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
DEEP DIVE: DIDDY, FYRE FEST, & JUSTIN V BLAKE UPDATES
We’re coming back at you with this week’s dark headlines! We’re talking Diddy’s lawyer quitting (saying “under no circumstances can I continue”), Kim K…
- The First Degree
Episode 340: The Victims: Milwaukee Ave Massacre
On November 26, 1981, four men were killed and two others were wounded in a shooting massacre on Thanksgiving night in Chicago, Illinois. The murders make…
- The First Degree
DEEP DIVE: BLAKE VS JUSTIN PT 193572
MAKE IT STOPPPP! We’re back for another Blake vs Justin update, because the bombs just don’t stop dropping. We break down Blake & Ryan’s first public…
- The First Degree
Episode 339: Stacy Shaw
In the early hours of September 6, 1994, a 21-year-old woman is found murdered in her apartment in Bakersfield, California. Just days earlier, she’d been…
- The First Degree
DEEP DIVE: THE DRAMA MASHUP
Another week, another round of messed up and delusional celeb shenanigans. We bring you the Blake vs Justin updates, Taylor & Travis Super Bowl conspiracies…
- The First Degree
Episode 338: Love, Chaos & Tragedy
On July 25, 2015, a man went to check on his neighbors, a married couple living in the suburbs of Phoenix, Arizona. When the 43-year-old husband opens the…
- The First Degree
DEEP DIVE: RECEIPTS. TIMELINE. PROOF. SCREENSHOTS.
Another week, another Blake vs. Justin vs. Ryan deep dive, and this one is a DOOZY. Justin Baldoni’s lawyer followed through with his promise and launched…
- The First Degree
Episode 337: Gilbert Gutjahr, Part 2
In episode 337 Jac and Alexis conclude with part 2 of the Gilbert Gutjahr case. While the case is technically adjudicated, questions may always loom about the…
- The First Degree
DEEP DIVE: RYAN REYNOLDS, THE REAL VILLAIN??
It Ends With Us NEVER ENDS, and this week we’re learning that the ultimate villain might be none other than…Ryan Reynolds?? We’re going through all of the…
- The First Degree
Episode 336: Gilbert Gutjahr, Part 1
In the early morning hours of January 22, 2021, 91-year-old Gilbert John Gutjahr was found severely wounded in his Bethany, Oregon home. When deputies arrive…
- The First Degree
DEEP DIVE: BALDONI FIRES BACK
In news interviews Justin Baldoni’s lawyer promised to “sue Blake Lively into oblivion,” and those were not empty threats. Tinfoil hats on because the gals are…
- The First Degree
Episode 335: The Crimes of Peter Nygard
Peter Nygard is one of the world’s most reviled sexual predators who you may have never heard of. For decades the Canadian fashion mogul intimidated his…
- The First Degree
DEEP DIVE: THE DARK HEADLINES
There is way too much shit going on this week to pick one topic to dive into, so this week we’re discussing the darkest headlines from the past few days. Armie…
- The First Degree
Episode 334: The Candy Man, Part 2
In the late 1960s and early 1970s, former candy business operator Dean “Candy Man” Arnold Corll builds a reputation in Houston Heights as a trusted individual…
- The First Degree
DEEP DIVE: BLAKE VS. JUSTIN
IT ENDS WITH US IN COURT. This week we deep dive the never ending feud between Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni, and everything surrounding the It Ends With Us…
- The First Degree
Episode 333: The Candy Man, Part 1
On the morning of August 8, 1973, 17-year-old Elmer Wayne Henley Junior shoots and kills former candy company owner, 33-year-old Dean Arnold Corll, in…
- The First Degree
DEEP DIVE: DRONES
Okay we need to talk about WTF is up with all of the DRONES!!! Why is the govt being so sketchy, are they really biblically accurate angels, why are we just…
- The First Degree
Episode 332: Debunked: The Glen Rogers x OJ Simpson Theory
Years ago The First Degree covered the serial murder spree of Glen Rogers, also known as The Casanova Killer. On the heels of OJ Simpson's 2024 death, a new…
- The First Degree
DEEP DIVE: KIM K
Happy rot day everyone! On this very special holiday, we break down and analyze Kim Kardashian’s bizarre rendition music video of Santa Baby. Is it satanic…
- The First Degree
Episode 331: Updates: John Getreu
In 2020 we covered the case of The Stanford Murders. A string of crimes that occurred between 1973-1974 in the area surrounding Stanford University. In 2016 a…
- The First Degree
DEEP DIVE: JAY-Z
Jay-Z’s lawyer is claiming there’s no friendship between he and Diddy, despite a paper trail dating back decades. Hats on, critical minds open, seat belts…
- The First Degree
Episode 330: Nikki Cheng Saelee-Mccain
In the early hours of May 18, 2024, a 39-year-old mother of four vanishes after last being seen at her mother-in-law’s home in Redding, California. Just days…
- The First Degree
DEEP DIVE: LUIGI MANGIONE
Put your tin foil hats on because this weeks episode is a wild ride! Join us as we uncover everything we can about Luigi Mangione, the murder of Brian…
- The First Degree
Episode 329: Timothy Haslett Jr.
