The First Degree

You might know Clayton Echard as The Bachelor, but lately his name has been tied to something far messier: a viral paternity scandal filled with bold accusations, conflicting stories, and nonstop online speculation. We’re unpacking the timeline, the drama, and what actually went down before we release our exclusive interview with him tomorrow, right in your feed. 🎟 Catch up to FOUR bonus episodes...

We have found our new hyper fixation and it is the insane and unbelievable case of Haley Beck. We’re reading the police report, going through texts, and discussing it ALL. But before we dive in, we talk Ruby Rose’s accusations against Katy Perry, Melania Trump’s Epstein speech, and Frida McFadden’s true identity (spoiler alert, its literally just her with curly hair). 🎟 Catch up to FOUR bonus epis...

On New Year’s Eve 2019, deputies respond to reports of gunfire at a quiet home outside Montgomery, Texas. Inside, a young mother has been shot multiple times, and the man responsible is still at the scene. What unfolds is a devastating story of violence that didn’t begin that night—and warning signs that were missed along the way. In episode 398, Jac and Alexis examine how patterns of intimate par...

Epstein, aliens, and Everest, oh my! It’s a scam filled week over here at the Deep Dive, and we are exposing them all. From Mount Everest fraud, to alien controversy, to valley girl humanoid robots visiting the White House. And you know we couldn’t leave you hanging without giving you the latest tea on Blake & Justin. 🎟 Catch up to FOUR bonus episodes per month plus full video episodes over on Pat...

On the morning of March 31, 2025, a mother goes to wake her son for school and finds his room empty. He is 21 years old, autistic, and vulnerable, and his routine is something he never breaks. But that morning, he is gone without a trace. As a widespread search begins and days pass with no answers, questions start to shift from where he went…to when someone took him. In episode 397, Jac and Alexis...

*** BONUS EPISODE ALERT*** A disturbing scandal has surfaced in Peoria involving Centennial High School, where two female teachers from the same campus are accused of grooming the same male student, an allegation that has shocked the community and ignited intense scrutiny. One of the teachers, 27-year-old Haley Beck, is the sister of TikTok star turned actor Noah Beck, adding a layer of public att...

We’re all over the place with this weeks deep dive! Starting off with the headlines: government bimbo fetishes, Lindsey Graham (who has no kids) waving around a bubble wand at Disneyland while TSA workers still aren’t being paid, and allegedly the bullet that killed Charlie Kirk didn’t match Tyler Robinson’s gun (surprise surprise!). Then we pull the Epstein string to uncover some disgustingly sim...

In February 2008, two trusted members of the Turlock, California community - a police officer and a teacher - are both accused of exploiting their positions to prey on a 17-year-old student. As the cases unfold, shocking details emerge about how the abuse began and how it was hidden. Years later, another respected educator from the same town is exposed for an inappropriate relationship with a stud...

“I’m not Epstein, I’m Palm Beach Pete!” Or, at least that’s what Epstein’s new viral doppelgänger says. We deep dive this fascinating man on today’s episode, as well as other bizarre Epstein related headlines. But the important topic at hand is a book called The Tell, by a woman named Amy Griffin who allegedly stole an entire life story of abuse from her former classmate. It. Is. Wild. 🎟 Catch up...

In this special true crime crossover, we joined Vanessa Richardson and forensic psychologist Dr. Tristin Engels on Serial Killers and Murderous Minds for a two-part deep dive into Heaven’s Gate. For part 2 and our extended discussion with Dr. Engels , follow Serial Killers and Murderous Minds wherever you listen to podcasts. In the 1970s, Marshall Applewhite and Bonnie Nettles emerged with a radic...

Another week, another handful of Epstein bombshells. We’re talking about the prison guard working during Epstein’s death being set to testify to congress, Hillary Clinton’s Epstein inspired merch, and Vera Wang’s bizarre connection to Epstein. And we end the episode on a completely unrelated mini deep dive of Rebel Wilson’s wild scandal we’ve never even heard about before today! It’s nuts, we prom...

In early January 1985, a 20-year-old National Guardsman is on a training exercise in Henderson, Nevada. The ambitious and intelligent young man has a strong moral compass guiding him in his career. That is, until one day, when he’s confronted with a difficult choice and thrust into a situation out of his control. The cascade of choices he makes next change the course of his life in an entirely una...

