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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

00:47:35

BONUS: KILLING TIME: WITCH HUNT

The First Degree ·

2022/09/22

This week, the girls and the ginger are taking a trip to Salem to learn about the hysteria surrounding the town during the witch trials. Plus! The metaverse is on the stand, along with adult birthday parties and surprise drop=by's. Also! Stick around until the end for one of Lex's best Costanza Stanzas to date! 🎟 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:

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00:56:12

Episode 214: The Lanz Brothers

The First Degree ·

2022/09/21

On August 3, 2021, 27-year-old Austin Lanz boards a bus to Arlington, Virginia. He exits onto a bus station platform that is mere steps away from the US military headquarters known as the Pentagon. Without any warning or provocation, Austin immediately ambushes and kills a Pentagon police officer, 37-year-old George Gonzalez. Then, Austin kills himself. Two weeks prior, Austin had been charged with breaking into his neighbor’s home after terrorizing and stalking the residents for years. A few months

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00:43:31

BONUS: KILLING TIME: CHUCKY D

The First Degree ·

2022/09/15

This week the girls and the ginger are rollin out! Looking for America’s greatest diners, drive ins, and dives. That’s right, Guy Fieri is on the stand. Also, we’re discussing the evolution of Charles Darwin’s dating life. Plus! Tongue in a wedding kiss? That’s all right here, right now on The First Degree (Killing Time). 🎟 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:

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00:41:46

Episode 213: Terry Barron

The First Degree ·

2022/09/14

On August 22, 1992, a 40 year old woman and her 41 year old boyfriend are brutally attacked in a motel room in Tampa, Florida. The couple is beaten unconscious and hacked at with a knife before their attacker does something unimaginable to his male victim. The seeds of malevolence are sown in this perpetrator long before he gets to this point. But what was his ‘sliding doors’ moment? People don’t just evolve into criminals in a social and environmental vacuum. There’s a tipping point for everyone, a

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00:39:28

BONUS: KILLING TIME: JOAN OF ARC

The First Degree ·

2022/09/08

This week the girls and the ginger discuss Dr. Phil, phones on silent, and loose change! Then, they dive in for a big heaping helping of history, as Alexis tries her best to teach us all about Joan of Arc! Plus, heresy! 🎟 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🕺 TikTok: tiktok.com/@thefirstdegreee👤 Facebook:

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00:46:45

Episode 212: The Railroad Killer

The First Degree ·

2022/09/07

On December 17, 1998, a 39 year old prominent clinical geneticist at the Baylor College of Medicine in West University Place, Texas, is raped, stabbed, and bludgeoned to death at her home by an intruder. When investigators find the victim’s Jeep Cherokee in San Antonio, a stranger’s fingerprints are on the steering column. It wouldn’t be until at least six month later, in June 1999, that law enforcement would apprehend the killer. Tragically, by this stage he’d killed another six people across two

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00:52:37

BONUS: KILLING TIME: ICEBERG RIGHT AHEAD!

The First Degree ·

2022/09/01

This week the girls and the ginger go back to 1912 and learn all about the dark history of the Titanic. They debate cruises, singing in public, and whether you should sit next to or across from your partner at dinner. Plus, chats about immortal deep sea creatures! 🎟 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🕺 TikTok:

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00:58:12

Episode 211: Jayna Murray

The First Degree ·

2022/08/31

On March 12, 2011, 29-year-old Brittany Norwood and 30-year-old Jayna Murray are discovered in the bloody backroom of a Lululemon Athletica store. Brittany is alive, but she is bound with zip-ties and injured. Jayna is dead. In interviews with law enforcement, Brittany explains that two masked men robbed the store, attacked the women, and fled the scene. But as police gather more and more evidence about this brutal crime, it's apparent that Brittany’s story doesn’t match reality. In episode 211, Jac

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00:48:49

BONUS: KILLING TIME: THERE’S NO PLACE LIKE HOME

The First Degree ·

2022/08/25

This week the girls and the ginger follow the yellow brick road and learn all of the dark, twisted, messed up facts surrounding The Wizard of Oz. They debate yellow mustard, Dole Whip, and of course…deviled eggs. Plus, wanna know where Toto is buried? We got you! 🎟 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🕺 TikTok:

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00:43:22

Episode 210: Surviving Peter Paul, Part 2

The First Degree ·

2022/08/24

Today concludes Jennifer’s story of escaping Peter Paul, which will inspire you, haunt you, and make you truly believe in the power of karma. Jennifer never should have had to try so hard to escape an abusive relationship, because doing so almost cost her her life. Domestic violence is hidden in every crease and corner of so many people’s lives, and as a society, we need to do better. 🎟 Catch up to FOUR bonus episodes per month plus full video episodes over on Patreon:patreon.com/thefirstdegree❤️

