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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

01:13:15

Episode 46: The Warriners

The First Degree ·

2019/06/26

On May 5th of 2019, police were called to an apartment in the Dallas suburb of Denton. The door was ajar, and the scene inside was straight out of a horror movie. But the most ominous thing at the scene was ironically not what they could observe, rather… what was missing—which was the head of the victim. On episode 46, Jac, Alexis & Billy explore an active case that's still unfolding with a first degree connection who is still reeling from the recent events. They examine the timeline of inexplicable

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01:18:34

Episode 45: Kenny Thomas Jr.

The First Degree ·

2019/06/19

There's a moment in every child's life when they discover what death is, whether it's through losing a grandparent or flushing a pet fish down the toilet...” In episode 44, Jac, Alexis and Billy speak with special First Degree guest Jared Monaco (lead guitarist for Emo band The Maine). Jared takes us back to when he was force fed the concept of mortality at the age of 9-years-old—when the life of his boyhood friend Kenny Thomas Jr. was stolen under horrific circumstances. They'll delve into the

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00:10:48

Bonus - Sneak Peek of 22 Hours: An American Nightmare

The First Degree ·

2019/06/13

It’s a case nightmares are made of. As Kaitlyn mentioned this week, we’ve got your sneak peek into the new true-crime series, 22 Hours: An American Nightmare. It's the frightening story of a D.C. power couple, their 10-year-old son, and housekeeper who were held hostage, tortured, and brutally murdered inside their burning D.C. mansion. You won’t believe what happened during those last 22 hours alive, and the shocking trail of evidence that led police to the killer! Did he have help? Hear from key

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00:56:43

Episode 44: Ali Kemp

The First Degree ·

2019/06/12

A 19-year-old student at Kansas State University home for the summer, was found by her father murdered in a pump room at a community pool in Leawood, Kansas. In episode 43, Jac, Alexis & Billy discuss the harrowing details of the case, the innovative methods implemented during the investigation, and one father's relentless pursuit to catch his daughter's killer. 🎟 Catch up to FOUR bonus episodes per month plus full video episodes over on Patreon:patreon.com/thefirstdegree❤️ The Heavy Metal

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01:12:40

Episode 43: Terra Newell

The First Degree ·

2019/06/05

On August 20th, 2016, Terra Newell was attacked on the roof of her apartment building by her mother’s estranged husband, John Meehan. Against all odds, Terra was able to fight him off, fatally wounding him in the process. Her story is the focus of the popular podcast and series of the same name, Dirty John. In Episode 43, Jac, Alexis and Billy are joined by Terra in the studio to discuss her heroism, her trauma, and the life that she built on the other side of a nightmare. 🎟 Catch up to FOUR bonus

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01:13:56

Episode 42: Gloria Marmolejo

The First Degree ·

2019/05/29

On episode 42, Jac, Alexis & Billy examine the bizarre 2009 disappearance of 54-year-old Gloria Marmolejo, who vanished mysteriously from her El Paso home after a months-long vacation in Phoenix. The investigation into her disappearance was puzzling, and would come to expose the sadistic serial offender who was responsible, as well as a dark family secret. 🎟 Catch up to FOUR bonus episodes per month plus full video episodes over on Patreon:patreon.com/thefirstdegree❤️ The Heavy Metal Project:

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01:06:44

Episode 41: Bob Ward Part 2

The First Degree ·

2019/05/22

On episode 41, Jac, Alexis and Billy conclude with part two of the story of Bob & Diane Ward, and their two daughters' decade-long fight to prove their father's innocence. We learn about the Space Chicken, the struggle against the media and how they found an incredibly key piece of evidence years after their mother’s death. 🎟 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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00:53:43

Episode 40: Bob Ward Part 1

The First Degree ·

2019/05/15

On the night of September 21st 2009, police responded to a 911 call at the Isleworth mansion of Bob and Diane Ward. Inside they found Diane dead from a gunshot wound. It launched one of the biggest courtroom sagas in Florida and a textbook example of trial by media. In Episode 40, Jac, Alexis and Billy are joined by First Degree guest, Sarah Ward-Rupp as she walks us through trauma of losing her mother and the decades-long battle to exonerate her father. 🎟 Catch up to FOUR bonus episodes per month

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00:53:03

Episode 39: The Bishops Part 2

The First Degree ·

2019/05/08

On episode 39, Jac, Alexis and Billy conclude the puzzling case of family annihilator William Bradford Bishop. The international manhunt for Bishop has spanned nearly four decades and lured law enforcement across international lines. Many questions remain, did Bradford Bishop use his international savvy to relocate abroad, or is he in the US hiding in plain sight? 🎟 Catch up to FOUR bonus episodes per month plus full video episodes over on Patreon:patreon.com/thefirstdegree❤️ The Heavy Metal

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00:59:04

Episode 38: The Bishops Part 1

The First Degree ·

2019/05/01

In March of 1976, police were drawn to a fiery stretch of North Carolina woods. At the time, first responders had no idea that the horrors revealed there would prompt a world wide and decades long search for the person responsible. On Episode 38, Jac, Alexis and Billy explore the mysterious force that unprecedentedly and unexpectedly snuffed out what appeared to be a perfect family. 🎟 Catch up to FOUR bonus episodes per month plus full video episodes over on Patreon:patreon.com/thefirstdegree❤️ The

