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The First Degree

Author: Alexis Linkletter, Jac Vanek

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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!)
524 Episodes
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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 middle of Central Park just minutes before his acquittal of the 1999 nightclub shooing???  WTF?  We also chat through the latest bizarre celeb news of the week: Megan Fox’s black goo pregnancy announcement, an Ariana Grande only fans impersonator, and Jay Leno “falling down a cliff”.  It was quite the week. 🎟 Catch up to FOUR bonus episodes per month plus full video episodes over on Patreon:patreon.com/thefirstdegree📸 Instagram: instagram.com/thefirstdegree🕺 TikTok: tiktok.com/@thefirstdegreee👤 Facebook: facebook.com/thefirstdegree 
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. All of her belongings—including her wallet, car, glasses, and hearing aids—are left behind in a home that is disturbingly spotless. When questioned, the woman’s husband claims she left in the middle of the night after an argument. Yet despite these claims, the mother is never found, leaving her children with haunting questions about what truly happened that fateful night. In episode 326, Jac and Alexis dive into the tragic disappearance of Lonene “Lonnie” Rogers and her daughter Alison's decades-long quest for the truth. 🎟 Catch up to FOUR bonus episodes per month plus full video episodes over on Patreon:patreon.com/thefirstdegree📸 Instagram: instagram.com/thefirstdegree🕺 TikTok: tiktok.com/@thefirstdegreee👤 Facebook: facebook.com/thefirstdegree 
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 ties between the worlds of music and fashion, we had to investigate. We’re talking all about Hollywood’s high priestess and her husband, Rick Owens AKA the “Lord of Darkness.” We’re talking the satanic Balenciaga scandal and the celebrities who support them anyway. And you may notice that  some of these same celebrities with elusive ties to the dark world of fashion are the same ones with ties to Diddy. BUCKLE UP. 🎟 Catch up to FOUR bonus episodes per month plus full video episodes over on Patreon:patreon.com/thefirstdegree📸 Instagram: instagram.com/thefirstdegree🕺 TikTok: tiktok.com/@thefirstdegreee👤 Facebook: facebook.com/thefirstdegree 
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 murder of Lana Clarkson in 2007, almost 4 years after her senseless death. Under the pervasive glare of the media, it would take six years and two jury trials, both lasting for months at a time, for the case to be adjudicated. Yet questions still linger for Lana’s best friend, Pie McLaughlin. 🎟 Catch up to FOUR bonus episodes per month plus full video episodes over on Patreon:patreon.com/thefirstdegree📸 Instagram: instagram.com/thefirstdegree🕺 TikTok: tiktok.com/@thefirstdegreee👤 Facebook: facebook.com/thefirstdegree 
DEEP DIVE: DIDDY, PART 7

DEEP DIVE: DIDDY, PART 7

2024-11-0748:501

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 one with all of the freak off tapes, what was on diddys NDA agreements, and did Kanye sacrifice his mother to the devil? Plus we rage about Peanut the squirrels murder 🎟 Catch up to FOUR bonus episodes per month plus full video episodes over on Patreon:patreon.com/thefirstdegree📸 Instagram: instagram.com/thefirstdegree🕺 TikTok: tiktok.com/@thefirstdegreee👤 Facebook: facebook.com/thefirstdegree 
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. Within hours, she would be dead from a single gunshot wound to the head.  Under the cloud of “celebrity justice” and the perception that celebrities in Los Angeles were not held to the same law and standards as the general public, the LA County District Attorney’s office was determined to get a conviction. With endless funds available and access to the best experts and attorneys in the world, Spector fought back. In part 1 of this 2 parter, Jac and Alexis delve into the sad circumstances of Lana Clarkson’s death, and bizarre lead up to the high profile trial. 🎟 Catch up to FOUR bonus episodes per month plus full video episodes over on Patreon:patreon.com/thefirstdegree📸 Instagram: instagram.com/thefirstdegree🕺 TikTok: tiktok.com/@thefirstdegreee👤 Facebook: facebook.com/thefirstdegree 
DEEP DIVE: DIDDY, PART 6

