Luke Lamana

Whitson may have been involved with the FBI's COINTELPRO, which routinely targeted political dissidents. Whitson had been friends with Sharon Tate and Roman Polanski. It may have been just a cover for doing surveillance on their circle's liberal political activities.

Whitson may have been involved with the FBI's COINTELPRO, which routinely targeted political dissidents. Whitson had been friends with Sharon Tate and Roman Polanski. It may have been just a cover for doing surveillance on their circle's liberal political activities.

Another Reeve-Witson rumor was that he had told several friends that the murders might have been prevented if his agency had listened to him. O'Neal had dismissed this as the hollow boast of an agent trying to sound more important than he really was. Now, a different theory began to take shape in O'Neal's mind.

Another Reeve-Witson rumor was that he had told several friends that the murders might have been prevented if his agency had listened to him. O'Neal had dismissed this as the hollow boast of an agent trying to sound more important than he really was. Now, a different theory began to take shape in O'Neal's mind.

What if Whitson had actually tried to warn his agency about the threat posed by Manson and his followers, but was ignored? Maybe Manson had simply taken things too far beyond what the agency had intended. Then it was too late. Whatever role the CIA played in Manson's evolution, there was no denying law enforcement had let him get away with too much.

What if Whitson had actually tried to warn his agency about the threat posed by Manson and his followers, but was ignored? Maybe Manson had simply taken things too far beyond what the agency had intended. Then it was too late. Whatever role the CIA played in Manson's evolution, there was no denying law enforcement had let him get away with too much.

After the murders, the LA County Sheriff's Department raided Spahn Ranch and arrested members of the Manson family on auto theft charges. They never charged anyone, which Bugliosi attributed to issues with dated arrest warrants. But O'Neill suspected the CIA or FBI might be behind the raid, hoping to provoke Manson into attacking the Black Panthers.

After the murders, the LA County Sheriff's Department raided Spahn Ranch and arrested members of the Manson family on auto theft charges. They never charged anyone, which Bugliosi attributed to issues with dated arrest warrants. But O'Neill suspected the CIA or FBI might be behind the raid, hoping to provoke Manson into attacking the Black Panthers.

And then there was the Haight-Ashbury Free Medical Clinic. The clinic had stayed connected to Manson even after he left San Francisco to set up camp at Spahn Ranch. Dr. David Smith had even sent his assistant to the ranch to study the Manson family's lifestyle. The assistant said he witnessed and participated in multi-day LSD sessions and even orgies.

And then there was the Haight-Ashbury Free Medical Clinic. The clinic had stayed connected to Manson even after he left San Francisco to set up camp at Spahn Ranch. Dr. David Smith had even sent his assistant to the ranch to study the Manson family's lifestyle. The assistant said he witnessed and participated in multi-day LSD sessions and even orgies.

O'Neal didn't know if this was the CIA's way of keeping tabs on Manson, or if they were trying to prod him in one direction or another. Manson's world was spinning faster and faster in late 1968 and early 69, as more and more people joined his cult. O'Neal had read police reports of interviews with some Manson family hangers-on who mentioned how tense the vibe was getting.

O'Neal didn't know if this was the CIA's way of keeping tabs on Manson, or if they were trying to prod him in one direction or another. Manson's world was spinning faster and faster in late 1968 and early 69, as more and more people joined his cult. O'Neal had read police reports of interviews with some Manson family hangers-on who mentioned how tense the vibe was getting.

Apparently, Manson had grown paranoid that the Black Panthers were planning an attack on Spahn Ranch, so much so that he sent guards into the hills around the property with telescopes and guns to be ready when the Black Panthers made a move. The Malibu Sheriff's Deputy, Preston Guillory, claimed his department was surveilling Spahn Ranch during all this.

Apparently, Manson had grown paranoid that the Black Panthers were planning an attack on Spahn Ranch, so much so that he sent guards into the hills around the property with telescopes and guns to be ready when the Black Panthers made a move. The Malibu Sheriff's Deputy, Preston Guillory, claimed his department was surveilling Spahn Ranch during all this.

Was it possible they saw this mania taking hold and did nothing? Or were they actively encouraging Manson to hit his boiling point? If so, then it was mission accomplished. On August 8th, 1969, the experiment officially spun out of control when Manson sent his followers out to wreak havoc and to commit murder for some combination of motives. But the motives mattered less than the result.

Was it possible they saw this mania taking hold and did nothing? Or were they actively encouraging Manson to hit his boiling point? If so, then it was mission accomplished. On August 8th, 1969, the experiment officially spun out of control when Manson sent his followers out to wreak havoc and to commit murder for some combination of motives. But the motives mattered less than the result.

The bloody, senseless killings marked the end of the 60s and the death of the hippie movement. Charles Manson had done his job without even realizing it. Somewhere, O'Neill thought, Dr. Jolly West was smiling again.

The bloody, senseless killings marked the end of the 60s and the death of the hippie movement. Charles Manson had done his job without even realizing it. Somewhere, O'Neill thought, Dr. Jolly West was smiling again.

In January of 2019, on a cold, clear February evening, O'Neill clinked glasses with his agent. They had met at a beach bar to celebrate the completion of O'Neill's book. Chaos, Charles Manson, the CIA, and the Secret History of the Sixties was slated for publication in June. O'Neill had turned 40 when he started the assignment. Now he was about to turn 60. The book had taken a third of his life.

In January of 2019, on a cold, clear February evening, O'Neill clinked glasses with his agent. They had met at a beach bar to celebrate the completion of O'Neill's book. Chaos, Charles Manson, the CIA, and the Secret History of the Sixties was slated for publication in June. O'Neill had turned 40 when he started the assignment. Now he was about to turn 60. The book had taken a third of his life.