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PODCAST

The First Degree

Alexis Linkletter, Jac Vanek

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

true crime

All Episodes

43:23

Episode 382: Arthur J. Williams Jr., Part 2

The First Degree ·

2025/12/17

In 2006, things come crashing down around Arthur ‘Art’ J Williams Jr. One of the country’s top counterfeiters, a skill he first learned in his teens, the law finally catches up with him in the form of US Secret Service Agent Brad Beeler, who’s keen to understand how the man he’s been pursuing for seven years has managed to pull off one of the most daring counterfeit currency operations in the country undetected. As a result, three generations of one family all end up behind bars, including Art’s

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47:55

DEEP DIVE: DIDDY DEEP DIVE

The First Degree ·

2025/12/11

The OG Diddy Deep Dive is back! Like everyone else in the world, we binged 50 Cent’s new Diddy doc and we have THOUGHTS. We are chatting about bombshells in the doc, the aftermath on social media, and the main takeaway: Diddy was a LOSER.🎟 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 Learn more about your

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50:36

Episode 381: Arthur J. Williams Jr., Part 1

The First Degree ·

2025/12/10

In 1999, a young US Secret Service special agent is assigned to the counterfeit squad in Chicago, Illinois. Aside from dignitary protection, one of the agencies’ roles is to investigate counterfeiting. Across the Midwest, someone is spending up big with $100 counterfeit notes. The level of skill, expertise, and execution required to break the most secure and sophisticated note in the history of the US Treasury is equal parts impressive and intimidating. But the con can’t last forever. In episode

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49:43

DEEP DIVE: RAGEBAIT

The First Degree ·

2025/12/04

New photos of Epstein Island just dropped, and we’re going through them all including yet ANOTHER dentist office?? Plus, we deep dive into the craziest Epstein / Gislaine / Richard Branson rabbit hole we’ve never heard about before: TerraMar. And it is a WILD ride. Plus Luigi updates, Kate Beckensale thinks her daughter’s boyfriend is laying eggs, and tin foil hats on for the Kim K / Elon Neuralink conspiracy.🎟 Catch up to FOUR bonus episodes per month plus full video episodes over on

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53:04

Episode 380: Danielle Bell

The First Degree ·

2025/12/03

In September 2001, a 14-year-old high school freshman fails to come home after a night out with friends in Cantonment, Florida. As detectives begin searching for her, a troubling picture emerges - one involving older men, threats, and details her mother waited days to reveal. With each revelation, the focus shifts from assumptions of a runaway to something far more alarming. But with no sign of her anywhere, charges remain elusive. As the case stalls, her older sister begins her own investigation,

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51:04

DEEP DIVE: EPSTEIN EMAILS

The First Degree ·

2025/11/27

You asked for an Epstein deep dive, you’re getting an Epstein deep dive. We decided to sift through the headlines and find the bizarre and random celebs in the Epstein emails, as well as analyze his “radical breakthroughs”. Spoiler alert: they’re not radical. Plus, updates on DV4D, Slenderman, and Kevin Spacey is NOT poor you guys.🎟 Catch up to FOUR bonus episodes per month plus full video episodes over on Patreon: patreon.com/thefirstdegree 📸 Instagram: instagram.com/thefirstdegree 🕺

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35:08

Episode 379: True Crime Side Dishes

The First Degree ·

2025/11/26

This Thanksgiving week, we’re switching things up. Instead of one deep dive, we’re hitting three breaking cases lighting up the headlines.We look at the mysterious death of 18-year-old Anna Kepner aboard a Carnival Cruise, the shocking criminal evolution of Ryan Wedding, from Olympian to one of the FBI’s most wanted, and the explosive Long Island love triangle that ended in a fatal shooting outside a luxury yacht club.Three cases. One chaotic holiday week. And a whole lot to unpack.🎟 Catch up to

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49:53

DEEP DIVE: BETTER CALL KRIS

The First Degree ·

2025/11/20

Tin foil hats ON this week, people because there’s a lot to talk about. D4VD is finally named a suspect by authorities, Blake Lively’s team doing weird shit again, an adorable proposal turned into murder confession, and is Kris Jenner’s bday party the new Bohemian Grove? You tell us!🎟 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:

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69:52

Episode 378: Thirteen Years Later

The First Degree ·

2025/11/19

It began as a familiar face from high school, someone she once trusted. But over thirteen years, that connection twisted into something far darker. No matter how many times he was arrested or how long he was behind bars, he always came back. On episode 378 of The First Degree, Jac and Lex profile a harrowing story of an obsession without limits, and reveal what happens when the system can’t stop it.Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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48:36

DEEP DIVE: BRITNEY SPEARS & GEORGE BUSH SITTING IN A...

