The First Degree

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The First Degreeactive

Publisher |: Alexis Linkletter, Jac Vanek, Billy Jensen

Media Type |: audio

Podknife tags |: Society & Culture,; True Crime

Categories Via RSS |: News,; Society & Culture,; True Crime

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. (Plus, join them every Thursday for Killing Time, the light-hearted, true crime-adjacent aftershow!)

People |: Billy Jensen (@billyjensen),; Alexis Linkletter (@lexlinkletter),; Jac Vanek
Country Of Origin |: USA
Produced In |: Los Angeles, CA
Premiere Date |: 2018-08-08
Frequency |: Weekly
Explicit |: No

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472 Available Episodes (472 Total) / Average duration: 00:50:55

Date Duration Most Reviewed Highest Rated

472 Available Episodes (472 Total)Average duration: 00:50:55

Apr 18, 2024

00:46:11

This week the girls and the ginger are back for another half-fact-filled episode of Killing Time! In what might be our most intelligent sounding episode, we’re talking about deep ocean aliens, Einstein, space, and so much more that we know nothing about! Then! Today I Learned! We’re talking OJ, Tongues, Eclipses, and a Firstie calls in with another Roald Dahl fact!

🎟 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: facebook.com/thefirstdegree

⚖️ On the Stand: (818) 446-6889

💩 Worst Thing You’ve Ever Done: (818) 446-6889

🤝 Advice: hello@thefirstdegreepodcast.com

Apr 17, 2024

00:39:21

On November 2, 2001, a 40-year-old woman is viciously bludgeoned and strangled to death inside her apartment in San Diego, California. Family, friends, and neighbors of the mother of one and passionate advocate for those living with Alagille Syndrome, are stunned and heartbroken, especially her teen daughter. While the killer is quickly apprehended, this doesn’t lessen the pain when his identity is revealed. If anything, it highlights the tragedy of the victim’s loss and only leads to more questions about the disturbing details of her death, with those left behind mourning the passing of someone who still had so much to give. In episode 295, Jac and Alexis detail the sickening murder of Julie Kelin at the hands of Gabriel John Bradway, the dangers of obsession, and why the safest place for perpetrators of such crimes who fail to respect other’s boundaries in such a malicious way is behind bars.

🎟 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: facebook.com/thefirstdegree

⚖️ On the Stand: (818) 446-6889

💩 Worst Thing You’ve Ever Done: (818) 446-6889

🤝 Advice: hello@thefirstdegreepodcast.com

Apr 11, 2024

00:44:29

This week the girls and the ginger return and we’re killing time in epic fashion! Jac has some spelling struggles, Lex has safety tips, and Jer has frog facts! Today I learned returns! Then! We’re revisiting our new favorite segment “Chat in the Hat” for some topical tangents! Join us!

🎟 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: facebook.com/thefirstdegree

⚖️ On the Stand: (818) 446-6889

💩 Worst Thing You’ve Ever Done: (818) 446-6889

🤝 Advice: hello@thefirstdegreepodcast.com

Apr 10, 2024

00:44:20

On April 19, 1973, a 7-year-old girl in Hillsdale, New Jersey, goes out selling Girl Scout cookies in her neighborhood. She knows she’s not allowed far, so when she doesn’t come home her family is instantly on high alert, as are the authorities. A widely publicized search for the youngster swings into action. But three days later, a grisly find brings the hunt to a sudden and devastating end. When the identity of the perpetrator emerges and it’s revealed how he assaulted and murdered his helpless victim, it becomes clear that the little girl didn’t even make it to the end of her street. In episode 294, Jac and Alexis detail the heartbreaking murder of Joan D’Alessandro and her family’s fight not just for justice, but for swift and meaningful legislative reform to prevent the horror they lived through from becoming a painful reality for any other family.

Please visit http://joansjoy.org/ to learn more about Joan's story and Rosemarie's work.

🎟 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: facebook.com/thefirstdegree

⚖️ On the Stand: (818) 446-6889

💩 Worst Thing You’ve Ever Done: (818) 446-6889

🤝 Advice: hello@thefirstdegreepodcast.com

Apr 04, 2024

00:49:03

Well well well, look who it is! The girls and the ginger return yet again for another episode of Killing Time! This week we’re bringing you more fun facts with Today I Learned, including a very special listener submission! Famous last words, a pringles coffin, extinct bananas, and… eating mummies? Join us!

