On July 15, 1997, the world famous designer, Gianni Versace, was murdered in front of his palatial estate on Ocean Drive in Miami Beach. The murder captivated worldwide attention. And the hunt was on for his suspected killer…
ANDREW CUNANAN
Within just hours, investigators had their prime suspect: Andrew Cunanan. But where was he?
MIAMI SPRINGS MURDER
On Thursday, July 17, 1997, just two days after the murder of Gianni Versace, a man was found killed on Dove Avenue in Miami Springs. Cunanan was still on the loose. Could the murderer be Andrew Cunanan?
It all started when Miami Springs Police responded to a burglar alarm at 1202 Dove Avenue in the bird section of Miami Springs. When police arrived, the front door was unlocked. Inside they found the naked, hogtied, and murdered body of Dr. Silvio Alfonso. According to the Sun Sentinel, “Alfonso had been beaten, strangled and sodomized.”
A neighbor had called police and described a man running from the scene that matched the description of the wanted Andrew Cunanan.
News of the murder spread like wildfire. And before you knew it, the national media had descended into the quiet little Miami Springs neighborhood.
Satellite trucks were sending back live broadcasts from the scene while news helicopters flew overhead.
Was Andrew Cunanan the murderer? If so, was he still in Miami Springs?
The police investigation would quickly reveal it was NOT Andrew Cunanan.
The police were able to recover a wallet and pager that would lead police to their primary suspect, Yosvany Hernandez.
ARRESTED
Thanks to solid police work and overwhelming evidence, the police were able to track down and arrest Yosvany Hernandez on the very next day, July 18, 1997. Hernandez was charged with the murder of Dr. Silvio Alfonso.
Article from Jul 20, 1997 The Miami Herald (Miami, Florida)
MURDER TRIAL
The case went to trial in February of 2000 where the defense claimed Hernandez killed Dr. Alfonso by accident using the “rough sex” defense.
Article from Feb 11, 2000 The Miami Herald (Miami, Florida)
However, the jurors didn’t by it. Hernandez himself denied being intimate with the doctor, despite the overwhelming evidence, and destroyed the defense prepared by his attorneys. The jurors quickly found Hernandez to be guilty of the murder of Dr. Silvio Alfonso.
Article from Feb 15, 2000 The Miami Herald (Miami, Florida)
Article from Jul 18, 1997 The Miami Herald (Miami, Florida)
As Miami Springs celebrates its 100 Year Anniversary, we’re looking back at stories that shaped Miami Springs. Some stories are uplifting and inspirational. While others left lasting scars.
Some are a reminder of things we may have forgotten. While other stories, some may never have known.
We encourage residents to share their stories, anecdotes, pictures, and videos with us. Simply email us at History@MiamiSprings.com.
