Shows / The First Degree
The First Degree
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…
Episodes
- The First Degree
Episode 166: Linda Stoltzfoos
A young Amish girl goes missing while walking home from church. Because the police aren’t sharing any details, people come up with theories on what happened…
- The First Degree
KILLING TIME: CANNIBALISM
This week, the girls and the goth are talking cannibalism: from Jeffrey Dahmer to the Donner Party to weird dudes who eat body parts in the name of art. They…
- The First Degree
Episode 165: Amy Vick Part 2
By the time Tony Vick was 31 years old, he had been prosecuted for fraud, suspected of arson, had become a cult leader, and had collected more than 500k in…
- The First Degree
KILLING TIME WITH PAYNE LINDSEY
This week the girls and the goth have an epic chat with their friend Payne Lindsey, host of the Up and Vanished podcast! They talk about all things involving…
- The First Degree
Episode 164: Amy Vick Part 1
A man finds his wife unconscious in a bathtub, just a few months after he was diagnosed with cancer. Friends and family grieve for him—but what they don’t know…
- The First Degree
KILLING TIME: CURSED CAR
This week, the girls and the goth revisit James Dean’s fatal car crash and the trail of destruction The Little Bastard caused post mortem. They debate backseat…
- The First Degree
Episode 163: Vickie Edge
A Florida woman starts dating a man she met online, and after a quick courtship they start planning their future together. He promises her a house, a new car…
- The First Degree
KILLING TIME: PAUL IS DEAD
This week, the girls and the goth go back in time to 1969 when the “Paul Is Dead” hoax took over Beatlemania! They dive into all of the theories, secret…
- The First Degree
Episode 162: Randall Mercier
Meaghan Rice was the most popular girl in school—and many thought she was the prettiest. Meaghan also had two boyfriends—David and Randall. When David said he…
- The First Degree
KILLING TIME: MUSICAL TORTURE
This week, the girls and the goth talk all things musical torture. From the bizarre songs used to torture in the CIA, to what songs would drive us insane. We…
- The First Degree
Episode 161: Simeonette Mapes
Two teachers fall in love after discovering their passion for education in one another. After coming home from running errands, the husband finds his wife dead…
- The First Degree
KILLING TIME: TREMBLING LOINS
This week, the girls and the goth talk all about the dark history of Elvis, and it’s not what you think. They debate whether warm ketchup and hot guacamole are…
- The First Degree
160: Noreen Schmid Boyle Part 3
After his mother’s body was found entombed in the basement of his father’s new house, Collier Boyle has no time to grieve—he now has to testify against his…
- The First Degree
KILLING TIME: SAY MY NAME
This week the girls and the goth discuss the great London fire and weird serial killer names. They debate cold pizza, hangover cures, and creepy white vans…
- The First Degree
159: Noreen Schmid Boyle Part 2
When Collier Boyle wakes up, his father tells him his mother has “gone on a little vacation.” But the 11~year old boy knew better. He knew his father was…
- The First Degree
KILLING TIME: BO$$ BABE
This week, the girls and the goth dig into the dark, predatory history of MLMs. They debate whether they love or hate water parks, read receipts, and clapping…
- The First Degree
Episode 159: Noreen Schmid Boyle Part 1
A mother tells her 11-year-old son: “if I ever go missing, I would never leave you. But you need to know your father is dangerous.” After the boy hears a…
- The First Degree
KILLING TIME: SATANIC PANIC
This weekend, the girls and the goth are talking everything satanic panic. They dive into the West Memphis Three, why printed press matters, and is cereal a…
- The First Degree
Episode 158: The Shrout Family
On May 25, 1994, Sarah went to school like any other day. It was the last week of her 8th grade year and she intended to enjoy every moment of it. What was…
- The First Degree
KILLING TIME: ICEBERG RIGHT AHEAD
