Luke Lamana

Three weeks later, on a brisk November morning, O'Neill sat in his office finalizing a list of interview questions. He felt rattled. O'Neill had been told by a source that the author of the overwhelmingly popular book about the Manson murders, Helter Skelter, had been asking about him.

Three weeks later, on a brisk November morning, O'Neill sat in his office finalizing a list of interview questions. He felt rattled. O'Neill had been told by a source that the author of the overwhelmingly popular book about the Manson murders, Helter Skelter, had been asking about him.

Vincent Bugliosi had been undermining O'Neill's credibility, saying O'Neill was only pretending to be a magazine journalist. O'Neill figured it was because he felt threatened by what his book would contain. After all, Bugliosi's book made it seem like Manson had been the lone mastermind of the Tate murders, and that wasn't what O'Neill was finding.

Vincent Bugliosi had been undermining O'Neill's credibility, saying O'Neill was only pretending to be a magazine journalist. O'Neill figured it was because he felt threatened by what his book would contain. After all, Bugliosi's book made it seem like Manson had been the lone mastermind of the Tate murders, and that wasn't what O'Neill was finding.

O'Neill did his best to block out the drama and stay focused, and he had more questions about Bugliosi, who had been the prosecutor at Manson's trial. O'Neal wanted to reach out to another person who knew all about the actual Manson murder investigation and who could provide a different perspective on Bugliosi's version of events.

O'Neill did his best to block out the drama and stay focused, and he had more questions about Bugliosi, who had been the prosecutor at Manson's trial. O'Neal wanted to reach out to another person who knew all about the actual Manson murder investigation and who could provide a different perspective on Bugliosi's version of events.

Mike McGann had been the lead investigator on the Tate murder, working side by side with Bugliosi. McGann had retired to Idaho and many of the documents from the investigation had ended up in his possession. When O'Neill finally got McGann on the phone, he could tell the retired detective's patience was thin. McGann was blunt in his assessment of Bugliosi.

Mike McGann had been the lead investigator on the Tate murder, working side by side with Bugliosi. McGann had retired to Idaho and many of the documents from the investigation had ended up in his possession. When O'Neill finally got McGann on the phone, he could tell the retired detective's patience was thin. McGann was blunt in his assessment of Bugliosi.

Everything in Vince Bugliosi's book is wrong, McGann said. Bugliosi didn't solve it. Nobody trusted him. O'Neill was eager to get more details, but McGann insisted he needed to be paid for his time. O'Neill knew that wasn't an option. As a journalist, he couldn't pay someone for information. And even if he wanted to, O'Neill was flat broke. So he hung up, frustrated.

Everything in Vince Bugliosi's book is wrong, McGann said. Bugliosi didn't solve it. Nobody trusted him. O'Neill was eager to get more details, but McGann insisted he needed to be paid for his time. O'Neill knew that wasn't an option. As a journalist, he couldn't pay someone for information. And even if he wanted to, O'Neill was flat broke. So he hung up, frustrated.

It seemed like Bugliosi and his book didn't have as many fans as O'Neill had assumed. Even Charles Manson criticized Bugliosi's work during a prison interview in 1972.

It seemed like Bugliosi and his book didn't have as many fans as O'Neill had assumed. Even Charles Manson criticized Bugliosi's work during a prison interview in 1972.

O'Neill knew he had to keep asking questions and circle back to the CIA and its mind control program, MKUltra. It felt like he was climbing a mountain as he went from interview to interview and the air was getting thin. Today, O'Neill was speaking to a man named Alan Sheflin. He had written one of the first books about MKUltra published in 1978.

O'Neill knew he had to keep asking questions and circle back to the CIA and its mind control program, MKUltra. It felt like he was climbing a mountain as he went from interview to interview and the air was getting thin. Today, O'Neill was speaking to a man named Alan Sheflin. He had written one of the first books about MKUltra published in 1978.

O'Neill hoped he would be able to clarify some of his theories. O'Neill dialed the number and waited. It was a familiar feeling. By now, he had interviewed over 500 people, and his list kept growing. When Schefflin answered, O'Neill laid out his case about Manson's connection with the CIA.

O'Neill hoped he would be able to clarify some of his theories. O'Neill dialed the number and waited. It was a familiar feeling. By now, he had interviewed over 500 people, and his list kept growing. When Schefflin answered, O'Neill laid out his case about Manson's connection with the CIA.

Schefflin reminded O'Neill that in 1973, the head of the CIA ordered all files connected to MKUltra destroyed. So a complete understanding of the program could never be known. But Schefflin said some documents survived. Most importantly, a stash of 20,000 pages at an offsite warehouse.

Schefflin reminded O'Neill that in 1973, the head of the CIA ordered all files connected to MKUltra destroyed. So a complete understanding of the program could never be known. But Schefflin said some documents survived. Most importantly, a stash of 20,000 pages at an offsite warehouse.

Eventually, in December 1974, the New York Times obtained those records of the CIA's secret mind control research, forcing the agency to finally admit the program existed. The MKUltra files exposed how illegal and invasive the program really was. They dosed people with psychoactive drugs and conducted extensive experiments to test the limits of the human mind.

Eventually, in December 1974, the New York Times obtained those records of the CIA's secret mind control research, forcing the agency to finally admit the program existed. The MKUltra files exposed how illegal and invasive the program really was. They dosed people with psychoactive drugs and conducted extensive experiments to test the limits of the human mind.