The First Degree
by Alexis Linkletter, Jac Vanek
Do you ever wonder what it’s like to be friends with a murderer? Or escape a kidnapping? Or have a father who was a serial killer? Join Jac Vanek and Alexis Linkletter on a chilling ride into the darkest corners of your worst nightmares. Murders, cults, kidnappings, and conspiracies—all told through the eyes of a guest who is one degree of separation from the story itself. From infamous serial killers to the unbelievable unknown murder in your own backyard, The First Degree delivers a new perspective to the already fascinating true crime landscape. And who knows... you may be our next guest. (Plus, join them every Thursday for Killing Time, the light-hearted, true crime-adjacent aftershow!)
Episodes
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DEEP DIVE: CAMP LOOKSMAXING
Another weird week over here on the deep dive! We get a good look into Clavicular’s new Camp Looksmaxing where a bunch of losers pay $5k to have him tell them they’re ugly. Also, Laura Owen’s / Clayton Echard updates, new bombshell evidence that Stockton Rush planned the Ocean Gate implosion, and...
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Episode 426: We Were Never Alone
Some encounters with the unexplained are terrifying. Others offer an unexpected sense of comfort. But all leave us wondering what, if anything, exists beyond death. In this special Halloween episode, Lex and Jac share more extraordinary stories from Firsties, including disturbing encounters,...
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DEEP DIVE: SECRET PIZZA PARTY?
Jac pulls the string of the Kelly Clarkson / $15K mechanical bird drama and (SHOCKER!) it leads to Epstein adjacent children’s books about secret pizza parties??? Plus, the girls chat about Jonestown opening for tourists, Kate Gosselin’s alleged abuse, and not being able to get away from the...
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Episode 425: The Things That Haunt Us
This week, Firstober continues with a collection of chilling listener stories, unexplained encounters, and a real-life Halloween nightmare. From eerie apparitions to a mysterious death on Halloween night, Lex and Jac explore the things that haunt us, both supernatural and all too human. 🎟 Catch…
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DEEP DIVE: WHAT IS SUSAN DELL?
The world is going crazy and we’re just trying to keep up. This week we are talking about a woman sneaking into high school to pretend to be a substitute teacher just to talk shit to students, a possible serial killer in Michigan, a brand new cute Trump statue, a new cat species, and what the…
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Episode 424: The Dead Speak
In this special Halloween episode, Lex and Jac share chilling paranormal encounters from Firsties who swear they’ve experienced something they can’t explain. Then, they unravel the incredible true story of a murdered woman who may have found a way to identify her own killer from beyond the grave....
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DEEP DIVE: CALEB FLYNN
You asked for it, you got it. This week we are going down the rabbit hole that is the atrocious man named Caleb Flynn. Alexis’ new obsession has been courtroom tv, and she has been watching the entire trial in real time. We go through texts with his mistress, the embarrassing AI songs he wrote…
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Episode 423: Spooky Stories & Strange Crimes
Today, Jac and Lex are taking us on a spooky adventure into the places where true crime and the paranormal collide. From chilling listener encounters to a historic murder case with a supernatural twist, they’re leaning all the way into spooky season. Plus, they unpack the bizarre story of a...
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DEEP DIVE: DR. TOMASZ KOSOWSKI
This week we are diving into one of the most bizarre cases of the year, Dr. Tomasz Kosowski. You may have seen clips circulating online of his insane courtroom behavior, or maybe of him trying to suck DNA off his fingers in the back of a cop car. No matter what you’ve seen so far, it only gets...
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Episode 422: Rachel Hansen
In June 2022, a 19-year-old woman calls 911 after someone enters her apartment and shoots her in the middle of the night. She survives long enough to tell the dispatcher she doesn’t know who shot her or why, but dies from her injuries shortly afterward. As investigators search for answers, they...
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DEEP DIVE: ANIMALS ARE FREAKS
If you thought humans were weird as hell, buckle up because animals are FREAKS. We’re bringing you all of the creepy, strange, murderous facts about the animal kingdom. Prepare to learn things you didn’t want to about dolphins, spiders, birds, pandas, anglerfish, and so much more! 🎟 Catch up to...
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Episode 421: Daniel Hiers Jr.