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00:55:11

Episode 37: Two Sisters and a Psychopath

The First Degree ·

2019/04/24

Psychopaths make up about one percent of the general population. We work with them, we're friends with them—and some of us even date, fall in love with, and marry them. On Episode 37, Jac, Alexis and Billy speak with two sisters whose lives were uncomfortably intertwined with a dangerous psychopath, and how they were able to survive him to tell their tale. Higher Education Skincare - Head over to HigherEducationSkincare.com and use promo code FIRSTDEGREE for 20% off your first order Living Proof -

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01:07:21

Episode 36: Ashlea Ann Harris

The First Degree ·

2019/04/17

Black Friday is the name assigned to the notorious shopping day after Thanksgiving. Although the original derivative of the term has been diluted, some say that the phrase was originally coined by police in the 1950's to describe the mayhem prompted by a high volume of shoppers who cause traffic accidents, trample over each other, and resort to intentional brutality... all in the name of a bargain. On episode thirty six, Jac, Alexis and Billy discuss the details of a chilling Black Friday case that

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00:51:43

Episode 35: The DeBeers

The First Degree ·

2019/04/10

There is no crime more difficult to comprehend than the murder of a child by his or her own parents. Nevertheless, tales of the killing of newborn children are as old as time. On episode 35, Jac, Alexis and Billy explore the elusive concept of neonatacide, and delve into the incredibly disturbing case of the Debeers, who didn’t stop at killing just one of their newborns. SeroVital - Try SeroVital Advanced by texting FIRSTDEGREE to 246810 and enjoy your $70 discount now 🎟 Catch up to FOUR bonus

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00:57:09

Episode 34: Michelle Lavin

The First Degree ·

2019/04/03

Women are 70 times more likely to be killed in the two week window after leaving their partners than at any other time during the relationship. And on Episode 34, Jac, Alexis and Billy profile a case that illustrates the horror of that statistic and shows the devastating aftermath when they’re joined by a first degree connection who was at the very center of the story in the worst possible way. SeroVital - Try SeroVital Advanced by texting FIRSTDEGREE to 246810 and enjoy your $70 discount now 🎟

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01:00:06

Episode 33: Samantha Young

The First Degree ·

2019/03/27

On April 19, 2015, a 21-year-old named Samantha Young was found brutally murdered behind her ex boyfriend's house. Her killing was horrific; but even more chilling was the revelation of the months of planning the perpetrators undertook before the murder. On episode 33, Jac, Alexis and Billy discuss the facets of the case, the conspiracy, and how dysfunctional puppy love can lead to a decent into madness. Buffy - Go to Buffy.CO and enter Degree for $20 off your comforter Living Proof - Visit

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01:02:08

Episode 32: The Smiley Face Killer Part 2

The First Degree ·

2019/03/20

Is there a serial killer gang murdering college-age men in the waters of America? Jac, Alexis & Billy conclude the story of the Smiley Face Killer theory, with the help of Kevin Gannon, Mike Donovan, Anthony Duarte, and Doc Gilbertson. Daily Harvest - Go to Daily-Harvest.com now and use Promo code FIRST for 3 free cups in your first box Kopari - Check out KopariBeauty.com/FIRST for $5 off your first subscription 🎟 Catch up to FOUR bonus episodes per month plus full video episodes over on

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00:54:18

Episode 31: The Smiley Face Killer Part 1

The First Degree ·

2019/03/13

Dozens of young men found dead in bodies of water in the northeast and Midwest. Most were last seen leaving parties or bars. Most of their deaths were classified as accidental drownings. But a group of retired detectives believe their deaths are the result of something much more sinister—an elusive network of individuals who are murdering these young men. On episode 31, Jac, Alexis & Billy explore both sides of the "Smiley Face Killer" theory. The various cases, the shared

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00:59:11

Episode 30: Todd Gieb

The First Degree ·

2019/03/06

22-year-old Todd Geib goes missing after an orchard party in rural Michigan. For 20 days, his family and friends frantically search for him. On the 21st day, they find his body, floating upright in a private lake. Was Todd's death an accident, or did he fall victim to something sinister? In episode 30, Jac, Alexis and Billy speak with Todd's mother, examine the evidence, and deconstruct the curious case of Todd Gieb. Buffy - Go to Buffy.CO and enter Degree for $20 off your comforter 🎟 Catch up to

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01:11:29

Episode 29: Sarah Johnson

The First Degree ·

2019/02/27

A married couple is found murdered in the bedroom of their home. Their teenage daughter runs out of the house screaming that someone killed her parents. In episode 29, Jac, Alexis and Billy discuss the case of Sarah Johnson, shedding light on the motives, the opportunity, and the pink bathrobe that held one of the secrets that led to a conviction. But they also show the coverage and concern it received in contrast to the same-town murder of Maggie Guardado, the focus of episode 28. A memorial

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00:53:32

Episode 28: Maggie Guardado

The First Degree ·

2019/02/20

On episode twenty eight of The First Degree, Jac, Alexis and Billy tell the story of the vicious murder of Maggie Guardado. When the charred body of 16 year Old Maggie was discovered in front of her house, suspicion immediately fell on her much older boyfriend. But Maggie also had a jealous ex. Police use cell phone records and a dried blood stain to piece together who killed Maggie and set her on fire. Daily Harvest - Go to Daily-Harvest.com now and use Promo code FIRST for 3 free cups in your

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