Alexis Linkletter, Jac Vanek
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 perspective to the already fascinating true crime landscape. And who knows... you may be our next guest. (...
Author
Alexis Linkletter, Jac Vanek
Category
Podcast website
Latest episode
Jul 9, 2026
Where to listen?
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Episodes
Episode 277: Wilbur & Wilma Williams Part 1 13.12.2023 50:19
On Tuesday, August 3, 1999, 14-year-old identical twin brothers Donell and Ronell Williams break into a house in Wyandotte County, Kansas City, Kansas. They steal numerous items, including a handgun and ammunition. Later that day, the brothers are wandering their neighborhood aimlessly with the stolen pistol and live rounds in their possession. By chance, Ronell and Donell spot 79-year-old Wilbur...
BONUS: KILLING TIME: THE MICHELIN MAN 07.12.2023 48:39
This week the girls and the ginger are back with a big time full-fact! Did you know the origin of the Michelin star rating system? We didn’t, but today we’re breaking it down, and it’s making us hungry! Then, we’re getting into some low IQ crimes. On the stand today: Removable sports bra padding, birthday instagram posts, and dessert dips! And finally, a Worstie with a sizable smackdown! 🎟 Catch u...
Episode 276: The Murdaugh Family, Part 2 06.12.2023 46:32
The second installment of Alexis and Jac’s two part episode covering the Murdaugh Murders, featuring interviews with Mandy Matney and Carolyn Murnick, authors of “Blood on Their Hands.” 🎟 Catch up to FOUR bonus episodes per month plus full video episodes over on Patreon: patreon.com/thefirstdegree ❤️ The Heavy Metal Project: theheavymetalproject.com 📸 Instagram: instagram.com/thefirstdegree 🕺 Ti...
BONUS: KILLING TIME: KATIE THE GREATY 30.11.2023 50:22
Hello Firsties! We’re back again for another week of Killing Time! We’re talking about Catherine the Great! A woman of great power and an even greater body count! She also had some wild chairs, but we’ll get into that later. On the stand today: moaning at a massage, Taco Bell, pickle ball, and new movies being pulled from theaters too early. Then, a worstie returns some soiled shorts! 🎟 Catch up t...
Episode 275: The Murdaugh Family, Part 1 29.11.2023 43:54
On February 24, 2019, a 19-year-old woman and her friends are on a private boat ride in the very early hours of the morning near Beaufort, South Carolina. The carefree night turns ugly when the 19-year-old skipper crashes the boat into a bridge, killing the young woman. The saga that follows is something, few people could have predicted. Two more people close to the case end up losing their lives...
BONUS: KILLING TIME: TURKEY TALK 23.11.2023 51:50
The girls and the ginger return for a Thanksgiving episode STUFFED with all kinds of convo to distract you from the horrors of family gatherings! On the stand this week: overusing the word “perfect”, voice messages, catching up after a happy birthday text, and a quick revisit to EGG NOG! Then it’s on to Thanksgiving Day crimes! And finally, a Worstie skips school! 🎟 Catch up to FOUR bonus episodes...
Episode 274: Christina Brittany Colón 22.11.2023 47:11
On November 4, 2021, a 32-year-old woman and her 7 year old daughter are riding along as passengers with the woman’s 32-year-old boyfriend in his Honda Civic, along the I-26 in Charleston, South Carolina. Suddenly, their evening takes a turn when their vehicle accidentally has a minor collision with another. The Honda drives away, but a 24-year-old man witnesses the hit and run. He calls 911 but t...
BONUS: KILLING TIME: TWIHARDS 16.11.2023 48:13
The girls and the ginger are back yet again for another week of Killing Time! Today, Jac has brought a Twilight presentation. We didn’t ask for this, but here we are. On the stand: bagel to cream cheese ratios, wheat bread, unsalted butter, and big pumpkin! 🎟 Catch up to FOUR bonus episodes per month plus full video episodes over on Patreon: patreon.com/thefirstdegree ❤️ The Heavy Metal Project: t...
Episode 273: Joseph Heidesch 15.11.2023 47:01
On October 6th of 2021, Catholic high school music teacher 45-year-old Joseph Martin “Joe” Heidesch is arrested for multiple counts of sexual exploitation of a child and breach of privacy. Further investigation reveals that, from 2016 to 2021, the choir director secretly filmed his female students changing into their performance outfits in his private office. Court documents revealed that Mr. Heid...
BONUS: KILLING TIME: ACCIDENTAL ON THE STAND 09.11.2023 47:44
This week the girls and the ginger return and things go immediately off the rails. What starts as a casual conversation turns into an entire episode of on the stands! We’re talking all things self-improvement. Do we really need to be our best selves? Are cigarettes part of a healthy organic lifestyle? Is aluminum the key to smelling good? We can’t promise we have the answers, but we definitely hav...
Episode 272: Roy Dean Ratliff 08.11.2023 45:14
On August 1, 2002, two 16-year-old and 17-year-old young women, total strangers, are each parked with male companions up near a popular lovers' lane in Quartz Hill, California. Suddenly, their night is interrupted when the girls are kidnapped by a felon on the run in need of a getaway vehicle. For the next 12 hours, the girls endure a terrifying ordeal, as finding them safe and well becomes a race...
BONUS: KILLING TIME: HALLOWEEN HANGOVER 02.11.2023 45:45
This week the girls and the ginger return with a chilled out episode of Killing Time. That’s right, we’re going off the rails this week. 2 Days post-Halloween, and we’re just embracing the hangover. On the stand this week: sleeping while sitting shotgun, knocking on doors at night, small talk while in a hurry, and early flights! Then! A worstie plays the blame game! Also, how is it November? 🎟 Cat...