The First Degree ·

2025/11/13

This week tin foil hats are ON BABY. We discuss the wild conspiracy theory that Britney Spears was a government asset to create diversions away from Bush’s presidential corruption and scandal (pretty convincing evidence if you ask us). Plus, Diddy got caught drinking booze in jail, the Prince Andrew situation is unraveling, and we learn way too much about the Golden State Killer’s nether regions.🎟 Catch up to FOUR bonus episodes per month plus full video episodes over on

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42:31

Episode 377: Taken Back

The First Degree ·

2025/11/12

On October 12, 2023, a 25-year-old nursing student goes missing while on her lunch break in Macomb Township, Michigan. Her co-workers then receive a series of strange text messages from her cell phone. Less than 12 hours after the abduction, she’s found at a gas station in Illinois, shot to death. The following day, law enforcement receives a tip from a couple. Their 26-year-old son admits to the shocking murder before telling his parents he intends to commit one final act of violence. Authorities

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47:58

DEEP DIVE: PRINCE ANDREW NO MORE

The First Degree ·

2025/11/06

In the least surprising news EVER, Prince Andrew has been stripped of his Prince title, but guess what? He must have some dirt on the royal family because they’re supporting his pedo ass. We deep dive this as well as creepy David Harbour updates, Tom Brady cloning dogs, and is RL Stein writing an adult novel?! Fingers crossed!🎟 Catch up to FOUR bonus episodes per month plus full video episodes over on Patreon: patreon.com/thefirstdegree 📸 Instagram: instagram.com/thefirstdegree 🕺 TikTok:

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38:48

Episode 376: Kelly Bergh Dove

The First Degree ·

2025/11/05

In the early morning hours of June 18, 1982, a 20-year-old mother vanishes from her night shift at a Harrisonburg, Virginia gas station, just moments after calling 911 for help. Police arrive within minutes, but she has already been taken. With no signs of struggle and no suspect identified, her case goes cold for decades. Then in 2023, a suspect emerges, bringing the investigation closer to answers than ever before. In episode 376, Jac and Alexis dive into the tragic abduction of Kelly Bergh Dove

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50:32

DEEP DIVE: BIG CANDY

The First Degree ·

2025/10/30

It’s another week full of heists, weirdos, and conspiracy theories. George Clooney denies getting a BJ from Gislaine Maxwell, Lily Allen & the dude from Stranger Things are getting a divorce and she is airing ALL their dirty laundry out via lyrics on her new album and Luigi Mangione is a Swiftie??? We knew it.🎟 Catch up to FOUR bonus episodes per month plus full video episodes over on Patreon: patreon.com/thefirstdegree 📸 Instagram: instagram.com/thefirstdegree 🕺 TikTok:

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50:08

Episode 375: Sarah & Kayla Anderson

The First Degree ·

2025/10/29

On August 5, 2022, the peacefulness of a close-knit neighborhood is shattered in Butler Township, Ohio. A 39-year-old man goes on an armed rampage, killing a 41-year-old woman and her 15-year-old daughter before shooting dead an older couple. The most terrifying part of the senseless quadruple murder is that the victims were all shot somewhere they should have felt safe - in their own homes. The killer is not only swiftly apprehended, but confesses to the crimes. Everyone hopes for a speedy trial

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7:51

Introducing a chilling new podcast: TWISTED TALES...

The First Degree ·

2025/10/27

Reality is the real horror. Every Monday, poet and paranormal obsessive Heidi Wong unearths the chilling true stories behind the world’s most terrifying legends. From haunted dolls to cursed houses, each episode of Twisted Tales reveals the disturbing real-life events that inspired horror’s biggest blockbusters and the ones too twisted to make it to screen. Some stories are stranger than fiction. These are darker. New episodes every Monday. Twisted Tales is a Crime House Original Podcast,

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51:41

DEEP DIVE: THE HEIST

The First Degree ·

2025/10/23

It’s been a wild, crazy, and random week. We are breaking down all the details of the Louvre jewelry heist (so chic, right??), telling the insane story of a Scottish gen z girl who faked a pregnancy and fooled her friends and family with a doll, and diving into Dax Shepard and Kristen Bell’s weird ass gross relationship (spoiler alert….he sucks).🎟 Catch up to FOUR bonus episodes per month plus full video episodes over on Patreon: patreon.com/thefirstdegree 📸 Instagram:

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46:43

Episode 374: Meghan Kiefer

The First Degree ·

2025/10/22

In October 2021, a 27-year-old woman is rebuilding her life on Long Island after leaving an abusive relationship. She has a new job, a safe place to stay, and plans for the future. But when her ex-boyfriend shows up and refuses to leave, her attempt to start over ends in tragedy. In episode 374, Jac and Alexis examine the murder of Meghan Kiefer, and how her mother Bevin has dedicated her life to advocating for domestic violence survivors across the country.🎟 Catch up to FOUR bonus episodes per

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48:31

DEEP DIVE: ROMANTIC HOMICIDE

The First Degree ·

2025/10/16

Oh boy we’ve got a lot to catch up on this week! We’re giving you all the latest updates on D4VD, including a full timeline of everything that has happened in the last few years. Plus, not all heroes wear capes! Ian Watkins is gone from this world and burning in hell!🎟 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:

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45:11

Episode 373: Joseph "Joby" Palczynski

The First Degree ·

2025/10/15

On March 7, 2000, a terrifying crime spree unfolds in the suburbs of Baltimore, Maryland. A 31-year-old man goes on a rampage, killing four people before holding a family of three hostage in a standoff lasting almost four days. Almost two weeks after the fuse was lit, the ordeal finally comes to an end. But it’s not without controversy and not before another life is lost in the process. In the aftermath, fingers are pointed and unanswered questions hang in the air as people wonder if the tragedy was

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658 results

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