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 197: Marie "Lisa" Peak, Part 2
In December 1975, Lisa Peak helps authorities bring down John Carmody, the head of a sex trafficking extortion ring. By September 1976, Lisa, now 19 years old…
- The First Degree
BONUS: KILLING TIME: QUEEN FOR A DAY
This week the girls and the goth learn all about Henry VIII’s 6 wives (victims) and all of his bizarre medieval gaslighting. They debate bartender gatekeeping…
- The First Degree
Episode 196: Marie “Lisa” Peak, Part 1
In the fall of 1975, Lisa Peak is a freshman journalism student at Wartburg College in Waverly, Iowa when she is trapped into a sex trafficking extortion ring…
- The First Degree
BONUS: KILLING TIME: DOH!
This week the girls and the goth learn about all the wild predictions The Simpsons made throughout the years. They debate unpacking your suitcase right away…
- The First Degree
Episode 195: Terror Begins at Home, Part 2
In part one, our first degree Katie shared harrowing details of her relationship with her ex boyfriend Ryan, and the abuse and escalating violence she…
- The First Degree
BONUS: KILLING TIME- WHAT'S IN THE BAG, NAPOLEON?
This week, the girls and the goth discuss espresso martinis, unsolicited guitar playing, and the magic of dueling piano bars. Also! A short talk about the…
- The First Degree
Episode 194: Terror Begins at Home, Part 1
Fifty seven women each month are shot and killed by intimate partners in America. An additional one million women in America have survived being shot by an…
- The First Degree
BONUS: KILLING TIME- ALIEN AUTOPSY
This week the girls and the goth explore UFO conspiracies and one of the most popular extraterrestrial snuff films of all time. They debate joint Facebook…
- The First Degree
Episode 193: Mass Murderer John Doe, Part 2
We conclude with part 2 of our story about the attention-hungry mass murderer who ruined and stole the lives of so many in his pursuit of name recognition and…
- The First Degree
BONUS: KILLING TIME- FESTIVAL FAILZ
This week the girls and the goth go down the rabbit hole of the biggest festival disaster of all time. They debate Eric Church bailing on his job to watch…
- The First Degree
Episode 192: Mass Murderer John Doe, Part 1
On April 23, 2018, a 25 year old man commits the worst mass murder in Canadian history since 1989 by driving a Chevy cargo van down busy sidewalks and streets…
- The First Degree
BONUS: KILLING TIME- SIC SEMPER TYRANNIS!
This week the girls and the goth dive into Boston Corbett, the elusive hipster who killed John Wilkes Booth during Billy’s childhood. They debate canned…
- The First Degree
Episode 191: Kay Gosewisch
On July 31, 2020, concerned neighbors contact authorities after not seeing their 73 year old neighbor since mid-April. Mail is piling up, her yard is no longer…
- The First Degree
BONUS: KILLING TIME- HELLO HOWARD
This week the girls and the goth learn about the infamous Clay the Serial Killer, who confessed to a dozen murders on the Howard Stern Show. They debate…
- The First Degree
BONUS: KILLING TIME- PARIS IS 4 LOVERZ
This week the girls and the goth learn about the dark side of the Eiffel Tower. They debate Avril Lavigne, forgiving student loans, and creating your own lane…
- The First Degree
Episode 189: Sydney Sutherland
On August 19, 2020, a 24 year old woman goes for her daily run in rural Jackson County, Arkansas. When she doesn’t return home, her boyfriend alerts the police…
- The First Degree
BONUS: KILLING TIME- HOUDINI HANDCUFFS
This week the girls and the goth dive into the strange life and stranger death of Harry Houdini! They debate half birthdays, what to do with leftover haircut…
- The First Degree
Episode 188: Gary Wayne Puckett, Part 2