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00:56:43

BONUS: KILLING TIME: MURDER & MAKEUP

The First Degree ·

2022/08/18

This week the girls are graced with the presence of a very special guest: their bestie and celeb makeup artist Afton Williams for a very special makeup themed episode. They dive into different killers who incorporated makeup into their M.O. and debate fake freckles, bright eyeliner, and the Little Miss trend. Plus, makeup tips! 🎟 Catch up to FOUR bonus episodes per month plus full video episodes over on Patreon:patreon.com/thefirstdegree❤️ The Heavy Metal Project: theheavymetalproject.com📸

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00:45:08

Episode 209: Surviving Peter Paul

The First Degree ·

2022/08/17

Today’s story is one of the most harrowing we’ve ever told, and reveals the dark, and sometimes hopeless reality of being imprisoned by an abusive relationship. There are two key things we want listeners to take away from listening to Jennifer’s story. Number one. Never, ever ask a domestic abuse survivor why they didn’t “just leave?” Number two. Karma is REAL… and if you weren’t a believer before, you will be by the time you finish this story. 🎟 Catch up to FOUR bonus episodes per month plus full

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00:44:50

BONUS: KILLING TIME: SELF SABOTAGE

The First Degree ·

2022/08/11

This week the girls and the ginger discuss different murderers whose narcissism and self obsession lead to their own demise. They debate ketchup on eggs, Judge Judy, and taking professional phone calls on the treadmill. Plus, a BTK shit talking sesh! 🎟 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🕺 TikTok: tiktok.com/@thefirstdegreee👤

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01:00:53

Episode 208: Mr. Sanger

The First Degree ·

2022/08/10

Of all the places young women expect to feel safe, the classroom is one of them. Sure, school bullies can make our lives hell, but teachers are meant to be the ones we can trust to guide us through many of the usual pitfalls of high school. Inspiring and compassionate mentors can make all the difference. But what happens when this trust and duty of care is grossly violated in such a painful and traumatic way that it changes your life forever? To make things worse, what if you had to deal with people

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00:48:24

BONUS: KILLING TIME: PLAGUE PARTY

The First Degree ·

2022/08/04

This week the girls and the ginger are talking about pets, pests, and plagues. They learn about all of the worst infestations in history, and debate having a bug as a pet, saving the world by singing into your phone, and the plague doctor costume. Plus, capybaras! 🎟 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🕺 TikTok:

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00:46:58

Episode 207: The Gypsy Joker Outlaws

The First Degree ·

2022/08/03

There’s nothing more intriguing than a peek behind the curtain of an elusive and exclusive world… What’s even more seductive is being welcomed into it. On episode 207, Jac and Lex explore the elicit and sometimes violent world of Motorcycle Clubs, specifically, the Gypsy Joker Outlaws. 🎟 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🕺 TikTok:

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00:42:22

BONUS: KILLING TIME: THE HAMBURGLAR

The First Degree ·

2022/07/28

This week the girls and the ginger learn about the most messed up way to make a burger. They debate In N Out fries, breakfast all day, and a cheese-less burger. Plus, when stealing a Pog gets slammed into your mind forever! 🎟 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🕺 TikTok: tiktok.com/@thefirstdegreee👤 Facebook:

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00:58:17

Episode 206: Jesse James Hollywood

The First Degree ·

2022/07/27

On August 6, 2000, a 15 year old student walking not far from his home in Los Angeles is snatched off the street. Little does anyone know, he’ll never see his family again. When details emerge about what preceded the young man’s disappearance and what transpired afterwards, the motive, sequence of events and the many people involved make it seem like something out of a movie. In fact, it does become a movie, which only adds fuel to the fire, thanks to a state prosecutor having a questionable level

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00:52:58

BONUS: KILLING TIME: MAN ON THE MOON

The First Degree ·

2022/07/21

This week the girls and the ginger celebrate the anniversary of the moon landing by diving into space related conspiracy theories! They debate lobster ice cream, “the crunch”, and picking money up off the ground. Plus, we discovered the gateway to hell! 🎟 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🕺 TikTok: tiktok.com/@thefirstdegreee👤

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00:58:56

Episode 205: Chacey Poynter

The First Degree ·

2022/07/20

On September 9, 2016, a 47 year old off duty firefighter attends to assist a vehicle which is stuck in the mud on a road on the outskirts of town. Before the night is over, the man will be dead and his devastated wife inconsolable. When an arrest is made, those who knew the victim are in disbelief. Because there’s more than one person involved in this dark and twisted story, and the motive is truly chilling. In episode 205, Jac and Alexis detail the case of Robert “Bob” Poynter and how his murder

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