Neuro-linguistic programming was developed jointly by Richard Bandler and John Grinder under the tutelage of anthropologist, social scientist, linguist and cyberneticist Gregory Bateson, at the University of California, Santa Cruz, during the 1960s and 1970s.

As a former student of UCSC, and resident of Santa Cruz during the 80's, I recall the sensational murder trial of Bandler, that ended with neither himself nor his associate getting convicted, as there was no conclusive proof which man did it.

Here's a profile article on Bandler:
"Richard Bandler is a former cocaine addict who was once tried for murder, and who admits to being "a little sociopathic ". Yet he has changed the way millions of people think. The Guardian's Jon Ronson went to meet him"