On September 28th, 1997, a 35 year old woman is viciously attacked in a rest area bathroom in North Dakota. She miraculously survives and provides police with…
- The First Degree
BONUS: KILLING TIME- ST. PADDY'S
This week the girls and the goth throw on their green garb to celebrate St. Paddy's day! They share some bizarre shit that has happened on the lucky day over…
- The First Degree
Episode 187: Gary Wayne Puckett, Part 1
On September 23rd, 1997, a 52-year-old woman named Alice and her golden retriever vanished from the Cedar River trail outside Kent, Washington. Alice’s husband…
- The First Degree
BONUS: KILLING TIME- ONION NUGGETS
This week the girls and the goth dive into the concept of fingerprints. Are they truly unique special snowflakes?? They debate mayonnaise, McDonalds fried…
- The First Degree
BONUS: KILLING TIME - ESCAPE PLAN
This week the girls and the goth dive into the most infamous prison escapes, including the lil sweetie himself, John Dillinger! They debate pig parking…
- The First Degree
Episode 185: Katie Filiberti
On March 18, 2011, an 18 year old woman goes to a house party with her boyfriend. The next day, her body is found in a creek. Five months later, the killer is…
- The First Degree
BONUS: KILLING TIME- THE QUEEN IS DEAD
This week the girls and the goth discuss that one time (earlier that day) that Billy accidentally started a rumor that the Queen of England died! They debate…
- The First Degree
Episode 184: Jeffrey Milo Burks
In 1974, a young man commits a senseless murder, and is sentenced to seven years to life. 10 years later, the man is eligible for parole and is awaiting…
- The First Degree
BONUS: BEST OF KILLING TIME
This week the girls and the goth reminisce about their favorite Killing Time moments. From Ted Bundy's sock obsession to Payne Lindsay’s secret life as a boy…
- The First Degree
Episode 183: Dee Dee Blanchard
A woman and her disabled daughter relocate to Missouri after losing everything in Hurricane Katrina. They become local celebrities after residents hear what…
- The First Degree
BONUS: KILLING TIME- VALENTINE VAMPIRES
This week the girls and the goth get in the romantic mood and get to the bottom of the dark history of Valentine’s Day! They debate sending carnations in…
- The First Degree
Episode 182: Charlie Oppenneer & Brooke Slocum
An eight month pregnant teenager and her boyfriend post an ad on Craigslist, hoping to trade sex for cash. A user named “Mike's Hard” reaches out, and they…
- The First Degree
BONUS: KILLING TIME- THE DAY THE MUSIC DIED
This week the girls and the goth learn about the spooky circumstances surrounding Buddy Holly and the Day The Music Died. They debate bands “selling out”…
- The First Degree
Episode 181: Alyssa Bustamante
A 9 year old girl goes to play with her 6 year old neighbor. She’s supposed to be home by 6:00pm, but she never comes back. Hundreds of people search for the…
- The First Degree
BONUS: KILLING TIME- DANTE'S INFERNO
This week the girls and the goth go to hell, literally! In this Inferno themed episode, they travel through the 9 circles of hell, and throw out which celebs…
- The First Degree
Episode 180: Kaila Tran
A 26 year old Winnipeg woman leaves her apartment and walks to her car. As she opens the door, she is attacked by a man with a knife and stabbed over 30 times…
- The First Degree
BONUS: KILLING TIME: ONE MORE SONG!
This week the girls and the goth discuss all of the bizarre ways live shows can go wrong. They debate the concept of mosh pits, taking videos of the concert to…
- The First Degree
Episode 179: The Gainesville Ripper Part 3
While awaiting trial, Danny Rolling confesses to the five Ripper murders. He sits down with authorities and explains how he brutally murdered the college…
- The First Degree
BONUS: KILLING TIME: OH, THE HORROR!