This week, the girls and the goth dive into the dark, dark history of nursery rhymes! They also debate about who should take the armrest on airplane middle…
- The First Degree
Episode 157: Jody Plauche Part 2
Police rescue Jody Plauche after he was kidnapped by his karate instructor—and learn the horrific details of what the 10-year-old boy endured at the hands of…
- The First Degree
KILLING TIME: THE PEOPLE'S SHOE
This week the girls call out the goth for complaining about his summer birthday, explore the many Marilyn Monroe conspiracy theories, the polarizing reputation…
- The First Degree
Episode 156: Jody Plauche Part 1
In March of 1984, Jody Plauche made national headlines when he was abducted by his karate teacher, Jeff Doucet. A national manhunt ensued before police zeroed…
- The First Degree
KILLING TIME: HANDSHAKES FROM HELL
This week, the girls and the goth dish on the sordid history of the royal family, the blasphemy of reserving a parking spot with your body, the two day Vegas…
- The First Degree
Episode 155: Peter Porco Part 2
When the police asked Joan Porco if it was her son who attacked her and her husband with an ax, she nodded yes. But when she came out of a three week coma, she…
- The First Degree
KILLING TIME: SLIP N' SLIDE FROM HELL
This week on Killing Time, the girls and the goth talk about the history of 911 and react to a few classic 911 calls. Plus, they put Britney Spears'…
- The First Degree
Episode 154: Peter Porco Part 1
A man doesn’t show up to his job. A co-worker goes to check on him and sees a smear of blood on the front door. Inside, he finds the man dead, his head…
- The First Degree
KILLING TIME: PASTA SMOOTHIES
This week on Killing Time, the girls and the goth dive into the bizarre murders in the happiest country in the world! Plus, they debate the Seinfeld finale…
- The First Degree
Episode 153: Alex Stevens Part 3
Megan Shaffer has been arrested for the murder of Alex Stevens. And after months of speculation, we finally hear what Megan says happened that night. She…
- The First Degree
KILLING TIME: DATING SHOWS ARE BANANAS
This week on Killing Time, the girls and the goth take dating games, bridesmaids and bachelor parties to the stand. They also listen to another "worst thing I…
- The First Degree
Episode 152: Alex Stevens Part 2
A woman who had gone missing breaks into a cabin and calls the police. She is naked, her back and shoulder broken. She tells them that she was with a friend…
- The First Degree
KILLING TIME: SOCKS IN THE CITY
This week on Killing Time, the girls and the goth take their listeners requests to the stand! It’s time to settle the debate once and for all about pineapple…
- The First Degree
Episode 151: Alex Stevens Part 1
In the middle of the night, a man and a woman go missing in the woods of Savage River State Forest. Their friend finds their cars at the trailhead, along with…
- The First Degree
KILLING TIME: CAMP TRAUMA
This week, the girls, the goth and the ginger party like it’s the summer of 2001! We debate if Friends is funny or not, try to convince Bennifer to televise…
- The First Degree
Episode 150: Down the Stairs
News travels through a middle school in the Pacific Northwest—the wife of a well-liked teacher has died of a tragic accident. But when the police arrive at the…
- The First Degree
KILLING TIME: BUTTCHEEKS OF JUSTICE
This week, the girls, the goth and the ginger do a deep dive into notorious crime cars. Billy gets booped, Lex gushes over the return of Costco samples, and…
- The First Degree
Episode 149: Catholic Supply Store Killer Part 2
After being arrested for sexually assaulting two women, and killing a third woman at a Catholic supply store in St. Louis, Missouri, the authorities look…
- The First Degree
KILLING TIME: Killer Sound
This week on a very special musical themed Killing Time, the girls, the goth, and the ginger dish on Mario Lopez's 2 week marriage. Billy condemns late 90's…
- The First Degree
Episode 148: Catholic Supply Store Killer Part 1
In November, 2018, a 911 call comes in from a store in the suburbs of St. Louis. A man had just walked into the Catholic supply store with a gun. He ordered…
- The First Degree
KILLING TIME: OH, THE PROFANITY!