On March 15, 2005, police respond to a 911 call from a home in Goose Creek, South Carolina. Inside the residence, the body of a 24-year-old woman is found in bed, dead from a gunshot wound to the head. The number one suspect is already accused of crimes against a child. But when he fails to…
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DEEP DIVE: THE AI TAKEOVER? REAL OR PSYOP?
Things are feeling a bit spooky this week and we are barely halfway through September. We are discussing all of the weird shit going on in the AI world (like if it gonna kill off humanity in 10 years or what?????). Plus, some updates in the Lindsay Clancy trial, Mormon Wived drama, and who the…
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Episode 420: Elisa Roberson
In August 1989, a 13-year-old girl leaves her home in Aransas Pass, Texas, for a short walk to meet a friend at a nearby elementary school. But she never makes it there, and investigators soon theorize she was abducted somewhere along that short route. In episode 420, Jac and Alexis examine the...
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DEEP DIVE: CYBORG COCKROACHES
We’re bouncing all over the place this week, so put on your seatbelts and get ready for the ride. A new lawsuit alleges that Frederic Fekkai was an integral part to Epstein’s trafficking ring, the new teaser for Nathan Fielder’s Elizabeth Holmes doc is out and it is INSANE, and the announcer on...
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Episode 419: Dana Woods
In August 2012, two young women spend a summer night together in Berkeley County, South Carolina, before accepting a ride from someone they know. Hours later, Dana Woods and June Guerry are found murdered in the remote Francis Marion National Forest. As investigators work to identify those...
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DEEP DIVE: THE BUTT SNIFFER STRIKES AGAIN
It’s another variety show type of week over here at the Deep Dive and we’ve got something for everyone. D4VD’s lawyers dump him, Laura Owens pleads guilty, a budding serial killer is out on the streets doing god knows what, and the Los Angeles butt sniffer strikes again. We warned you. 🎟 Catch…
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Episode 418: Bigger Than the Trial
The Lindsay Clancy case has brought renewed attention to postpartum psychosis, a rare but potentially devastating condition that, when left untreated, has been associated with an estimated 5% risk of suicide and 4% risk of filicide. This week, Alexis and Jac are joined by Dr. Erin Davidowicz, a...
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DEEP DIVE: WHAT IS WRONG WITH EVERYONE?
No, for real, what is wrong with everyone lately? This week we’re discussing a woman who was giving sex eyes to the camera during the Lindsay Clancy trial, Hilary Duff feeding her children pizza on stage at her concert, Alcohol being advertised to kids, and a very messed up golf ad. Keep those…
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Episode 417: Stozek/McBrien
Growing up in suburban Chicago, a young girl is raised to trust the adults around her. Her church, her school, and her family all feel like safe places. But years later, she learns that two people she once looked up to and loved are accused of horrific crimes against children, forcing her to...
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DEEP DIVE: UNCOMFORTABLE TRUTHS
Today we are discussing the tragedy of Hayden Panettiere’s sudden passing and everyone who failed her throughout her life, Anthropic and Amazon destroying rare and ancient texts to basically rewrite history however they want (1984 anyone?), and Howie Mandel being a perv in front of his daughter....
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Episode 416: Trish Haynes
In May 2018, a 25-year-old woman suddenly disappears while living with a childhood friend in Grafton, New Hampshire. Her family immediately knows something is wrong, but for months, they are left searching for answers. Then investigators make a devastating discovery: a small piece of her...
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DEEP DIVE: TO CATCH A PREDATOR?
There’s a lot going on this week, so put those tin foil hats on. First, we’re discussing the new bizarre documentary Predators, and the impact Chris Hansen has had on the true crime world. Also, Chris Watts somehow is getting married, and Drake is buying a goth girl a house. Lastly, we know you...
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Episode 415: Three People Knew
In August 2017, a newlywed is found shot to death inside a hotel room in Athens, Georgia, while on a road trip with her husband. As investigators begin piecing together her final hours, they uncover text messages, surveillance footage, and other evidence that paint a disturbing picture of what...
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Introducing: CRIMES OF REDDIT, Alexis’ new show with Sabrina Deana-Roga
Reddit is an endless archive of humanity’s most disturbing, bizarre, and deeply human stories. If you love The First Degree, you are going to love CRIMES OF REDDIT with Alexis and Sabrina Deana-Roga from Two Girls One Ghosts. Every Tuesday, one host brings a set of true-crime stories while the...