This week the girls and the goth take a cute little road trip to the Amityville Horror house! They chat about the mass murder that took place, the paranormal…
- The First Degree
Episode 178: The Gainesville Ripper Part 2
Florida investigators are working around the clock to track down and apprehend the Gainesville Ripper, who brutally murdered five college students over the…
- The First Degree
BONUS: KILLING TIME- THAT'S SO 90s
This week the girls and the goth time travel back to the 90s to discuss the biggest scandals of the decade. They’re talking Nancy Kerrigan / Tonya Harding, Pee…
- The First Degree
Episode 177: The Gainesville Ripper Part 1
It’s August 1990, and the fall semester is about to start. College students start trickling into the city, and while they’re moving into their new places, they…
- The First Degree
BONUS: KILLING TIME- NEW YEAR NEW US
This week the girls and the goth reminisce on all of the bullshit that 2021 brought them. They debate New Years resolutions, going out on NYE, and the…
- The First Degree
Episode 176: See Ya 2021
The very last episode of The First Degree of 2021 is dedicated to the biggest true crime headlines of the year. The trio discusses everything from the bodies…
- The First Degree
BONUS: KILLING TIME- A FESTIVUS MIRACLE
This week the girls and the goth celebrate the very sacred holiday of Festivus! They debate unsolicited gift lists, giving cash as a present, and THE most…
- The First Degree
Episode 175: Happy Holidaze
Are you the kind of weirdo who is always trying to slip true crime facts into normal conversation? Well you’re in luck, because this week is an unconventional…
- The First Degree
KILLING TIME: SECRET SANTA
This week the girls and the goth get festive! They discuss different murders committed by Santa himself and debate secret Santa, wool sweaters, and of course……
- The First Degree
Episode 174: Susan Heyliger
It’s closing time at the bar, so a 42 year old bartender checks the bathrooms to make sure they're empty, shoos the lingering patrons out the front door, then…
- The First Degree
KILLING TIME: THE STAIRCASE
This week the girls and the goth talk about Michael Peterson and dive into all of the bizarre theories surrounding Kathleen Peterson’s death. They debate…
- The First Degree
Episode 173: Irene Katuran
A woman breaks up with her boyfriend. A month later, she files for a restraining order after her ex strangles her. Not long after, she is found brutally…
- The First Degree
KILLING TIME: ANOTHER YEAR CLOSER TO DEATH
This week the girls and the goth celebrate the birthday of their very own Alexis Linkletter! She takes a trip down memory lane to share some past dark birthday…
- The First Degree
Episode 172: Generro Sanchez
Jeana West received a call that is every mother's worst nightmare. Her son, Generro, who was off at college, was dead. From that moment, she began fighting an…
- The First Degree
KILLING TIME: GOBBLE GOBBLE
This week the girls and the goth bitch about all things Turkey day. They learn about Thanksgiving murders over the years, and debate turducken, cranberry…
- The First Degree
Episode 171: Thanksgiving 2021
On this very special Thanksgiving episode of The First Degree, the gang chats about the forensic advancements, solved cold cases, and justice served that they…
- The First Degree
KILLING TIME: DRINK THE KOOL-AID
This week the girls and the goth get culty and talk all things Jonestown, from Jim Jones’ “F*ck Schedule” to his pet monkey Mr Bubbs. They debate cult…
- The First Degree
Episode 170: Lola Blanc
A woman of LDS faith is excommunicated from her church. After three years of repentance, the woman moves halfway across the country to Utah with her daughter…
- The First Degree
KILLING TIME: PISTORIUS
This week the girls and the goth are analyzing the infamous Oscar Pistorius case, from the step by step recap of what happened on Feb 14, 2013, to why it’s so…
- The First Degree
Episode 169: Modern Day Bonnie & Clyde
Once the quintessential cheerleader in high school, a 30 year old woman’s life is nothing like it used to be. The husband she had a tumultuous relationship…
- The First Degree
KILLING TIME WITH BAILEY SARIAN
This week the girls and the goth interrogate the iconic Bailey Sarian! They chat about Bailey’s introduction to true crime as a kid, debate who killed…
- The First Degree
Episode 168: Brandon Brown
A senior in high school suffers an injury that puts an end to his dream of playing college basketball. His life spirals out of control, and one night in 2008…
- The First Degree
KILLING TIME: SPOOKY SZN
This week the girls and the goth celebrate a SPOOKY week with a Halloween themed episode of Killing Time! They learn about different Halloween murders over the…
- The First Degree
Episode 167: Jesse & Brad
Episode Title: Jesse & Brad A chance encounter in a Wal-Mart parking lot leads to two nights of partying…before things take a dark and unexpected turn. On…
- The First Degree
KILLING TIME: JAC’S ENGAGED!!!
This week the girls and the goth celebrate Jac and Jared getting engaged in a wedding themed episode of Killing Time! Jac and Alexis take you through the night…