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
BONUS: KILLING TIME: CHRISTMAS IS CREEPY
Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays to all of you wonderful Firsties out there! Today’s Killing Time is all about spreading the holiday cheer, but first, we’re…
- The First Degree
Episode 227: Udoamaka Nwamu, Kaliyah Ratliff & Nikita Green
On June 6, 2021, a 24 year old woman and her 46 year old mother are shot to death inside the older woman’s home in Douglasville, Georgia by an intruder. The…
- The First Degree
BONUS: KILLING TIME: BABY ONE MORE TIME
This week the girls and the ginger become song sleuths to uncover the true meaning behind those sugary pop anthems from the 90’s and beyond! From Barbie Girl…
- The First Degree
Episode 226: Mayra De Loa
On December 20, 2003, a 19 year old college student is stabbed 19 times outside an apartment complex in Garland, Texas. It’s a heartbreaking loss for the…
- The First Degree
BONUS: KILLING TIME: LIKE, LITERALLY!
This week the girls and the ginger are talking about some pretty unbelievable real life crimes that were inspired by fiction! John Lennon, Dexter, Stephen…
- The First Degree
Episode 225: Dawsyn, reclaimed
Anyone who has been abused or harmed deserves justice. The kind of justice validated by a courtroom trial and a guilty verdict. But our justice system is an…
- The First Degree
BONUS: KILLING TIME: BAKKER’S BUCKETS
Strap yourself IN because this week we’ve died and gone to heaven! If you’re reading this, you’ve been left behind! But good news! Televangelist Jim Bakker has…
- The First Degree
Episode 224: Anna Marie Emry
On August 13th, 1994, a 9-year-old little girl is snatched from her bed in the middle of the night. Hundreds of volunteers sweep the cornfields of Brighton…
- The First Degree
BONUS: KILLING TIME: OL DUSTY BIRD
This week the girls and the ginger are unbuttoning their pants, laying back, and letting the tryptophan take the wheel. It’s turkey time, and even though we’re…
- The First Degree
Episode 223: Nicki Peterson
On May 19, 2022, a 40 year old woman is shot outside her house in Pleasant Grove, Utah. Everyone in the community is in disbelief. Despite almost losing her…
- The First Degree
BONUS: KILLING TIME: NIPPLEGATE
This week the girls and the ginger are back and ready to expose themselves… to the horrors of live TV moments gone wrong! Plus, kids on the internet, peeing in…
- The First Degree
Episode 222: The River Parishes Serial Killer
On October 17, 1996, a 41 year old repair shop owner and father of three is bludgeoned to death at his home in St Amant, Louisiana, by an intruder. The killer…
- The First Degree
BONUS: KILLING TIME: THE SINS OF SESAME
This week the girls and the ginger are back to take a walk on the dark side of Sesame Street! Also, one, two, three (AH AH AH!) On The Stands about the…
- The First Degree
Episode 221: Chester The Molester
In 1984, 13-year-old Allison Tinsley moves out of her abusive mother’s home in South Carolina. Like a real-life fairytale, Allison is going to live with her…
- The First Degree
BONUS: KILLING TIME: OH NO-VEMBER!!!
This week the girls and the ginger are back with an astrological adventure into the month of November. Step right up and find out why we should all be more…
- The First Degree
Episode 220: Garland Joseph Nelson
On July 21, 2019, two brothers from Wisconsin aged in their twenties and thirties go missing after visiting a rural property outside Braymer, Missouri. In the…
- The First Degree
BONUS: KILLING TIME: OOH, PIECE OF CANDY!