DEEP DIVE: DIDDY, PART 6

2024-10-3153:061

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, Diddy’s sons trying to fight Ray J at a Halloween party over the weekend, and Suge Knight’s bombshell claims from his jailhouse podcast. Plus put your tin foil hats on for the wildest blind item involving Tom Cruise and a…fish???? 🎟 Catch up to FOUR bonus episodes per month plus full video episodes over on Patreon:patreon.com/thefirstdegree📸 Instagram: instagram.com/thefirstdegree🕺 TikTok: tiktok.com/@thefirstdegreee👤 Facebook: facebook.com/thefirstdegree 
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 stopped before more lives were lost. Was a lie told by actor Ashton Kutcher the reason Michael Garguilo remained free to kill again? Was incompetence at the hands of Cook County Illinois law enforcement to blame? Or were there TWO missed opportunities to stop this monster? In today's special investigative episode, Jac and Alexis pour over all the details, and most importantly, punctuate the real issue at the heart of the matter, a society apathetic to violence against women. 🎟 Catch up to FOUR bonus episodes per month plus full video episodes over on Patreon:patreon.com/thefirstdegree📸 Instagram: instagram.com/thefirstdegree🕺 TikTok: tiktok.com/@thefirstdegreee👤 Facebook: facebook.com/thefirstdegree 
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 on! We explore his connection to Diddy, what his real motives were behind his anti-sex trafficking “non profit”, and was he more connected to Ashley Ellerin’s murder than we previously thought? 🎟 Catch up to FOUR bonus episodes per month plus full video episodes over on Patreon:patreon.com/thefirstdegree📸 Instagram: instagram.com/thefirstdegree🕺 TikTok: tiktok.com/@thefirstdegreee👤 Facebook: facebook.com/thefirstdegree 
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 stranger to law enforcement, and had been bailed out of jail following a parental abduction days before. When police arrived they uncovered a heartbreaking scene. In part 2 of this saga, Alexis and Jac conclude the story of K.C. Gauf, a case exposing the culprit for exactly what he was, a narcissistic monster. 🎟 Catch up to FOUR bonus episodes per month plus full video episodes over on Patreon:patreon.com/thefirstdegree📸 Instagram: instagram.com/thefirstdegree🕺 TikTok: tiktok.com/@thefirstdegreee👤 Facebook: facebook.com/thefirstdegree 
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 costumes and bringing you the latest breaking news, including an in depth look at an explosive new allegation from a Diddy survivor. We put our tin foil hats on to discuss satanic hand signals from your fav celebs and what we think about the pink hair theory.  🎟 Catch up to FOUR bonus episodes per month plus full video episodes over on Patreon:patreon.com/thefirstdegree📸 Instagram: instagram.com/thefirstdegree🕺 TikTok: tiktok.com/@thefirstdegreee👤 Facebook: facebook.com/thefirstdegree 
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 was tracking.  Alexis and Jac explore the bizarre kidnapping, which spanned state lines and brought the investigation to the set of a Disney TV show before the culprit was taken into custody. However, it turns out that violence was brewing just under the suspect’s surface and a horrible tragedy was on the horizon.To listen to part 2 of this story now, subscribe to our Patreon below! 🎟 Catch up to FOUR bonus episodes per month plus full video episodes over on Patreon:patreon.com/thefirstdegree📸 Instagram: instagram.com/thefirstdegree🕺 TikTok: tiktok.com/@thefirstdegreee👤 Facebook: facebook.com/thefirstdegree 
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 our tinfoil hats to delve into the tangled web of  SONY Music. 🎟 Catch up to FOUR bonus episodes per month plus full video episodes over on Patreon:patreon.com/thefirstdegree📸 Instagram: instagram.com/thefirstdegree🕺 TikTok: tiktok.com/@thefirstdegreee👤 Facebook: facebook.com/thefirstdegree 
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 suspected to be involved. It’s not until nine months later that law enforcement receives a disturbing tip from a member of the public, who has discovered something horrifying. Detectives begin to join the dots leading them not just to the killer, but the full gruesome magnitude of what he has done in the months since her death. Tragically, by this stage, more vulnerable women had already lost their lives, in cases of what police all originally suspected were drug overdoses. In episode 320, Jac and Alexis detail the chilling case of Cory Morris, a violent offender who became known as the Crackhead Serial Killer, and whose victims' deaths were initially not believed to be due to depravity, but accidents. 🎟 Catch up to FOUR bonus episodes per month plus full video episodes over on Patreon:patreon.com/thefirstdegree📸 Instagram: instagram.com/thefirstdegree🕺 TikTok: tiktok.com/@thefirstdegreee👤 Facebook: facebook.com/thefirstdegree 
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 conference where 120 victims have come forward to pursue legal action. Then, we're diving into the newest breaking headlines surrounding this developing case. Lastly, we're going down the rabbit hole, tin foil hat and all, discussing all things conspiracy related to this story. 🎟 Catch up to FOUR bonus episodes per month plus full video episodes over on Patreon:patreon.com/thefirstdegree📸 Instagram: instagram.com/thefirstdegree🕺 TikTok: tiktok.com/@thefirstdegreee👤 Facebook: facebook.com/thefirstdegree 
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 Carolina, near a fast food restaurant. Suddenly, another vehicle pulls up, driven by the woman’s 49-year-old ex-husband. He pulls out a revolver and begins shooting through the rear window of the other man’s Chevy station wagon, striking the victim multiple times. The mortally wounded man flees on foot but is chased by his attacker into the parking lot of the restaurant and collapses, later dying in hospital. The killer initially takes responsibility but years later appeals, throwing the lives of everyone involved in the ordeal into further turmoil. In episode 319, Jac and Alexis detail the devastating death of Timothy Roach, and how the ripple effects of childhood trauma can come to define not only who we are, but spur us on to achieve success despite the darkest of circumstances. 🎟 Catch up to FOUR bonus episodes per month plus full video episodes over on Patreon:patreon.com/thefirstdegree📸 Instagram: instagram.com/thefirstdegree🕺 TikTok: tiktok.com/@thefirstdegreee👤 Facebook: facebook.com/thefirstdegree 
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 you up to speed. 🎟 Catch up to FOUR bonus episodes per month plus full video episodes over on Patreon:patreon.com/thefirstdegree📸 Instagram: instagram.com/thefirstdegree🕺 TikTok: tiktok.com/@thefirstdegreee👤 Facebook: facebook.com/thefirstdegree 
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 at point-blank range, and her body is hidden beneath old boards in the root cellar. A positive pregnancy test is found next to her body. Investigators quickly zero in on her 17-year-old boyfriend, but despite his ties to her, he is never charged. The case goes cold, and over 30 years later, Brandy’s family is still searching for justice. In episode 318, Jac and Alexis examine the tragic murder of Brandy Hutchins and explore how her killer may have escaped justice for decades. 🎟 Catch up to FOUR bonus episodes per month plus full video episodes over on Patreon:patreon.com/thefirstdegree📸 Instagram: instagram.com/thefirstdegree🕺 TikTok: tiktok.com/@thefirstdegreee👤 Facebook: facebook.com/thefirstdegree 
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, brainstorming ideas for The Maine, and much more! Then! We’re learning about: scallops, the band Sublime, prison rodeos, and god knows what else! It's the half-facts podcast ladies and gents, let's get into it! 🎟 Catch up to FOUR bonus episodes per month plus full video episodes over on Patreon:patreon.com/thefirstdegree📸 Instagram: instagram.com/thefirstdegree🕺 TikTok: tiktok.com/@thefirstdegreee👤 Facebook: facebook.com/thefirstdegree 
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 neighborhood of St. James. For this special episode Alexis and Jac speak with Kenneth’s brother Tommy, who shares memories of ‘Kenny’ about this unspeakable loss, and pain this senseless tragedy has caused to so many.The fundraisers for the children in both families can be found here: Kenny's Kids' go fund me , Kelly's Daughter's GoFundMe. 🎟 Catch up to FOUR bonus episodes per month plus full video episodes over on Patreon:patreon.com/thefirstdegree📸 Instagram: instagram.com/thefirstdegree🕺 TikTok: tiktok.com/@thefirstdegreee👤 Facebook: facebook.com/thefirstdegree 
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Comments (222)

