Jeff Trail, Andrew Cunanan’s First Victim, Appeared In Real ’48 Hours’ Interview [VIDEO]

The Assassination of Gianni Versace: American Crime Story depicted the infamous murder of Versace by serial killer Andrew Cunanan in the late 1990s.

JEFF TRAIL ON 48 HOURS

What many may not realize is that Versace was Cunanan’s fifth and last victim. His first was Jeff Trail, a closeted naval officer who spoke about the military’s “don’t ask, don’t tell” policy on CBS News program 48 Hours. The FX show dramatized the interview, in which Trail opened up about what it’s like to serve as a gay man, but this interview also really did happen.

In 1993, Trail appeared on 48 Hours in shadow as to protect his identity. He was interviewed by Richard Schlesinger, who appeared on the program from 1990-1997, and received 10 Emmy awards throughout his career.

In a CBS News article published in 2017 for the 20-year anniversary of Cunanan’s murder spree, Schlesinger spoke about his time speaking with Trail. “Jeff Trail was an ensign and a Gulf War veteran. He was an impressive man — an Annapolis grad,” Schlesinger wrote. “He was smart, good looking and very brave. He chose to speak to us because he thought it was the right thing to do. He did the interview in silhouette but he was still taking a tremendous risk with his career. He had absolutely nothing to gain by doing the interview. Yet he took the risk and spoke out. My colleagues and I left San Diego very impressed with Ensign Trail.”

Trail met Cunanan around the same time that the interview occurred, which Schlesinger didn’t realize until the time the article was written. Trail was helping Cunanan as he struggled with drug use and working as a gigolo. “Ensign Trail’s kindness was his undoing. I remember the moment we learned Trail was the victim of Cunanan’s first murder. I was stunned and saddened. So were my colleagues who worked on the story,” Schlesinger said. “We felt a connection to the horror that Cunanan had created. Jeff Trail’s murder was particularly gruesome. He was beaten to death with a hammer… his body left rolled up in a rug. I couldn’t imagine the pain and fear this young man, who I knew, had gone through.”

The original 48 Hours interview segment with Trail is available online, having been posted on May 20, 2017. Watch it below.