Alexis Linkletter, Jac Vanek

The First Degree

Society EN ↓ 700 episodes

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

Society

Podcast website

www.siriusxm.com

Latest episode

Jul 9, 2026

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Episodes

DEEP DIVE: MEGAN FOX & THE BLACK GOO 21.11.2024

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 impersonato...

Episode 326: Lonene "Lonnie" Rogers 20.11.2024

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 despit...

DEEP DIVE: SATANIC FASHION 14.11.2024

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 w...

Episode 325: Lana Clarkson & Phil Spector, Part 2 13.11.2024

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...

DEEP DIVE: DIDDY, PART 7 07.11.2024

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...

Episode 324: Lana Clarkson & Phil Spector, Part 1 06.11.2024

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 Cou...

DEEP DIVE: DIDDY, PART 6 31.10.2024

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...

Episode 323: TFD Investigates: Ashley Ellerin Updates 30.10.2024

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 oppor...

BONUS: KILLING TIME: TLDR: DIDDY, PART 5 24.10.2024

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...

Episode 322: K.C. Gauf, Part 2 23.10.2024

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 exposi...

BONUS: KILLING TIME: TLDR: DIDDY, PART 4 17.10.2024

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...

Episode 321: K.C. Gauf, Part 1 16.10.2024

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 j...

BONUS: KILLING TIME: TLDR: DIDDY, PART 3 10.10.2024

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/@t...

Episode 320: Cory Morris 09.10.2024

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 kill...

BONUS: KILLING TIME: TLDR: DIDDY PART 2 03.10.2024

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 th...

Episode 319: Brandon Hilton 02.10.2024

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 th...

BONUS: KILLING TIME: TLDR: DIDDY 26.09.2024

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/th...

Episode 318: Brandy Hutchins 25.09.2024

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 ch...

BONUS: KILLING TIME: SILENT PANCAKE 19.09.2024

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...

Episode 317: Kenny Pohlman & Kelly Coppola 18.09.2024

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 c...

BONUS: KILLING TIME: PUNGENT MIST 12.09.2024

Oh man, we’re back for another week of Killing Time! This week the girls and the ginger are getting a little stinky before they get sweet. Then! We’re learning about marshmallows, capybaras, beanie balls, Dutch phrases, dog breeds and so much more! Down we go! 🎟 Catch up to FOUR bonus episodes per month plus full video episodes over on Patreon: patreon.com/thefirstdegree 📸 Instagram: instagram.co...

Episode 316: Natalee Holloway & Stephanie Flores, Part 2 11.09.2024

For five years after Natalee Holloway’s disappearance in 2005, Joran van der Sloot narrowly avoided authorities after being their number one suspect. During that time, he travelled, gambled, partied, and made the Holloway family’s life a living hell. In part two of our two part story, we follow van der Sloot’s moves all the way to Lima, Peru where one more innocent life was taken by the hands of t...

BONUS: KILLING TIME: TWINNING 05.09.2024

Hello there! Welcome back! It’s Killing Time yet again! This week, the girls and the ginger are back and we’re wearing our rambling pants. Lots of talking up front from our resident rambler Jacquelene, and then on to learning some factoids! Today we learn about: Smarties candy, milk expiration dates, a tale of two twins, and THEN a Firstie calls in with a little Willie/Woody mixup. Classic! Let’s...

Episode 315: Natalee Holloway & Stephanie Flores, Part 1 04.09.2024

If you mention the word Aruba to any true crime consumer, they will undoubtedly and immediately think of Natalee Holloway. Natalee was last seen leaving the Aruban bar and night club Carlos'n Charlie's around 1:30 a.m. on Monday, May 30, 2005 with 17-year-old Joran van der Sloot, a Dutch student living in Aruba. In part 1 of this two-part story, we're covering Natalee's last moments and the subseq...

BONUS: KILLING TIME: BODIES ARE DISGUSTING 29.08.2024

Good day! And welcome back for this week’s Killing Time! Today, Jacquelene is taking us to history class with some interesting August 29th happenings. We’re talking failed Boeing space ships, billionaire boat conspiracies, Eminem’s youthful looks, and more! Then! We learn! Today we’re learning about Costco loopholes, unlikely cousins, kneecaps, and a FLURRY of facts from Alexis! Here we go! 🎟 Catc...

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