This week on Killing Time, the girls and the goth defend crime podcast profanity, critique cold-calling without a heads-up text, and hard core call out Lori…
- The First Degree
Episode 147: Sabrina Bebb-Jones Part 2
31 year-old mother Sabrina Bebb-Jones is missing. Everyone thinks the husband knows something, but no one can prove anything. After a year, he sells the motel…
- The First Degree
KILLING TIME: LAST MEALS
This week on Killing Time, the girls and the goth talk about washing your legs in the shower, the utility of golf, whether the mullet is a good look, famous…
- The First Degree
Episode 146: Sabrina Bebb-Jones Part 1
A young couple drops off their child with a babysitter for a quick romantic getaway to Dinosaur National Park. But when the trip is over, only the husband…
- The First Degree
KILLING TIME: Beware the Murder Hornets
This week on Killing Time, the girls and the goth dish on Scott Peterson theories, Jac's unreasonable love for bucket hats, the enigma that is Gwennyth…
- The First Degree
Episode 145: A Murder in Cement
When word spread throughout Cement High School that Billie Joe Powell, a 16-year-old high school sophomore, had shot and killed her father—no one was sure if…
- The First Degree
KILLING TIME: Jac Hates Birthday Weeks!
This week on Killing Time, Jac, Alexis and Billy talk about Jac's disdain for the adult birthday week, Billy argues that Hootie & The Blowfish are just as goth…
- The First Degree
Episode 144: A Murder in Ninnekah
A high school junior calls her boyfriend from a payphone in front of an abandoned convenience store—then she’s never heard from again. Her family begins a…
- The First Degree
KILLING TIME: Oh, The Humanity!
This week on Killing Time, Jac, Alexis & Billy explore historic explosions, secret underground tunnels, the many methods of execution, bare legs on airplanes…
- The First Degree
Episode 143: "The Formans"
A young mother fails to show up for work. Her husband says his wife, Clara, is sick. But a welfare check is conducted at her house. Her husband now says Clara…
- The First Degree
Episode 142: Patricia Marquez
A couple’s argument at a local watering hole leads to an altercation. The drunk and belligerent man is asked to leave by the bar owner and a good samaritan. As…
- The First Degree
Episode 141: Ski Mask Rapist Part 2
The conclusion of our two part series on The Bay Area Ski Mask Rapist. Please support the show by checking out our sponsors! Daily Harvest: Go to…
- The First Degree
Episode 140: Ski Mask Rapist Part 1
A young woman is on the phone with her boyfriend, who is out of town on a business trip. She is home alone. She feels a chill, and goes to the thermostat to…
- The First Degree
Episode 139: Cathy Callahan
A young girl watches her mother as she answers the phone. She can tell by her body language that something isn’t right. But she had no idea how the world of…
- The First Degree
Episode 138: Kelsie Schelling Part 2
Last week we took you through the Feb 4th, 2013 disappearance of 21-year-old Kelsie Schelling. She was on her way to visit her boyfriend—the father of her…
- The First Degree
Episode 137: Kelsie Schelling Part 1
22-year-old Kelsie Schelling has just learned that she was pregnant. She texted a picture of the ultrasound to her boyfriend, Donthe Lucas and drove two hours…
- The First Degree
Episode 136: Dana Laskowski Part 3
The police are zeroing in on the unlikeliest of suspects in Dana’s murder—Dana’s favorite niece and her niece’s best friend. But they still don’t know what…
- The First Degree
Episode 135: Dana Laskowski Part 2
36-year-old Dana Laskowski has been found strangled to death in her home—and there are no shortage of suspects. Her ex-husband, her boyfriend, and her new…
- The First Degree
Episode 134: Dana Laskowski Part 1
A 36-year-old mother fails to show up to her nanny job. Police perform a welfare check and find her dead on the couch of her home—a home she just moved into…
- The First Degree
Episode 132: Brent Fitch
An 18-year-old is found running down the street, screaming, naked and covered in blood. In the house she ran from the police find a horrific scene. In a case…
- The First Degree
Episode 131: Scout Schultz
A student who was thriving on campus, a leader in student groups, with a 3.9 GPA, is shot dead. A police officer is behind the barrel of the gun. On episode…