American Crime Story season 2, episode 4 questions: Who were the real David Madson and Jeffrey Trail?
By Sandy C.
Who were Jeffrey Trail and David Madson? And why were they really targeted? Did the fourth episode of American Crime Story season two feature facts or fiction?
Missed tonight’s episode? Spoilers ahead!
The latest episode of The Assassination of Gianni Versace: American Crime Story, “House By The Lake,” features the murder of Andrew Cunanan’s first victims — Jeffrey Trail and David Madson. In the series, it’s pretty clear why spree killer Cunanan murders Trail and Madson. Jealousy and rage over not getting what he wants drove Cunanan mad and, as he tells Madson, “lost control.” Cunanan appears a bit too comfortable with his crime, not at all bothered to have blood splattered all over his face and body, and moving Trail’s dead body as if it were simply a bag of trash sitting in his way.
We’ve done the research to bring you the facts! What really happened according to police records and what was fabricated by Ryan Murphy to create the second season of American Crime Story…
“House By The Lake” takes us back to Cunanan’s first two victims. Jeffrey Trail and David Madson really were Cunanan’s first murders, and the three really did know each other.
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Jeffrey Trail
Trail, a graduate of the Naval Academy, was 28-years-old at the time of his murder. According to a news article from Vanity Fair, Trail and Cunanan were very close friends, but never romantically involved, so says Trail’s family. Others, however, claim that Trail and Cunanan briefly dated and remained close friends after. He was found dead just as portrayed in the series, beaten to death by approximately 25 blows to the head with a hammer, his body wrapped in a carpet behind Madson’s couch in his apartment.
David Madson
Madson, an architect for the John Ryan Company, was 33-years-old when he was murdered by Cunanan. The two dated for almost a year after meeting each other in San Francisco in 1995. Madson did really have a dog named Prints and drove a red jeep. Friends recall Cunanan telling them that David Madson is the love of his life.
Next: Rest easy, ACS fans, Cunanan didn’t kill that sweet dog
The Murders
Soon after the breakup, Cunanan learned that Trail had moved to Minneapolis, where Madson resided, sparking jealousy. A voice message recovered by police from Trail’s phone is of Cunanan asking Trail to visit him at Madson’s apartment. Neighbors reported loud noises coming from Madson’s home that night.
A week later, Madson’s body was found on the shore of East Rush Lake with several shots in the back and the head. The gun Cunanan used was stolen from Jeffrey Trail.
Thanks to all the police evidence and witness reports, this is Versace: American Crime Story‘s most factual episode. After Madson’s murder, Cunanan goes on to kill Lee Miglin. But instead of taking us back to the present, ACS will go further back in time next week. Episode five, “Don’t Ask Don’t Tell,” will explore Jeffrey Trail and how he met Cunanan.
The Assassination of Gianni Versace: American Crime Story airs new episodes every Wednesday night only on FX!