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DEEP DIVE: AUTHOR SESSIONS - CHAOS
Today's episode is the Deep Dive x The First Degree Book Club crossover you didn't know you needed. We're sitting down with bestselling author Tom O'Neill to talk about CHAOS: Charles Manson, the CIA, and the Secret History of the Sixties. What began as a routine magazine assignment became a...
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Episode 414: Manson murders, MKUltra, and the CIA
This week on The First Degree, we're doing something a little different. Consider this episode your CHAOS crash course. Tom O'Neill's groundbreaking book CHAOS: Charles Manson, the CIA, and the Secret History of the Sixties has sparked years of conversation, debate, and controversy. But with this...
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DEEP DIVE: THE MANOSPHERE BAKERY
This week Jac is taking you on a very niche deep dive, so buckle up. We’re going all the way down the manosphere rabbit hole via a “hot” viral bakery owner from Phoenix and it’s a wild ride. Plus updates on the current D4VD hearings happening this week. 🎟 Catch up to FOUR bonus episodes per…
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Episode 413: Christian Sayre
In October 2021, the owner of a beloved dive bar in Everett, Washington is arrested on multiple counts of sexual assault, sending shockwaves through the tight-knit group of patrons that once considered the establishment a second home. As more survivors come forward, investigators uncover a...
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DEEP DIVE: MKULTRA ALIVE & WELL?
Tin foil hats on! Today’s episode, we go down the rabbit hole of Tulsi Gabbard’s brother being arrested for luring kids into his hotel room with candy, being raised in a cult, their connection to Jim Morrison, and how she quite possibly might still be mind controlled by MKUltra??? Also, the…
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Episode 412: Hotel Zaza Tragedy
On July 29, 2019, police respond to a 911 call from a hotel in Dallas, Texas. There are noise complaints about some guests, but hotel security is reluctant to intervene before police arrive. When the door to room 228 finally opens, officers find a man covered in blood and a 32-year-old woman shot...
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DEEP DIVE: TYLER ROBINSON HEARING
Tyler Robinson’s hearing has officially started and it is a shit show already. We are discussing the highlights, the plot holes, and the fake news getting thrown around the internet, because what you’re being told is no where close to the truth. Plus, updates on Haley Beck and glitches in the...
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Episode 411: Jeremy "Scotty" Cockrell
In June 2006, a 17-year-old spends the evening volunteering with a local haunted house before making plans to spend the next day at the lake with friends. But when those friends arrive to pick him up the following morning, they find the back door of his home kicked in and discover him shot to…
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DEEP DIVE: LEX'S LISK UPDATE
This week, Alexis is giving you the inside scoop on all of the latest LISK updates, including what she saw at the sentencing hearing, never heard stories, and her involvement in the LISK Peacock documentary, The Gilgo Beach Killer: House of Secrets. 🎟 Catch up to FOUR bonus episodes per month…
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Episode 410: Terrence Woods Jr.
On October 5, 2018, a 26-year-old man disappears while on a work assignment close to Orogrande, Idaho. The energetic, ambitious production assistant and aspiring film producer is last seen on a TV shoot with his crew before running away into the distance, never to be seen again. A search is…
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DEEP DIVE: MOUNT SHASTA MYSTERY
Today is a bit of a medley episode, because there’s just so much to talk about. We’re hitting the headlines: FBI confirms the Nancy Guthrie ransom letters are fake, Tom Sandoval getting into trouble yet again, Love Island is a microcosm of the state of the world today, and what the hell is...
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Episode 409: Paula & Brandon Wade
In October 2002, a 25-year-old mother is preparing to leave Valdosta, Georgia, with her 3-year-old son and move back home to be closer to family. She has accepted a new job, packed up her apartment, and is just days away from starting a new chapter. But before the move can happen, both mother and...
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DEEP DIVE: PETER THEIL’S SUPERVILLAIN LIST
We’ve got two very important topics to talk to you about today. One, hackers revealed Peter Theil’s “list”, aka the people who meet up in black cloaks at 3am and chat about how they’re gonna make money while they ruin the world. And second, Alexis is officially an author! We talk about her latest...
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Episode 408: Deanna Merryfield
In July 1990, a 13-year-old girl disappears in the early hours after sneaking out to see her twin sister in Killeen, Texas. When she is reported missing, police quickly classify her as a runaway and the case receives little to no investigation, leaving her family without answers and her case to...
