Luke Lamana

O'Neill admitted that that was the million-dollar puzzle piece, but he thought it was plausible that the CIA saw Manson as someone who could be used, trained, or weaponized for some purpose. And since Manson was an ex-con who did drugs, he was someone they could discredit if he tried to spill secrets. O'Neill's agent was intrigued.

O'Neill admitted that that was the million-dollar puzzle piece, but he thought it was plausible that the CIA saw Manson as someone who could be used, trained, or weaponized for some purpose. And since Manson was an ex-con who did drugs, he was someone they could discredit if he tried to spill secrets. O'Neill's agent was intrigued.

though he worried about how far the journalist was straying into the weeds. O'Neill promised his agent that he was doing his best to stay on track. In the meantime, he needed to go back down the rabbit hole. One morning, a few months after meeting with his agent, O'Neill's phone rang. It was earlier than usual. His brain felt fried from too many late nights trying to organize his research.

though he worried about how far the journalist was straying into the weeds. O'Neill promised his agent that he was doing his best to stay on track. In the meantime, he needed to go back down the rabbit hole. One morning, a few months after meeting with his agent, O'Neill's phone rang. It was earlier than usual. His brain felt fried from too many late nights trying to organize his research.

He knew the project was consuming him, but he was determined to fight his way through the fog. On the phone was a man named Bob Conrick. O'Neill had left him a voicemail months ago but never heard back, which he was used to by now. O'Neill had first learned about Conrick from reading about the early days of the Haight-Ashbury Free Medical Clinic.

He knew the project was consuming him, but he was determined to fight his way through the fog. On the phone was a man named Bob Conrick. O'Neill had left him a voicemail months ago but never heard back, which he was used to by now. O'Neill had first learned about Conrick from reading about the early days of the Haight-Ashbury Free Medical Clinic.

Conrick handled the administrative side, while clinic founder Dr. David Smith oversaw the research and day-to-day patient visits. But O'Neill's reason for reaching out to Conrick concerned one of their employees, Dr. Jolly West. O'Neill had heard from one of his sources that Conrick objected to Dr. West joining the clinic in 1967. He was curious if this was true, and if so, why? Conrick was blunt.

Conrick handled the administrative side, while clinic founder Dr. David Smith oversaw the research and day-to-day patient visits. But O'Neill's reason for reaching out to Conrick concerned one of their employees, Dr. Jolly West. O'Neill had heard from one of his sources that Conrick objected to Dr. West joining the clinic in 1967. He was curious if this was true, and if so, why? Conrick was blunt.

He never trusted West, not from day one. West's reputation made Conrick suspicious. He had learned that West was a military insider with high-ranking connections. His previous assignment was on an Air Force base in rural Texas, doing psychiatric projects so classified he couldn't discuss anything about them. Conrick still remembered the day West walked into the clinic.

He never trusted West, not from day one. West's reputation made Conrick suspicious. He had learned that West was a military insider with high-ranking connections. His previous assignment was on an Air Force base in rural Texas, doing psychiatric projects so classified he couldn't discuss anything about them. Conrick still remembered the day West walked into the clinic.

He wore a colorful knitted shirt, loose pants, and brand new sandals with wavy hair and a bushy mustache. To Conrick, West looked like a narcotics agent trying desperately to pass as a hippie. Conrick was convinced West had hidden motives. He was soon proven right. Within weeks, Conrick learned about an experiment Dr. West was conducting at a hippie apartment only blocks from the clinic.

He wore a colorful knitted shirt, loose pants, and brand new sandals with wavy hair and a bushy mustache. To Conrick, West looked like a narcotics agent trying desperately to pass as a hippie. Conrick was convinced West had hidden motives. He was soon proven right. Within weeks, Conrick learned about an experiment Dr. West was conducting at a hippie apartment only blocks from the clinic.

There, young people were invited in off the street, offered drugs, and then observed by a rotating staff of graduate students. The research was apparently for a book West was writing that examined how LSD broke down a person's ego and made them easier to manipulate. Conrick's story reminded O'Neill of something he had found in West's archives.

There, young people were invited in off the street, offered drugs, and then observed by a rotating staff of graduate students. The research was apparently for a book West was writing that examined how LSD broke down a person's ego and made them easier to manipulate. Conrick's story reminded O'Neill of something he had found in West's archives.

At one time, the scientific leader of MKUltra instructed West to see if it was possible to change a person's memories or implant a false memory without them realizing it. O'Neill wondered if this might have been what Dr. West was doing at the hippie apartment. Conrick thought O'Neill's theory sounded likely. In his experience, everything Dr. West did was a cover-up.

At one time, the scientific leader of MKUltra instructed West to see if it was possible to change a person's memories or implant a false memory without them realizing it. O'Neill wondered if this might have been what Dr. West was doing at the hippie apartment. Conrick thought O'Neill's theory sounded likely. In his experience, everything Dr. West did was a cover-up.

He also said West never finished his book. Conrick wasn't sure if it ever even existed or if that was a front, too. He wondered if the apartment research was a real study at all, noting that West's graduate students told him they didn't even record their findings. After O'Neill got off the phone, he took a walk along the beach to stretch his legs. Conrick's words swirled in his head.

He also said West never finished his book. Conrick wasn't sure if it ever even existed or if that was a front, too. He wondered if the apartment research was a real study at all, noting that West's graduate students told him they didn't even record their findings. After O'Neill got off the phone, he took a walk along the beach to stretch his legs. Conrick's words swirled in his head.

If West's scientific projects were just a facade, what were they hiding? And why would the CIA pay for studies but not collect any results? As O'Neill strolled across the sand, an idea began to take shape. Maybe West was using the apartment as a net to find a candidate for their real project, a pawn for the CIA to be trained or deployed for some unknown purpose.

If West's scientific projects were just a facade, what were they hiding? And why would the CIA pay for studies but not collect any results? As O'Neill strolled across the sand, an idea began to take shape. Maybe West was using the apartment as a net to find a candidate for their real project, a pawn for the CIA to be trained or deployed for some unknown purpose.