🎟 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: facebook.com/thefirstdegree

⚖️ On the Stand: (818) 446-6889

💩 Worst Thing You’ve Ever Done: (818) 446-6889

🤝 Advice: hello@thefirstdegreepodcast.com

Apr 03, 2024

00:41:29

On June 26, 2009, a 26-year-old college graduate is attacked and stabbed multiple times inside her apartment complex in Fayetteville, Arkansas. The young woman calls 911, and law enforcement arrives on the scene while the assault is in progress. They do their best to gain access and incapacitate the assailant but tragically are unable to save the victim’s life. Her friends and family are shattered when they learn not only how she died, but the identity of the perpetrator. In a twist to the investigation, the attacker attempts to place responsibility for the death with the actions of the officers who responded. In episode 293, Jac and Alexis detail the tragic murder of a young woman by her ex-boyfriend , and discuss how the emotional fallout from fatalities resulting from domestic violence ripples throughout the community in ways that forever change the lives of those whose sole mission is to protect and serve.

🎟 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: facebook.com/thefirstdegree

⚖️ On the Stand: (818) 446-6889

💩 Worst Thing You’ve Ever Done: (818) 446-6889

🤝 Advice: hello@thefirstdegreepodcast.com

Mar 28, 2024

00:50:31

This week the girls and the ginger return with another half-fact-filled episode of Killing Time! Join us for a special revival of “On the Stand” featuring animal bonding, street meat, and migraines! Then, we’re jumping into some current events since we procrastinated and recorded this episode yesterday! Yeehaw!

🎟 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: facebook.com/thefirstdegree

⚖️ On the Stand: (818) 446-6889

💩 Worst Thing You’ve Ever Done: (818) 446-6889

🤝 Advice: hello@thefirstdegreepodcast.com

Mar 27, 2024

00:41:17

In the early hours of January 3, 2009, a 29-year-old man is found shot in his truck outside a bar in College Station, Texas. He’s still alive at this point, so first responders rush him to the hospital, where he sadly passes away. Detectives get to work and quickly identify a suspect - a 36-year-old car salesman with a history of violence. However, detectives struggle to figure out a motive behind the shooting. In fact, the victim and the murderer never even exchanged words. In episode 292, Jac and Alexis delve into the tragic murder of William Rufus Stephens Jr., and his killer’s history of “psycho” behavior.

🎟 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: facebook.com/thefirstdegree

⚖️ On the Stand: (818) 446-6889

💩 Worst Thing You’ve Ever Done: (818) 446-6889

🤝 Advice: hello@thefirstdegreepodcast.com

Mar 21, 2024

00:45:53

This week the girls and the ginger return for a Killing Time of epic proportions! Today I Learned returns for another fact-filled feature including info about the platypus, Robert Pattinson, and more! Then it’s time for chat in a hat! Strap in!

🎟 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: facebook.com/thefirstdegree

⚖️ On the Stand: (818) 446-6889

💩 Worst Thing You’ve Ever Done: (818) 446-6889

🤝 Advice: hello@thefirstdegreepodcast.com

Mar 20, 2024

00:49:46

On the morning of November 29, 2005, a fire breaks out at a Morgantown, West Virginia home, engulfing the quiet neighborhood in chaos. Amidst the smoke and flames, responders discover the badly burned body of a 33-year-old man, lying in his bed. As investigators sift through the evidence, they quickly realize this is no ordinary house fire - it's arson, and the man had been dead before the blaze began. As the investigation continues, the evidence keeps leading investigators back to one person in particular. Someone very close to the victim who had multiple motives to want him gone. In episode 291, Jac and Alexis unravel the harrowing tale of James “Jimmy” Michael's murder, and his family’s journey to justice, and for some, forgiveness.

🎟 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: facebook.com/thefirstdegree

⚖️ On the Stand: (818) 446-6889

💩 Worst Thing You’ve Ever Done: (818) 446-6889

🤝 Advice: hello@thefirstdegreepodcast.com

Apr 18 | 00:46:11

BONUS: KILLING TIME: MOST INTELLIGENT EPISODE EVER

Apr 17 | 00:39:21