This week the girls and the ginger are knocking on your doors and they want candy. That’s right, we’re talking about treacherous trick-or-treats. Also, we…
- The First Degree
Episode 219: Chris Northon
On October 8th, 2000, 44-year-old Chris Northon is camping in Oregon with his wife, 38-year-old Liysa, and their 3-year-old son. After four years of marriage…
- The First Degree
BONUS: KILLING TIME: ITS CRYPTOZOOLOGY SZN
That’s right, the girls and the ginger are learning all about those spooky-maybe-real-maybe-not-animals like the classic Big Foot. They debate Southwest…
- The First Degree
Episode 218: Matthew Trecker
On November 29, 1996, two young men in Farmington, New Mexico, are murdered and mutliated inside a downtown business known as The Eclectic. At first it seems…
- The First Degree
BONUS: KILLING TIME: BEANBOOZLED
This week the girls and the gourmand (Matt) are back with a stomach-turning adventure! That's right, we're talking the worst of the worst when it comes to…
- The First Degree
Episode 217: Hope Parks
On August 18, 2020, a 44 year old mother of two goes missing from Crawfordsville, Indiana, after a heated argument with her husband. Two days later, when she…
- The First Degree
BONUS: KILLING TIME: WILD WILD WEST
This week the girls and gourmand dive into the most notorious outlaws of the Wild West. They debate going shoeless in public, dogs in bags on trains…
- The First Degree
Episode 216: Justine Vanderschoot
On September 1st, 2003, 17-year-old Justine Vanderschoot sat down with her parents to eat dinner. Her boyfriend, 18-year-old Danny Bezemer, joined them…
- The First Degree
BONUS: KILLING TIME: WHERE THERE'S A BILL, THERE'S A MAY
This week the girls are joined by none other than May and Bill Vanek. That's right, the entire fam is here and we have quite the special episode for all you…
- The First Degree
Episode 215: Jacque Waller
On June 1, 2011, a 39 year old mother of triplets goes missing from Cape Girardeau, Missouri after visiting her divorce attorney. The woman’s panicked family…
- The First Degree
BONUS: KILLING TIME: WITCH HUNT
This week, the girls and the ginger are taking a trip to Salem to learn about the hysteria surrounding the town during the witch trials. Plus! The metaverse is…
- The First Degree
Episode 214: The Lanz Brothers
On August 3, 2021, 27-year-old Austin Lanz boards a bus to Arlington, Virginia. He exits onto a bus station platform that is mere steps away from the US…
- The First Degree
BONUS: KILLING TIME: CHUCKY D
This week the girls and the ginger are rollin out! Looking for America’s greatest diners, drive ins, and dives. That’s right, Guy Fieri is on the stand. Also…
- The First Degree
Episode 213: Terry Barron
On August 22, 1992, a 40 year old woman and her 41 year old boyfriend are brutally attacked in a motel room in Tampa, Florida. The couple is beaten unconscious…
- The First Degree
BONUS: KILLING TIME: JOAN OF ARC
This week the girls and the ginger discuss Dr. Phil, phones on silent, and loose change! Then, they dive in for a big heaping helping of history, as Alexis…
- The First Degree
Episode 212: The Railroad Killer
On December 17, 1998, a 39 year old prominent clinical geneticist at the Baylor College of Medicine in West University Place, Texas, is raped, stabbed, and…
- The First Degree
BONUS: KILLING TIME: ICEBERG RIGHT AHEAD!
This week the girls and the ginger go back to 1912 and learn all about the dark history of the Titanic. They debate cruises, singing in public, and whether you…
- The First Degree
Episode 211: Jayna Murray
On March 12, 2011, 29-year-old Brittany Norwood and 30-year-old Jayna Murray are discovered in the bloody backroom of a Lululemon Athletica store. Brittany is…
- The First Degree
BONUS: KILLING TIME: THERE’S NO PLACE LIKE HOME
This week the girls and the ginger follow the yellow brick road and learn all of the dark, twisted, messed up facts surrounding The Wizard of Oz. They debate…
- The First Degree
Episode 210: Surviving Peter Paul, Part 2
Today concludes Jennifer’s story of escaping Peter Paul, which will inspire you, haunt you, and make you truly believe in the power of karma. Jennifer never…
- The First Degree
BONUS: KILLING TIME: MURDER & MAKEUP
This week the girls are graced with the presence of a very special guest: their bestie and celeb makeup artist Afton Williams for a very special makeup themed…
- The First Degree
Episode 209: Surviving Peter Paul
Today’s story is one of the most harrowing we’ve ever told, and reveals the dark, and sometimes hopeless reality of being imprisoned by an abusive…
- The First Degree