Even though the world has seemingly moved on from Epstein, we refuse to stop talking about it. This week we are diving into the headlines of the week, including the new bestie statues of Trump & Epstein, the new search of Zorro Ranch, and the Clinton questioning. Then we’re going through the latest release of two victim’s accounts from Epstein’s Palm Beach home. And we end the episode with a good...

In February 2006, a newly married 29-year-old man is walking home from a Mardi Gras celebration in New Orleans when a black truck nearly strikes him and his wife. One block later, the truck circles back, runs him down, and flees, leaving his wife screaming in the intersection. Detectives call it a deliberate burst of road rage. But as weeks turn into months, the homicide investigation loses moment...

We’ve been pulled into a few different rabbit holes this week, and it’s yet again a crazy ass ride. First, we look into Epstein’s ties to the Interlochen Center for the Arts summer camp in Michigan, and its infamous “Epstein Lodge”. We also learn the whistleblower’s identity who worked at the jail who posted on 4Chan the night of Epstein’s death (and what he said was pretty damning to say the leas...

On October 29, 2010, a 50-year-old woman is shot at her home in Cresson Township, Pennsylvania. The same day, her college aged son is also involved in a car crash. The tiny community where the family lives is thrown into a state of turmoil as residents grapple with the incomprehensible news. The much-loved school nurse, wife, and mother of two leaves behind a heartbroken family and school communit...

Another week of chipping away at the iceberg. Today we’re diving into the Gislaine sighting in Canada, Bill Gates admitting to affairs with two Russian women, Trump releasing the alien files (anything but release the Epstein files we guess), Epstein’s FedEx account being used after his death, and apparently Epstein’s autopsy findings (apparently the dude can grow new body parts?). Tin foil hats ON...

On a quiet February morning in an upscale Virginia suburb, a 911 call shattered the quiet. An au pair reported an intruder. A federal agent said he fired his weapon to protect his family. By sunrise, two people had lost their lives. At first, it sounded like a tragic act: a heroic husband trying to protect his wife, Christine. But as investigators began pulling at the threads, the story started to...

Firsties, we are so excited to introduce you to an amazing true crime podcast hosted by some new friends to The First Degree, Hannah Smith and Patia Eaton. The Knife is a journalistic, true crime podcast with immersive, narrative interview episodes and additional episodes where producers and hosts Hannah Smith and Patia Eaton tell eachother a crime story. Hannah and Patia formerly produced The Opp...

And we're back for round three... This week, we're diving into the latest updates surrounding the Epstein files, discussing the DOJ's recent release of documents and the implications of missing information. Then, Ghislaine Maxwell's testimony, the bizarre obsession with jerky in the files, and the potential for Epstein's offspring. Zorro Ranch, scopolamine, it just goes on and on! 🎟 Catch up to FO...

On October 26, 2007, a 55-year-old military veteran was found murdered in his home on the outskirts of Memphis, Tennessee. The family of the father of four was heartbroken. They, along with investigators, wondered who could be responsible for the brutal beating. Within days, the perpetrators were identified, charged, and eventually convicted. But for at least one family involved, something was ami...

This week we continue to chip away at the Epstein files, starting off with the top headlines of the week. We dive into bizarre code words throughout the files (shrimp, cheese, sushi, white tuna), learn about Gislaine’s dad owning the company that produces American textbooks, and did you know Epstein won the lottery? Yep, nothing surprises us anymore. 🎟 Catch up to FOUR bonus episodes per month plu...

After more than a year of stalking, threats, and repeated pleas for help, the danger in Peggy Klinke’s life reaches its breaking point. As the criminal case against her stalker inches toward trial, she does everything she can to stay hidden - even moving a thousand miles away to protect herself. But her stalker refuses to stop. He searches relentlessly, exploiting gaps in the system, until he fina...

Where do we even begin? Over 3 million files and we are just at the tip pf the iceberg. This week we’re going over the biggest Epstein related headlines: Epstein swerving Elon, Bill Gates drugging Melinda, files getting deleted in real time, Epstein getting banned from XBOX, and is Epstein really still alive? All we know it it’s not a conspiracy anymore. 🎟 Catch up to FOUR bonus episodes per month...

In the late 1990s, a driven and bright woman builds a life in New Mexico, staying deeply connected to her family back in Ohio. But after meeting a man through a study group, her life begins to shift. What starts as control quickly escalates into a years-long campaign of stalking, intimidation, and fear. As the behavior intensifies, she reports threats, files charges, seeks protection, and even mov...