Luke Lamana

Tom O'Neill sat across from his literary agent on the patio of a cafe in Venice Beach, California. They were there to discuss his recent findings about the CIA psychiatrist, Dr. Jolly West. O'Neill thought he detected a hint of worry on his agent's face. Each time he shared a new, bizarre discovery about the Manson case, O'Neill feared he might be pushing things too far.

Tom O'Neill sat across from his literary agent on the patio of a cafe in Venice Beach, California. They were there to discuss his recent findings about the CIA psychiatrist, Dr. Jolly West. O'Neill thought he detected a hint of worry on his agent's face. Each time he shared a new, bizarre discovery about the Manson case, O'Neill feared he might be pushing things too far.

Fortunately, his agent remained supportive. O'Neill dove into the subject of Jolly West. He couldn't interview West himself since he had died in January of 1999, but he'd learned quite a bit about the man. O'Neill said that despite his cheerful name, Jolly spent his life doing dark business.

Fortunately, his agent remained supportive. O'Neill dove into the subject of Jolly West. He couldn't interview West himself since he had died in January of 1999, but he'd learned quite a bit about the man. O'Neill said that despite his cheerful name, Jolly spent his life doing dark business.

West got his start in the Army during World War II, and by 1953, he was doing classified work for the top-secret CIA program, MKUltra, in several states. There, he experimented on unsuspecting test subjects using LSD and hypnosis. O'Neill told his literary agent that he believed Dr. West's overlap with Manson at the Haight-Ashbury Clinic wasn't a coincidence.

West got his start in the Army during World War II, and by 1953, he was doing classified work for the top-secret CIA program, MKUltra, in several states. There, he experimented on unsuspecting test subjects using LSD and hypnosis. O'Neill told his literary agent that he believed Dr. West's overlap with Manson at the Haight-Ashbury Clinic wasn't a coincidence.

More and more, it seemed to him like strings had been pulled to make their paths intersect. His agent asked an obvious question. Exactly who pulled these strings, and what did they stand to gain by having West and Manson interact? To O'Neill, there was only one possible puppet master, the CIA, specifically officials from MKUltra.

More and more, it seemed to him like strings had been pulled to make their paths intersect. His agent asked an obvious question. Exactly who pulled these strings, and what did they stand to gain by having West and Manson interact? To O'Neill, there was only one possible puppet master, the CIA, specifically officials from MKUltra.

This was the agency's long-running research program aimed at finding techniques to brainwash and manipulate individuals. MKUltra researchers had started off using LSD as an interrogation tool in the 1950s, but they had gradually become more interested in mind control, and Dr. West was one of the mind control pioneers.

This was the agency's long-running research program aimed at finding techniques to brainwash and manipulate individuals. MKUltra researchers had started off using LSD as an interrogation tool in the 1950s, but they had gradually become more interested in mind control, and Dr. West was one of the mind control pioneers.

In 1953, at the height of the Korean War, 36 American pilots captured by the North Korean Army went on national radio and confessed to spraying the local countryside with biological weapons. This was a war crime and made global news. O'Neill told his agent that the pilots' accusations were never proven, but U.S.

In 1953, at the height of the Korean War, 36 American pilots captured by the North Korean Army went on national radio and confessed to spraying the local countryside with biological weapons. This was a war crime and made global news. O'Neill told his agent that the pilots' accusations were never proven, but U.S.

military officials suspected that the men had been brainwashed by the communists to make them give false statements. When the pilots were eventually freed, the CIA sent Dr. West to deprogram them. Although the specifics of Dr. West's methods weren't revealed, the results were a triumph. Most of the pilots renounced their confessions, claiming they had been obtained using torture.

military officials suspected that the men had been brainwashed by the communists to make them give false statements. When the pilots were eventually freed, the CIA sent Dr. West to deprogram them. Although the specifics of Dr. West's methods weren't revealed, the results were a triumph. Most of the pilots renounced their confessions, claiming they had been obtained using torture.

O'Neill said this made Dr. West a hero in military circles and sparked the CIA's fascination with controlling people's thoughts. West had successfully deprogrammed men who had been brainwashed. Now the CIA wanted to figure out how to brainwash people themselves.

O'Neill said this made Dr. West a hero in military circles and sparked the CIA's fascination with controlling people's thoughts. West had successfully deprogrammed men who had been brainwashed. Now the CIA wanted to figure out how to brainwash people themselves.

To O'Neill, Dr. West's career from then on always pointed him toward the Haight-Ashbury Free Medical Clinic, where Charles Manson would soon be arriving too. It seemed like destiny. Dr. West was convinced drugs, especially LSD, were integral to controlling people's thoughts.

To O'Neill, Dr. West's career from then on always pointed him toward the Haight-Ashbury Free Medical Clinic, where Charles Manson would soon be arriving too. It seemed like destiny. Dr. West was convinced drugs, especially LSD, were integral to controlling people's thoughts.

So what better place to do the research than a medical clinic that catered to free-spirited hippies who often took drugs anyway? O'Neill's agent finally interrupted with another question. Where did Charles Manson fit into all this?

So what better place to do the research than a medical clinic that catered to free-spirited hippies who often took drugs anyway? O'Neill's agent finally interrupted with another question. Where did Charles Manson fit into all this?