BONUS: KILLING TIME: SELF SABOTAGE
This week the girls and the ginger discuss different murderers whose narcissism and self obsession lead to their own demise. They debate ketchup on eggs, Judge…
- The First Degree
Episode 208: Mr. Sanger
Of all the places young women expect to feel safe, the classroom is one of them. Sure, school bullies can make our lives hell, but teachers are meant to be the…
- The First Degree
BONUS: KILLING TIME: PLAGUE PARTY
This week the girls and the ginger are talking about pets, pests, and plagues. They learn about all of the worst infestations in history, and debate having a…
- The First Degree
Episode 207: The Gypsy Joker Outlaws
There’s nothing more intriguing than a peek behind the curtain of an elusive and exclusive world… What’s even more seductive is being welcomed into it. On…
- The First Degree
BONUS: KILLING TIME: THE HAMBURGLAR
This week the girls and the ginger learn about the most messed up way to make a burger. They debate In N Out fries, breakfast all day, and a cheese-less…
- The First Degree
Episode 206: Jesse James Hollywood
On August 6, 2000, a 15 year old student walking not far from his home in Los Angeles is snatched off the street. Little does anyone know, he’ll never see his…
- The First Degree
BONUS: KILLING TIME: MAN ON THE MOON
This week the girls and the ginger celebrate the anniversary of the moon landing by diving into space related conspiracy theories! They debate lobster ice…
- The First Degree
Episode 205: Chacey Poynter
On September 9, 2016, a 47 year old off duty firefighter attends to assist a vehicle which is stuck in the mud on a road on the outskirts of town. Before the…
- The First Degree
BONUS: KILLING TIME: C’EST LA VIE
This week the girls and the ginger put on their berets for a French themed KT! They debate frog legs, ice in drinks, and conversing with your plane seat mate…
- The First Degree
Episode 204: Sextortion
Internet technology evolves faster than any of us can keep up with. And as more and more of our lives are spent online, criminals are adapting. They’re…
- The First Degree
BONUS: KILLING TIME: MANDELA EFFECT
This week the girls and the ginger dive into the fascinating phenomenon of the Mandela Effect, and go through some of the craziest false memories from our…
- The First Degree
Episode 203: Linda LaRoche
In July of 1999, Racine County, WI Law Enforcement was called to the scene of a female victim who had been left in a cornfield. Based on her injuries, she'd…
- The First Degree
BONUS: KILLING TIME: CHICKEN OF THE SEA
This week the girls and the ginger dive into the messiest celebrity divorces of the 2000s, starting with the iconic Jessica Simpson & Nick Lachey. They debate…
- The First Degree
Episode 202: Isaac Aguigui, Part 2
Following soldier Deirdre Aguigui’s untimely death in July 2011, her husband Isaac becomes disenchanted with the military and government. For the next five…
- The First Degree
Episode 201: Isaac Aguigui, Part 1
In 2010, a soldier in her early 20s returns to the US from a deployment to Iraq - she’d been injured in a mortar attack. She and her husband settle into an…
- The First Degree
BONUS: KILLING TIME: PSYCHO KILLER
This week the girls and the goth discuss all of the movies inspired by real life killers, starting with the classic: Psycho. They debate audiobook gate…
- The First Degree
Episode 200: Melissa “Missy” Clary
A 20 year old woman escapes an abusive relationship, and moves into her own place, taking her young son along with her. She starts working at a job she loves…
- The First Degree
BONUS: KILLING TIME: OH DONALD!
This week the girls and the goth do a deep dark dive into Donald Duck’s possible involvement in WWII. They debate $35 beers, wooden utensils, and not throwing…
- The First Degree
Episode 199: The Benyon Brothers
On October 21, 2020, two brothers aged in their early twenties are gunned down at their home in Wolcott, Indiana. Their bodies are discovered the next day. In…
- The First Degree
BONUS: KILLING TIME: KILLED BY YOUR MAKER
This week the girls and the goth dive into all of the poor, poor inventors who were murdered by the very things they crested. They debate the two soy sauce…
- The First Degree
Episode 198: Matthew Kelly
On December 12, 2021, a 34 year old Kansas man is arrested on a misdemeanor count of property damage. As fate would have it, the man’s cellmate is a family…
- The First Degree
BONUS: KILLING TIME: I VANT TO SUCK YOUR BLOOD
This week the girls and the goth put their fangs in and dive into the dark history of Dracula! They debate charcuterie vending machines, binging TV shows, and…