On October 7, 2022, a 22-year-old black woman is frantically knocking on doors in a suburban neighborhood on the outskirts of Kansas City, Missouri. When…
- The First Degree
DEEP DIVE: SISTER WIVES
Today is a different kind of deep dive! You know the show Sister Wives? Yeah, the wacky reality show on TLC about that weird polygamist guy with the ramen…
- The First Degree
Episode 328: Dr. Blatti
On March 22, 2016, a 50-year-old woman passes away in Baldwin, New York. She had been suffering from chronic pain for almost 10 years following surgery, and…
- The First Degree
DEEP DIVE: ELLEN
You asked for it, and boy did we deliver! This week’s Deep Dive is allllllll about Ellen DeGeneres. Hats on. Minds open. Because it turns out that Diddy isn’t…
- The First Degree
Episode 327: UPDATES: Rita & Colleen
In October of 2023 we released two episodes discussing the cases of Rita Tangredi and Colleen McNamee. There have been significant developments regarding the…
- The First Degree
DEEP DIVE: MEGAN FOX & THE BLACK GOO
Another day, another deep dive! This week Jac & Lex dive into the latest Diddy updates, including a bombshell story about Diddy sacrificing a dove in the…
- The First Degree
Episode 326: Lonene "Lonnie" Rogers
In the early hours of January 7, 1981, a 29-year-old vibrant young mother of two vanishes from her home in Hayfield Township, Pennsylvania, during a blizzard…
- The First Degree
DEEP DIVE: SATANIC FASHION
Today we’ve got so much more than tinfoil hats for you. All hats are encouraged on this special DIDDY DEEP DIVE x FASHION crossover episode. With such strong…
- The First Degree
Episode 325: Lana Clarkson & Phil Spector, Part 2
In part 2 of our coverage of the Lana Turner case, Jac and Alexis conclude with a deep dive into the frenzied trial. Phil Spector finally went to court for the…
- The First Degree
DEEP DIVE: DIDDY, PART 7
We’re drowning in the deep end for week 7 of our Diddy deep dive! We bring you the latest updates including who the hell is Courtney Burgess and why is HE the…
- The First Degree
Episode 324: Lana Clarkson & Phil Spector, Part 1
In the early morning hours of February 3, 2003, actress Lana Clarkson left the Los Angeles venue, the House of Blues, with famed music producer, Phil Spector…
- The First Degree
DEEP DIVE: DIDDY, PART 6
The dives just keep getting deeper. This week we bring you the latest updates for everything Diddy: Jamie Foxx’s claims that Diddy poisoned him last year…
- The First Degree
Episode 323: TFD Investigates: Ashley Ellerin Updates
23 years after fashion student Ashley Ellerin's life was senselessly taken, new questions emerge that call into question whether the suspect could have been…
- The First Degree
BONUS: KILLING TIME: TLDR: DIDDY, PART 5
The deep dive continues! We are still live from The Stanley and this week we are going down the rabbit hole that is Ashton Kutcher, so put your tin foil hats…
- The First Degree
Episode 322: K.C. Gauf, Part 2
In the early morning hours of November 2nd 2014, Park City Utah police received a 911 call reporting a man in distress covered in blood. The man was no…
- The First Degree
BONUS: KILLING TIME: TLDR: DIDDY, PART 4
Jac & Lex are live from The Stanley Hotel in Estes Park, Colorado for Diddy Deep Dive: part 4. You know we love a theme, so we’re rocking our Grady Twins…
- The First Degree
Episode 321: K.C. Gauf, Part 1
When a Phoenix detective in the domestic violence unit received a parental abduction case in October of 2014, he knew something was “off” about the suspect he…
- The First Degree
BONUS: KILLING TIME: TLDR: DIDDY, PART 3
We’re back with part 3 on the case against Diddy. We’re talking all things breaking news, the latest allegations made by Jaguar Wright, and we’re putting on…
- The First Degree
Episode 320: Cory Morris
On July 14, 2002, a 43-year-old woman is found dead in an alley in downtown Phoenix, Arizona. The mother of eight’s passing isn’t clear, but no foul play is…
