Soledad O'Brien

So it seemed extra odd that someone so closely connected to him was murdered, too.

So it seemed extra odd that someone so closely connected to him was murdered, too.

Now that the affair was newspaper fodder, more conspiracy theories began to crop up in connection to the murder of Mary Meyer.

Now that the affair was newspaper fodder, more conspiracy theories began to crop up in connection to the murder of Mary Meyer.

And to this day, those theories persist.

And to this day, those theories persist.

From Luminary, Film Nation Entertainment, and Neon Hum Media, this is Murder on the Towpath. I'm Soledad O'Brien. In this episode, we're going to dig into the conspiracy theories behind Mary's murder. Those who believe there was a conspiracy to murder Mary think it stems from one simple fact. Mary, quote, knew too much. Specifically, she knew too much about how JFK was really killed.

From Luminary, Film Nation Entertainment, and Neon Hum Media, this is Murder on the Towpath. I'm Soledad O'Brien. In this episode, we're going to dig into the conspiracy theories behind Mary's murder. Those who believe there was a conspiracy to murder Mary think it stems from one simple fact. Mary, quote, knew too much. Specifically, she knew too much about how JFK was really killed.

If the CIA was covering up something about Kennedy's death and Mary knew about it, then presumably she was a threat. And while there are some who might keep quiet about information like that, Mary wasn't known to be one of them. Her friends knew her as outspoken, and that was true especially when it came to her feelings about the CIA.

If the CIA was covering up something about Kennedy's death and Mary knew about it, then presumably she was a threat. And while there are some who might keep quiet about information like that, Mary wasn't known to be one of them. Her friends knew her as outspoken, and that was true especially when it came to her feelings about the CIA.

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.