Episode 271: Huong Nguyen 01.11.2023 42:42
On March 13, 2020, 42-year-old Huong Helene Nguyen is reported missing to the New Orleans Police Department. By 8:10 p.m. that day, the authorities discover her body less than a mile from her home. Huong’s killer shot her multiple times, shoved her body into the trunk of her own car, drove the car to a remote parking lot, and abandoned it. Investigators interview Huong’s family members and friends...
BONUS: KILLING TIME: MEMEOWEEN 26.10.2023 46:37
The girls and the ginger return for a VERY spooky edition of Killing Time! We’re diving into the ominous origins of everyone’s favorite holiday! But first! On the stand: eating at the gym, meme costumes, the 12 foot Home Depot skeleton, and hosting a non spooky event around Halloween. Then! Another worstie with some roommate retaliation. Can’t we all just get along? Happy Halloween! 🎟 Catch up to...
Episode 270: Rita and Colleen, Part 2 25.10.2023 50:38
On November 3rd of 1993, 31-year-old Rita Marie Tangredi’s body is discovered on Long Island’s East Patchogue. Her cause of death is determined to be blunt force trauma to the head and strangulation. Only 18 days later, 28-year-old Sandra Costilla is found in a nearby location and in a similar fashion. Two months later, 20-year-old Colleen McNamee’s body is recovered from a nearly identical crime...
BONUS: KILLING TIME: WEDDING BELLS, THE FINALE 19.10.2023 44:20
Welcome back to Killing Time hosted by two girls one ginger! This week, we’re getting the rest of our wedding shenanigans out of our systems! That’s right, the last and final installment of us going on and on nitpicking nuptials. On the stand this week: blister bandaids, soliciting free photoshop services, giving up and eating American fast food abroad, and audibly saying “this is awkward” during...
Episode 269: Rita And Colleen, Part 1 18.10.2023 43:25
On November 3rd of 1993, 31-year-old Rita Marie Tangredi’s body is discovered on Long Island’s East Patchogue. Her cause of death is determined to be blunt force trauma to the head and strangulation. Only 18 days later, 28-year-old Sandra Costilla is found in a nearby location and in a similar fashion. Two months later, 20-year-old Colleen McNamee’s body is recovered from a nearly identical crime...
BONUS: KILLING TIME: WEDDING BELLS PART 2 12.10.2023 46:44
This week the girls and the ginger return to round out their French festivity flashback with part two! We’re taking a break from our usual format and just ruminating on our favorite moments over the last couple of weeks. Nothing to put on the stand, and no worstie this week! Join us for a good old fashioned hang with friends! 🎟 Catch up to FOUR bonus episodes per month plus full video episodes ove...
Episode 268: Kenneth White 11.10.2023 50:39
At about 8:30 p.m. on October 18th of 2017, 32-year-old Kenneth Andrew White is going home after working at a construction site in Au Gres, Michigan. Sitting in the passenger seat of his colleague’s van, Kenneth and his coworker are only ten minutes away from their destination in Mt. Morris. Suddenly, a six-pound rock crashes through the front windshield. Kenneth is hit in the head and knocked unc...
BONUS: KILLING TIME: WEDDING BELLS PART 1 05.10.2023 45:37
This week the girls and the ginger are back from France and ready to jump back into Killing Time! We’re breaking down our French festivities in part one of our wedding extravaganza recap! On the stand this week: ice and water, pillow allotments, and Etsy! Then Lex talks about her travel troubles and we get into the perils of partying in Paris! No worstie this week, we’ve got too much to talk about...
Episode 267: Robert Lovvorn Herren, Jr. 04.10.2023 41:12
On April 17th of 1989, 31-year-old Cathy Marie Symanowski shoots and kills 38-year-old Robert “Lovvorn” Herren, Jr., with a semi-automatic rifle in Woodland, Alabama. Cathy met Lovvorn when he was hired by Cathy’s husband a few years earlier. At that time, Cathy and Lovvorn engaged in a short-lived romantic affair. Afterward, Lovvorn attempted to end his relationship with Cathy. In response, Cathy...
BONUS: KILLING TIME: JACS FACTS 28.09.2023 51:25
The girls and the ginger have returned once again! If you follow our Killing Time episodes, you know that we like to call ourselves the “half facts podcast”. Well not today! Jac did her research, and she’s here to add more wrinkles to all of our brains! On the stand this week: snoozing, insufficient condiment amounts, big weather, and cake! Then! A young worstie poaches a partner! 🎟 Catch up to FO...
Episode 266: Michael Thomas Garry 27.09.2023 43:54
On September 14, 2007, a 52-year-old security guard is savagely beaten at his workplace in Cypress, California in the early hours of the morning and left for dead, later discovered by his co-workers. Everyone who knows the man, who has autism and passes away hours later, is shocked that something so violent could befall someone so gentle and unassuming. It’s clear the victim was fatally attacked d...
BONUS: KILLING TIME: MY WAY OR THE HIGHWAY 21.09.2023 49:49
This week, the girls and the ginger return with a public brainstorm session. Each of us have to pitch a meeting for a television sitcom where we’re the main character. Alexis Nexus, Very Jeri, and Jac Vanek stars in My Way or the Highway. Anybody have a contact at Netflix? On the stand this week: truck nuts, Panera Bread, condiments sitting out at a restaurant, and TSA precheck! Then! A worstie co...
Episode 265: Norah Rayne Smitherman 20.09.2023 41:58
On November 4, 2021, a 17-year-old high school senior is shot in the head at a residence in Yadkinville, North Carolina. It’s a gut-wrenching loss not just for the young woman’s family and friends, but her entire small community who are in mourning for the high achieving student. The shooter is immediately identified in an incident that appears to be a tragic accident. But as more information emer...
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