- The First Degree
BONUS: KILLING TIME: TLDR: DIDDY PART 2
Because one episode only touched the tip of the iceberg, we're dedicating another Killing Time to our TLDR: DIDDY series. This week, we discuss Tuesday's press…
- The First Degree
Episode 319: Brandon Hilton
On January 8, 1995, a 34-year-old man and his 33-year-old girlfriend are walking to their cars parked along the side of State Highway 295 in Spartanburg, South…
- The First Degree
BONUS: KILLING TIME: TLDR: DIDDY
In the wake of unspeakable allegations against hip hop juggernaut Sean "Diddy" Combs, Jac and Alexis delve into the claims, both verified and rumored, to bring…
- The First Degree
Episode 318: Brandy Hutchins
In November 1988, a 14-year-old girl is found murdered in an abandoned house in Johnson County, Arkansas, with satanic writings on the walls. She has been shot…
- The First Degree
BONUS: KILLING TIME: SILENT PANCAKE
Good day! It’s time for another Killing Time! This week, the girls and the ginger are debating utensils, learning about UFO’s, discussing amateur sketches…
- The First Degree
Episode 317: Kenny Pohlman & Kelly Coppola
On August 28th 2024, 53-year-old Kenneth Pohlman Jr and 50-year-old Kelly Cappola were shot to death inside the home they shared in the quiet Suffolk County…
- The First Degree
BONUS: KILLING TIME: PUNGENT MIST
Oh man, we’re back for another week of Killing Time! This week the girls and the ginger are getting a little stinky before they get sweet. Then! We’re learning…
- The First Degree
Episode 316: Natalee Holloway & Stephanie Flores, Part 2
For five years after Natalee Holloway’s disappearance in 2005, Joran van der Sloot narrowly avoided authorities after being their number one suspect. During…
- The First Degree
BONUS: KILLING TIME: TWINNING
Hello there! Welcome back! It’s Killing Time yet again! This week, the girls and the ginger are back and we’re wearing our rambling pants. Lots of talking up…
- The First Degree
Episode 315: Natalee Holloway & Stephanie Flores, Part 1
If you mention the word Aruba to any true crime consumer, they will undoubtedly and immediately think of Natalee Holloway. Natalee was last seen leaving the…
- The First Degree
BONUS: KILLING TIME: BODIES ARE DISGUSTING
Good day! And welcome back for this week’s Killing Time! Today, Jacquelene is taking us to history class with some interesting August 29th happenings. We’re…
- The First Degree
Episode 314: Angela Neal Dixiano
On April 18, 2010, a 44-year-old woman goes missing in Anchorage, Alaska. As far as her husband is concerned, there are multiple versions of where she is…
- The First Degree
BONUS: KILLING TIME: RAT PORTAL
Hello and welcome back for another thrilling Thursday episode of Killing Time! Today, the girls and the ginger are going waaaay back to bring you some strange…
- The First Degree
Episode 313: Mary Payne Moran
On April 19, 1995, a 15 -year-old student is in class at her school in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. Suddenly, the classroom shakes as the impact of a bomb is…
- The First Degree
BONUS: KILLING TIME: QUEEN MARY
Hello! Welcome back to Killing Time! This week the girls and the ginger return with more potentially useful facts and tangents. After Jac gives us our history…
- The First Degree
Episode 312: Justice for Krystal Whitley
In the afternoon hours of March 3rd, 1999 a beloved 30-year-old teacher named Krystal Whitley vanished after an ordinary school day. Krystal’s car was soon…
- The First Degree
BONUS: KILLING TIME: JER’S LISP
Oh hello there, and welcome back for another episode of Killing Time! Today, the girls and the ginger are just going to yap at you for about an hour. We’ve got…
- The First Degree
Episode 311: Brenda Gail Lambert
In the evening hours of July 26, 1992, a 22-year-old mother of two vanishes from her home in Bluewell, West Virginia after hosting a birthday party for her…