Soledad O'Brien

And so, the conspiracy goes, she had to be taken out because she knew something about the CIA and Kennedy's assassination. Okay, before we go any further, let's stop here and say something that needs to be said. When we set out to tell the story of Mary's murder, we knew we were going to have to cover some murky ground. Because to this day, her murder is officially unsolved. Even Washington, D.C.

And so, the conspiracy goes, she had to be taken out because she knew something about the CIA and Kennedy's assassination. Okay, before we go any further, let's stop here and say something that needs to be said. When we set out to tell the story of Mary's murder, we knew we were going to have to cover some murky ground. Because to this day, her murder is officially unsolved. Even Washington, D.C.

police decided long ago to consider the case closed.

police decided long ago to consider the case closed.

And apparently, police didn't believe there was any good reason to do so. So when the main question behind a murder is left unanswered, namely, who killed Mary, conspiracies can thrive. But because Mary was tied to JFK, that's not all there is to it. Even to this day, more than 60 percent of Americans believe Lee Harvey Oswald did not act alone.

And apparently, police didn't believe there was any good reason to do so. So when the main question behind a murder is left unanswered, namely, who killed Mary, conspiracies can thrive. But because Mary was tied to JFK, that's not all there is to it. Even to this day, more than 60 percent of Americans believe Lee Harvey Oswald did not act alone.

Which is to say the majority of Americans don't believe they're getting the full story behind the Dallas shooting of JFK. That fact alone might change some people's opinions about who conspiracy theorists really are. They're not always fringe loonies in their basements concocting alternative narratives. In fact, it's mainstream to believe some conspiracy theories.

Which is to say the majority of Americans don't believe they're getting the full story behind the Dallas shooting of JFK. That fact alone might change some people's opinions about who conspiracy theorists really are. They're not always fringe loonies in their basements concocting alternative narratives. In fact, it's mainstream to believe some conspiracy theories.

We wanted to get a better understanding of why some people gravitate toward conspiracy theories. So we called up someone who studies them.

We wanted to get a better understanding of why some people gravitate toward conspiracy theories. So we called up someone who studies them.

Dr. Pierre says research shows why some folks are more likely to believe in conspiracy theories than others.

Dr. Pierre says research shows why some folks are more likely to believe in conspiracy theories than others.

Some conspiracy theorists need closure. They crave certainty. So if something doesn't add up, they might keep looking for connections until a story emerges. We'll hear more from Dr. Pierre later in this episode. But based on that idea alone, you can see why Mary's murder intrigued conspiracy theorists. Her story has lots of unanswered questions.

Some conspiracy theorists need closure. They crave certainty. So if something doesn't add up, they might keep looking for connections until a story emerges. We'll hear more from Dr. Pierre later in this episode. But based on that idea alone, you can see why Mary's murder intrigued conspiracy theorists. Her story has lots of unanswered questions.

Now, one of the most well-known conspiracy theories behind Mary's murder is laid out by writer Peter Janney in a book called Mary's Mosaic. Janney has spent years trying to answer what really happened to Mary. Why? Because he grew up down the street from the Myers. Their families were friendly. And Peter's father? Like Mary's ex-husband, he also worked at the CIA.

Now, one of the most well-known conspiracy theories behind Mary's murder is laid out by writer Peter Janney in a book called Mary's Mosaic. Janney has spent years trying to answer what really happened to Mary. Why? Because he grew up down the street from the Myers. Their families were friendly. And Peter's father? Like Mary's ex-husband, he also worked at the CIA.

Peter Janney spent years researching this case. And he uncovered some pretty strange facts about Mary Myers' death. But what Jenny then does is takes those facts and builds a unified theory that argues that the CIA conspired to murder JFK and Mary. That conspiracy has been rejected by many who've reported this story, including Lance Morrow, Nina Burley, and Ron Rosenbaum.

Peter Janney spent years researching this case. And he uncovered some pretty strange facts about Mary Myers' death. But what Jenny then does is takes those facts and builds a unified theory that argues that the CIA conspired to murder JFK and Mary. That conspiracy has been rejected by many who've reported this story, including Lance Morrow, Nina Burley, and Ron Rosenbaum.

And as for Mary's inner circle, her close friends and her sister, Toni, remained nearly mute on the subject of Mary's murder or any conspiracies connected to it. That said, Janney believes the CIA killed the president because JFK wanted world peace, while the agency had incentives to ramp up the Cold War. Only one of them, the president or his military, could prevail in the end.

And as for Mary's inner circle, her close friends and her sister, Toni, remained nearly mute on the subject of Mary's murder or any conspiracies connected to it. That said, Janney believes the CIA killed the president because JFK wanted world peace, while the agency had incentives to ramp up the Cold War. Only one of them, the president or his military, could prevail in the end.