Natalia G Ruiz Antúnez

I love your show but I’ve noticed than lately there are more speculations than facts. The same with comments re: impact statements, support letters. Isn’t one of your Moms an attorney? It feel like you guys are not researching anymore and commenting from the top of your head and it shows. Hope you go back to your quality work soon.

Nov 4th
Reply

Ari

eh, everyone has covered this case. I more enjoy hearing the usual never heard of ones.

Sep 6th
Reply

Ari

it's so sad that a little kiddo was worried about his mom's friends' contact info fir something so horrible 😔

Jul 30th
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Ari

i don't get the statement you guys made saying she didn't have money to file a protective order. filing a restraining order is free

Jul 23rd
Reply (1)

Ari

the fact that someone didn't put a round through this dude's head before Jennifer even met him is almost shocking. impressive she finished school through all of that.

Jul 22nd
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Ari

hard disagree with the 1stie, he clearly was never good, he was just hiding his monster. wild tho, I lived in ogden a couple years and never heard about this. ugh. too many red flags being ignored or brushed over. also, side note it's deserEt news, not desert. weeber county not webber.

Jul 7th
Reply

Ari

idk who needs to hear this, but, relatives do not have to be family, ESPECIALLY if they are abusive trash. friends are chosen family. you deserve better than abuse.

Jul 6th
Reply (1)

Ari

the amount of times Cheyenne says "like," makes this hard to pay attention to 😬

Jul 1st
Reply

Brandy E

Why delete the messages and then send a fake message that would be irrelevant?

Jun 26th
Reply

Ari

I hope the army changed his discharge to dishonorable and stripped anything he had been awarded.

Jun 22nd
Reply

Farjiya Jannat Mim

⭕𝗖𝗟𝗜𝗖𝗞 𝗛𝗘𝗥𝗘 𝗪𝗔𝗧𝗖𝗛 𝗗𝗢𝗪𝗡𝗟𝗢𝗔𝗗 ALL 𝗙𝗨𝗟𝗟 MOVIES LINK👉https://www.justhd.online

Apr 19th
Reply

Brandy E

This case is insane! My heart goes out to them and their families.

Feb 28th
Reply

Jamie Walker

I'm a day late to the podcast, but i did read lately it was a time share in Vegas.

Jul 20th
Reply

ID26237307

Why don’t you say that about drugs dealers . Then blame the consumers

May 28th
Reply

Sweet Tea

Who is Cindy Ching Stevens?

May 3rd
Reply

MagPie023

at 34:17 no big deal to me, but if it matters to anyone else, the play they are referring to should be Hamlet, not Macbeth. 🤷🏼‍♀️

Mar 11th
Reply

Brandy E

Something is wrong with this episode. It plays the first half twice.

Jan 11th
Reply

Amanda Hughes

worst episode ever

Jan 4th
Reply

Michelle Franklin

Roger Ebert died in 2013.

Dec 20th
Reply

Erinn Adams

I live in Grand junction! yay

Nov 18th
Reply