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DEEP DIVE: MISSING & MURDERED SCIENTISTS, PART 2
We are concluding our 2 part series on the missing and murdered scientists today, and it gets more bizarre the farther you fall down the rabbit hole. Why these specific scientists being targeted, what did they know that the powers that be wanted destroyed, and will we ever get any answers? 🎟…
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Episode 407: Jeremiah Aviles
In May 2023, an 18-year-old is preparing for graduation, planning for college, and looking forward to the future in Mesa, Arizona. But after spending the night with friends, he is shot and killed inside a teammate's home just weeks before receiving his diploma. As investigators work to determine...
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Presenting: The Final Hours with Sarah Turney and Kourtney Nichole
Today, we’re sharing a preview of The Final Hours, a true crime podcast from Crime House, powered by PAVE Studios. Hosted by Sarah Turney and Kourtney Nichole, The Final Hours examines the moments just before a person disappears. The routines. The timelines. And the small details that often get...
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DEEP DIVE: A NEW BOMBSHELL HAS ENTERED THE VILLA
Get ready for another wild week of headlines. Did you ever submit your DNA to 23 and Me or Ancestry.com? Well, the CIA might be digging through yours right now to see if it contains extraterrestrial DNA, sorry! Also, Mackenzie Shirilla is texting her dad about “warm milk”, Charli D’Amelio’s…
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Episode 406: Simrit Gill
On the morning of February 1, 2008, a man calls his 20-year-old daughter in Charlotte, North Carolina after receiving a disturbing phone call urging him to check on her. But when her father walks inside, he is greeted with a sight no parent should ever have to witness. The young woman’s killer is...
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DEEP DIVE: MISSING AND MURDERED SCIENTISTS
You asked for it….get ready for the ultimate deep dive digging into the over 13 missing and murdered scientists over the past few years. We are starting with the most infamous, disturbing, and head scratching case of Amy Eskridge. Get ready to go down the rabbit hole with us. It’s a wild ride. 🎟...
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Episode 405: Amber Arnett
On June 23rd, 2023, a 39-year-old woman messages her mom asking if she can come to her home because she doesn’t feel safe where she is staying. Unfortunately, her mom is out of town but she tells her daughter she can come over when she is back on the 25th. However, the woman never shows up that...
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DEEP DIVE: MACKENZIE SHIRILLA
Today we’re deep diving everything that the Netflix documentary The Crash missed about the Mackenzie Shirilla case. From scouting out LA modeling agencies while in the hospital, to jail house calls about Kim Kardashian, to selling feet pics, there is a LOT you don’t know about Mackenzie Shirilla...
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Episode 404: Sons Of Sam, Part 2
In episode 404, Jac and Alexis are joined by Josh Zeman for Part 2 of their coverage on the infamous Son of Sam murders—and the man whose relentless obsession with uncovering the truth behind the official narrative ultimately consumed him. As the investigation spirals deeper into alleged cult...
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DEEP DIVE: MEDIA GHOULS
What the hell even happened this week?! We’re diving into it all: Luigi Mangione updates, the James Charles x Gypsy Rose crossover you’d never expect, the SKIMS cocaine bust, the alien files, and an impromptu discussion about the Netflix doc The Crash (which ps is your homework to watch for next...
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Episode 403: Sons Of Sam, Part 1
In the early hours of July 29th, 1976, an 18-year-old woman sits in her car outside her house chatting with a friend following a night out in New York City. The aspiring emergency medic’s life is brutally cut short when a man suddenly fires through the window, killing the young woman. Her friend…
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About this show
Do you ever wonder what it’s like to be friends with a murderer? Or escape a kidnapping? Or have a father who was a serial killer? Join Jac Vanek and Alexis Linkletter on a chilling ride into the darkest corners of your worst nightmares. Murders, cults, kidnappings, and conspiracies—all told through the eyes of a guest who is one degree of separation from the story itself. From infamous serial killers to the unbelievable unknown murder in your own backyard, The First Degree delivers a new perspective to the already fascinating true crime landscape. And who knows... you may be our next guest. (Plus, join them every Thursday for Killing Time, the light-hearted, true crime-adjacent aftershow!)
Hosted by
Alexis Linkletter, Jac Vanek
Categories