Chaos: Charles Manson, the CIA, and the Secret History of the Sixties

Tom O’Neill, a freelance investigative journalist, is the author of Chaos. His work spans over two decades, during which he researched the Charles Manson murders and the subsequent trial. O’Neill was initially hired to write a 30th-anniversary piece on the Manson murders for Premiere magazine, but his curiosity about inconsistencies in the narrative set forth by prosecutor Vincent Bugliosi turned into an obsessive, years-long investigation that forms the backbone of Chaos.

O’Neill’s background as a journalist shapes the book’s investigative tone. Though he lacks formal legal training, he questions everything about the Manson case, from police procedures to Bugliosi’s handling of the trial. He uncovered hidden connections between the Manson Family, Hollywood elites, law enforcement, and possible government mind control programs. Despite financial strain, threats, and constant roadblocks, O’Neill pursued the truth behind one of America’s most infamous cases.

In Chaos, O’Neill raises questions about the integrity of the trial, potential cover-ups, and the larger cultural forces at play in the 1960s and ’70s. He positions himself as a central figure, not only as the narrator but as a participant who often grapples with doubt, frustration, and fear.