“After Me, the Deluge”: Dissocial Personality Disorder Reflected in Gianni Versace’s Killer

The latest season of American Crime Story is dedicated to the murder of Italian fashion designer Gianni Versace—a crime as shocking as it is mysterious. Even after the series, the motives remain unclear: was it envy, revenge, or a modern manifestation of the Herostratus syndrome? However, FBI reports agree on one thing—the killer suffered from psychopathy. Today, we’ll explore what dissocial personality disorder is, which symptoms were evident in the life of young criminal Andrew Cunanan, and why it’s so difficult for people to suspect something is wrong in the behavior of such individuals.

The Crime and Its Context

Recently, FX premiered the second season of American Crime Story, focusing on the late 1990s murder of Gianni Versace. The story, however, sheds more light on the life, childhood, and youth of his killer—Andrew Cunanan, who at the time was on the FBI’s list of the ten most dangerous criminals in the U.S.

From April to May 1997, Cunanan killed two of his friends (some sources say former sexual partners), as well as businessman Lee Miglin and cemetery caretaker William Reese. The Versace murder case was closed in December 1997. According to the official version, Cunanan killed the designer “for an inexplicable reason.” The killer committed suicide on a yacht owned by a German gay club owner who had fled the country.

Dissocial Personality Disorder

Analysis of Cunanan’s actions and behavior led experts to conclude that he suffered from dissocial personality disorder (DPD), previously known as psychopathy. This disorder may have been the foundation for his crimes.

What Is Dissocial Personality Disorder?

Dissocial personality disorder (also called sociopathy or antisocial personality disorder) is characterized by an underdevelopment of higher moral feelings. British psychiatrist J. Prichard described such individuals as having “emotional dullness”; they are deceitful, lazy, and attention-seeking.

People with DPD show a cold indifference to the rights and feelings of others. They use people for personal gain, including financial benefit; they become easily disappointed and handle setbacks poorly. Many are dangerous, as they may resort to violence in conflicts. They do not recognize the consequences of their actions and feel no remorse or guilt. They often rationalize their misdeeds, blaming others. Punishment rarely changes their behavior or thinking and seldom frightens them.

Causes of the Disorder

Despite extensive research, there is no consensus on the causes of DPD or other personality disorders. The most common theories point to heredity, upbringing, and the influence of certain social environments. Modern psychiatry holds that this type of disorder forms by adulthood and represents a persistent change in the mature personality.

From childhood, people with DPD often have a history of antisocial behavior. Their deceit can fool even experienced clinicians, who may not notice the inner tension, irritability, and hostility behind a seemingly well-adjusted facade.

Diagnosis

Dissocial personality disorder is diagnosed when at least three of the following criteria are present:

• Cold indifference to others
• Marked and persistent irresponsibility and disregard for social rules and obligations
• Inability to maintain long-term relationships, despite ease in forming them
• Very low tolerance for frustration and a low threshold for aggression, including violence
• Inability to feel guilt or learn from experience, especially after punishment
• Strong tendency to blame others or offer plausible rationalizations for behavior that brings the person into conflict with society

It’s important to note that such individuals do not have thought disorders; in fact, they often have heightened social awareness and strong verbal intelligence. Their leadership qualities allow them to influence others, sometimes with fatal consequences.

As a child, Andrew’s IQ was over 140—comparable to Stephen Hawking. He was the pride of his family, especially his father. His older brother recalled that at age 10, Andrew read an entire encyclopedia series and could recite any topic from any volume. His intellect earned him a place at Bishop’s School in California, a school for diplomats’ and wealthy parents’ children.

Andrew’s father valued his potential so highly that he sometimes went to extremes: he gave Andrew a sports car as a child and allowed him to sleep in the master bedroom and have his own bathroom, while his siblings shared a room. They called him “Prince Andrew.”

Key Signs of Dissocial Personality Disorder

Experts note that, in addition to general personality disorder criteria, at least three of the following features are required to diagnose antisocial personality disorder:

1. Lying and Hypocrisy

As a teenager, Cunanan constantly lied to his peers, claiming royal ancestry. High school classmates described Andrew as “someone you can’t forget.”

In his yearbook, Andrew wrote “Après moi, le déluge” (“After me, the deluge” in French). Experts later called this an early sign of mental disturbance.

“I’m a banker. I’m a stockbroker. A journalist. A cop. A naval officer. Sometimes I’m a spy. I build movie sets in Mexico and skyscrapers in Chicago. I sell propane in Minneapolis and import pineapples from the Philippines. You know, I’m the one you’re least likely to forget,” says one of the most powerful monologues by Darren Criss, who played Cunanan in American Crime Story.

This chameleon-like man could transform into any invented persona. His intelligence, youth, and striking appearance helped him easily pass off lies as truth and manipulate people.

2. Egocentrism and Indifference

When Andrew’s father left the family and moved to the Philippines, young Cunanan followed him. After a month, Andrew returned home, complaining about the filth and poverty his father lived in. He always believed he deserved better and frequented only the most expensive restaurants.

Perhaps his main motive was simple envy. Two of his murdered friends were successful professionals, unlike Andrew, and their families accepted their sexual orientation—something Andrew’s family did not. Versace was an unattainable dream: a wealthy, world-famous designer and a gay icon. Psychiatrists believe Cunanan killed for two reasons: either he wanted something from his victim (the cemetery caretaker was killed for his truck), or he wanted to become that person.

3. Aggressiveness That Can Lead to Violence

When his deeply religious mother learned of his sexual orientation, a violent argument broke out. Mrs. Cunanan suffered a dislocated shoulder from being slammed against a wall—Andrew’s first act of physical violence. It’s also worth noting the brutality of some of his murders: he beat a former friend with 30 hammer blows, and Lee Miglin’s body showed signs of extensive torture.

4. Lack of Steady Employment and Financial Irresponsibility

Friends said that after returning from the Philippines, Andrew began relationships with wealthy older men who supported him financially and paid for his travels. One partner gave him thousands of dollars monthly, bought him a car, and gave him access to all his credit cards.

During this period, Andrew lived the life of the rich and famous. Residing in a multimillion-dollar mansion and traveling across Europe, he attended every social event as if it were his last. When his relationship with his wealthy partner ended, he lost everything—status, wealth, and recognition.

Many experts believe this turning point triggered the most extreme traits of his personality disorder. He was no longer Andrew Cunanan the gigolo, but Andrew Cunanan the serial killer.

Additional Signs Include:

• Impulsivity or inability to plan ahead
• Failure to conform to social norms or respect the law
• Recklessness without regard for the safety of self or others

The Pursuit of Fame and Recognition

Cunanan’s impulsiveness often manifested in his desire to join the upper echelons of society. Wealth, recognition, fame—he always believed he deserved it. But after failing to achieve any of his goals, he chose a different path to fame: taking the life of someone who had achieved it all. A similar example is Mark David Chapman’s murder of John Lennon in 1980. Chapman claimed his motive was to attract attention and assert himself, though he was found legally sane.

As a former FBI agent told ABC News, “The world learned two things after Versace’s murder: who Gianni Versace was, and who Andrew Cunanan was. And that’s exactly what Cunanan wanted.”

Look at me. I can get to anyone.