Luke Lamana

Once he was back home, O'Neill reviewed his notes. On April 11, 1967, at the exact time West's LSD study was happening, Charles Manson arrived in San Francisco and reported to the local parole board for the first time. Within months, the apartment research was shuttered, and West never mentioned his book again to Conrick.

Once he was back home, O'Neill reviewed his notes. On April 11, 1967, at the exact time West's LSD study was happening, Charles Manson arrived in San Francisco and reported to the local parole board for the first time. Within months, the apartment research was shuttered, and West never mentioned his book again to Conrick.

Maybe, O'Neill thought, West believed that the project was no longer needed, because maybe he had found the perfect test subject. Two months later, on a cool autumn afternoon in late 2001, O'Neill strolled through Santa Monica with a coffee. He had been trying to keep his morale up, but life had been hard lately.

Maybe, O'Neill thought, West believed that the project was no longer needed, because maybe he had found the perfect test subject. Two months later, on a cool autumn afternoon in late 2001, O'Neill strolled through Santa Monica with a coffee. He had been trying to keep his morale up, but life had been hard lately.

O'Neill had been forced to borrow money from his family to stay afloat, since he was too busy writing to take on other work. His apartment had gradually transformed into a storage area filled with files, books, and three-ring binders. His phone rarely rang, since he was too busy to make time for friends.

O'Neill had been forced to borrow money from his family to stay afloat, since he was too busy writing to take on other work. His apartment had gradually transformed into a storage area filled with files, books, and three-ring binders. His phone rarely rang, since he was too busy to make time for friends.

If someone did come over, they'd cast anxious looks around the place, wondering what the hell he'd gotten into. The book was eroding O'Neill's life, but his head was too full of ideas to even consider stopping. There was no doubt Manson and the CIA had grown into a full-blown obsession.

If someone did come over, they'd cast anxious looks around the place, wondering what the hell he'd gotten into. The book was eroding O'Neill's life, but his head was too full of ideas to even consider stopping. There was no doubt Manson and the CIA had grown into a full-blown obsession.

O'Neill realized that to anyone else, the idea that the CIA had a purpose in mind for Manson still seemed far-fetched. Both because Manson was a career criminal and not easily controlled, and for a larger reason. What potential could a loose cannon like Manson have had for the CIA? They seemed like opposite forces. The thought reminded O'Neill of one of his earlier interviews.

O'Neill realized that to anyone else, the idea that the CIA had a purpose in mind for Manson still seemed far-fetched. Both because Manson was a career criminal and not easily controlled, and for a larger reason. What potential could a loose cannon like Manson have had for the CIA? They seemed like opposite forces. The thought reminded O'Neill of one of his earlier interviews.

Back in his office, O'Neill dug out the notes from his chat with a deputy sheriff named Preston Guillory. Guillory claimed his department was ordered not to interfere with the criminal activities of the Manson family. Guillory also said the sheriff's department had been running heavy surveillance on Manson and his followers at the time of the murders.

Back in his office, O'Neill dug out the notes from his chat with a deputy sheriff named Preston Guillory. Guillory claimed his department was ordered not to interfere with the criminal activities of the Manson family. Guillory also said the sheriff's department had been running heavy surveillance on Manson and his followers at the time of the murders.

Towards the end of O'Neill's interview with Guillory, the former deputy sheriff speculated why law enforcement was so lenient with Manson. He thought it was because they shared a common enemy, the Black Panthers, a radical organization that preached black nationalism. The Black Panther Party was despised by the police because they carried guns and openly insulted cops as pigs.

Towards the end of O'Neill's interview with Guillory, the former deputy sheriff speculated why law enforcement was so lenient with Manson. He thought it was because they shared a common enemy, the Black Panthers, a radical organization that preached black nationalism. The Black Panther Party was despised by the police because they carried guns and openly insulted cops as pigs.

Even worse, they were admired by hippies, students, and progressive young people. the Black Panthers were equally despised by Charles Manson. His many years in prison had hardened him into a staunch racist. Among his followers, Manson talked about the Black Panthers constantly, how dangerous they were, and his constant paranoia that they were about to attack Spahn Ranch.

Even worse, they were admired by hippies, students, and progressive young people. the Black Panthers were equally despised by Charles Manson. His many years in prison had hardened him into a staunch racist. Among his followers, Manson talked about the Black Panthers constantly, how dangerous they were, and his constant paranoia that they were about to attack Spahn Ranch.

When Guillory suggested this theory to O'Neill, he initially thought that it didn't seem like a strong enough motivation. It was no secret that the police were hostile towards the Black Panthers, and Manson hated them so much that he concocted an entire apocalyptic fantasy about them that he called Helter Skelter. But this didn't necessarily make law enforcement and Manson into allies.

When Guillory suggested this theory to O'Neill, he initially thought that it didn't seem like a strong enough motivation. It was no secret that the police were hostile towards the Black Panthers, and Manson hated them so much that he concocted an entire apocalyptic fantasy about them that he called Helter Skelter. But this didn't necessarily make law enforcement and Manson into allies.

But the more he thought about it, the more O'Neill wondered if Guillory was onto something. After all, Manson didn't just command his followers to kill strangers in cold blood. He also instructed them to write messages on the wall that sounded just like the Black Panthers. Like death to pigs. O'Neill realized he needed to zoom out and better understand the Black Panther's role in the 1960s.

But the more he thought about it, the more O'Neill wondered if Guillory was onto something. After all, Manson didn't just command his followers to kill strangers in cold blood. He also instructed them to write messages on the wall that sounded just like the Black Panthers. Like death to pigs. O'Neill realized he needed to zoom out and better understand the Black Panther's role in the 1960s.