBI looked into a few claims that Cunanan knew Miglin or his family, but no link was ever nailed down.". CBS News Correspondent Dave Fehling reported the house was about two and a half miles from the Versace villa, but only blocks from the Normandy Hotel, where Cunanan was known to have been staying. According to an article in Newsweek from May 1997, Miglin was found in his garage with stab wounds, and his throat slashed with a gardener's bow saw, his feet constrained, and his head covered in tape. What truly happened remains a mystery to this day, but Gregg McCrary, former supervisory special agent of the FBI's Behavioral Sciences Unit, told Vanity Fair that he thinks the possibility of Miglin's murder being random is unlikely. Miglin, however, strongly disputed this, telling ABC there was no relationship whatsoever. The 27-year-old Cunanan committed four other murders in a nationwide spree before killing Versace in Miami in July 1997. Daisy Jones & The Six Is A Nostalgic Series Based On A Best-Selling Book, The 'Ted Lasso' Season 3 Trailer Is Finally Here & Fellas, It'll Give You Goosebumps, '1923' Will Deliver More Dutton Family Drama In Season 2 Of The 'Yellowstone' Prequel, 'Yellowjackets' Season 3 Is Officially Happening, What Parents Are Talking About Delivered Straight To Your Inbox, By subscribing to this BDG newsletter, you agree to our. Heres what to know about suspected serial killer Andrew Cunanan: Hours after Versaces shooting death, authorities identified Andrew Cunanan as the prime suspect. What American Crime Story Makes Up About Lee Miglin's Horrific Murder, American Crime Story The Assassination Of Gianni Versace. The book includes more details about the crime scene and the conditions in which Miglin's body was found, Vanity Fair noted. From hair trends to relationship advice, our daily newsletter has everything you need to sound like a person whos on TikTok, even if you arent. Chicago was the setting for most of Wednesdays episode of "American Crime Story: The Assassination of Gianni Versace. The FX series follows Andrew Cunanan (played by Darren Criss) as he fatally stabs Chicago real estate tycoon Lee Miglin (MASH alum Mike Farrell) in May 1997 as part of a killing spree that also claimed Versace, a noted fashion designer. Authorities believe Cunanan targeted Reese so that he could steal his truck. In an emailed statement to The Chicago Sun-Times, American Crime Story executive producer Brad Simpson said: Bustle reached out to FX and the network declined to give additional comment. The Assassination of Gianni Versace writer Tom Rob Smith and producer Ryan Murphy based the series on a book by veteran Vanity Fair writer Maureen Orth, who reported extensively on the case before writing Vulgar Favors: Andrew Cunanan, Gianni Versace, and the Largest Failed Manhunt in US History. After the first two murders, Andrew Cunanan left for Chicago, and in less than a week's time, on May 3, the wealthy 72-year-old property developer Lee Miglin's body was discovered in his house . .css-o05pt{display:block;font-family:Didot,Didot-fallback,Georgia,Times,serif;font-weight:normal;letter-spacing:0rem;margin-bottom:0;margin-top:0;-webkit-text-decoration:none;text-decoration:none;text-shadow:0 0 0 #000,0 0 0.01em transparent;}@media (any-hover: hover){.css-o05pt:hover{color:link-hover;}}@media(max-width: 48rem){.css-o05pt{font-size:1.18581rem;line-height:1.2;margin-bottom:0.25rem;margin-top:0.625rem;}}@media(min-width: 40.625rem){.css-o05pt{line-height:1.2;}}@media(min-width: 48rem){.css-o05pt{font-size:1.23488rem;line-height:1.2;margin-bottom:0.5rem;margin-top:0rem;}}@media(min-width: 64rem){.css-o05pt{font-size:1.39461rem;line-height:1.2;margin-top:0.9375rem;}}45 of the Best Disney Movies of All Time, 35 Classic Photos from the Academy Awards, 46 of the Coolest Set Photos in Movie History, 'Last of Us' Star Pedro Pascal Posts Upsetting IG, Everything to Know About the 95th Academy Awards, Storm Reid Knows How to Create Heartbreaking TV, Believe It: 'Ted Lasso' Returns This March, Ashley Park Joins 'Only Murders in the Building', Carrie & Aidan Go on a Beach Date in New Set Pics, Sam Smith Is Joining 'And Just Like That' S2. 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