Soledad O'Brien

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.

And Mary became collateral damage. Why is it that some people find Janney's conspiracy theories so far-fetched? We're going to do our best to answer that question. But before we get into Mary's murder, we're going to give you a Cliff Notes version of the reasons why some believed the CIA killed JFK. It's a story that really begins with a little bit of presidential history.

And Mary became collateral damage. Why is it that some people find Janney's conspiracy theories so far-fetched? We're going to do our best to answer that question. But before we get into Mary's murder, we're going to give you a Cliff Notes version of the reasons why some believed the CIA killed JFK. It's a story that really begins with a little bit of presidential history.

Namely, JFK's relationship with the CIA and his own military. While Kennedy moved his policy goals in the direction of world peace, the CIA wanted to show the strength of the American military complex, especially as the Cold War was heating up. As a result, Kennedy and the CIA ended up on opposite sides of two big clashes. The first was the Bay of Pigs.

Namely, JFK's relationship with the CIA and his own military. While Kennedy moved his policy goals in the direction of world peace, the CIA wanted to show the strength of the American military complex, especially as the Cold War was heating up. As a result, Kennedy and the CIA ended up on opposite sides of two big clashes. The first was the Bay of Pigs.

When the CIA-led invasion to remove Fidel Castro from power looked like it was going to be a failure, Kennedy refused to send additional backup. This infuriated Allen Dulles, the legendary CIA director. To add insult to injury, Kennedy fired Dulles. The president wanted him to know exactly who was in charge. The second clash, of course, was the Cuban Missile Crisis.

When the CIA-led invasion to remove Fidel Castro from power looked like it was going to be a failure, Kennedy refused to send additional backup. This infuriated Allen Dulles, the legendary CIA director. To add insult to injury, Kennedy fired Dulles. The president wanted him to know exactly who was in charge. The second clash, of course, was the Cuban Missile Crisis.

He called General Eisenhower to bring him up to speed.

He called General Eisenhower to bring him up to speed.

Kennedy wanted to save the world from nuclear annihilation, something both he and Mary felt strongly about. But when he tried to de-escalate the crisis by offering to remove U.S. missiles from Turkey if Russia removed theirs from Cuba, well, the CIA thought the president was making America look weak. By then, Kennedy no longer trusted his military or the CIA.

Kennedy wanted to save the world from nuclear annihilation, something both he and Mary felt strongly about. But when he tried to de-escalate the crisis by offering to remove U.S. missiles from Turkey if Russia removed theirs from Cuba, well, the CIA thought the president was making America look weak. By then, Kennedy no longer trusted his military or the CIA.