The First Degree
Kanalaren Xehetasunak
The First Degree
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 throug...
Atal Berriak
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TFD Special Episode: Introducing The Knife
Firsties, we are so excited to introduce you to an amazing true crime podcast hosted by some new friends to The First Degree, Hannah Smith and Patia E...
DEEP DIVE: THE EPSTEIN FILES, PART 3
And we're back for round three... This week, we're diving into the latest updates surrounding the Epstein files, discussing the DOJ's recent release o...
Episode 391: Danny Rex Harris
On October 26, 2007, a 55-year-old military veteran was found murdered in his home on the outskirts of Memphis, Tennessee. The family of the father of...
DEEP DIVE: THE EPSTEIN FILES, PART 2
This week we continue to chip away at the Epstein files, starting off with the top headlines of the week. We dive into bizarre code words throughout t...
Episode 390: Peggy Klinke, Part 2
After more than a year of stalking, threats, and repeated pleas for help, the danger in Peggy Klinke’s life reaches its breaking point. As the crimina...
DEEP DIVE: THE EPSTEIN FILES
Where do we even begin? Over 3 million files and we are just at the tip pf the iceberg. This week we’re going over the biggest Epstein related headl...
Episode 389: Peggy Klinke, Part 1
In the late 1990s, a driven and bright woman builds a life in New Mexico, staying deeply connected to her family back in Ohio. But after meeting a man...
DEEP DIVE: BLAKE VS JUSTIN (AND TAYLOR?)
You asked for it, you’ve got it. We are diving DEEP into all of the recently released documents in the Blake vs Justin saga, and we are going line by...
Episode 388: The Bird Creek Tragedy
On May 30, 2022, the body of a 40-year-old mother of three is found in a creek on the outskirts of Tulsa, Oklahoma. At first, it appears the woman has...
DEEP DIVE: BECKHAM FAMILY FEUD
We were graced by the Deep Dive gods this week with Brooklyn Beckham’s very public break up with his parents (including that BIZARRE wedding dance men...
Episode 387: Jonathan Gerlach
Today we’re stepping back to examine a case that has swept the nation — and shaken public trust in places meant to be sacred. At the center of it is J...
DEEP DIVE: STOP BULLYING ME!
Man, 2026 is off to a bizarre start. This week a group of people were locked up in jail for posting tweets about Brigitte Macron (yep, you can get arr...
Episode 386: John Hinckley Jr.
On March 30, 1981, the 40th President of the United States, Ronald Reagan, is just two months into his presidency when he attends a speaking engagemen...
DEEP DIVE: HOW WILL MOMTOK SURVIVE THIS???
There’s a hell of a lot going on in the world right now, but we are hyper obsessing about Ashley Tisdale being booted from her mom group (it’s not an...
Episode 385: Jason Marous
In January 2023, a 36-year-old man is found shot inside his vehicle outside his Fort Lauderdale apartment in the early morning hours. As detectives in...
DEEP DIVE: NEW YEAR, SAME BULLSHIT
Happy 2026! It’s a new year but we are still obsessing over the same ole shit. We’re deep diving into the latest Epstein files, and why doesn’t anyone...
Episode 384: The Crimes That Defined 2025
On this New Year’s installment of The First Degree, Jac and Lex take you through the crime stories that defined 2025. From trials that dominated Court...
DEEP DIVE: BYE BYE 2025
It’s time to reflect on the past year and break down all of the celebrity scandals, cultural moments and conspiracies that shaped this year. We’re div...
Episode 383: An Arrest & Murder Trial Abroad
This week, we are stepping outside our usual format to bring you a rare combination in true crime. First, we revisit a case we covered in episode 326....
DEEP DIVE: RIP ROB REINER
This week we delve into the shocking events surrounding the tragic deaths of Rob and Michelle Reiner, exploring the complex family dynamics, and the c...
Episode 382: Arthur J. Williams Jr., Part 2
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,...
DEEP DIVE: DIDDY DEEP DIVE
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 bombshe...
Episode 381: Arthur J. Williams Jr., Part 1
In 1999, a young US Secret Service special agent is assigned to the counterfeit squad in Chicago, Illinois. Aside from dignitary protection, one of th...
DEEP DIVE: RAGEBAIT
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 crazie...
Episode 380: Danielle Bell
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 se...
DEEP DIVE: EPSTEIN EMAILS
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 cele...
Episode 379: True Crime Side Dishes
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 t...
DEEP DIVE: BETTER CALL KRIS
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 wei...
Episode 378: Thirteen Years Later
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...
DEEP DIVE: BRITNEY SPEARS & GEORGE BUSH SITTING IN A TREE
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...
Episode 377: Taken Back
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 s...
DEEP DIVE: PRINCE ANDREW NO MORE
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 bec...
Episode 376: Kelly Bergh Dove
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...
DEEP DIVE: BIG CANDY
It’s another week full of heists, weirdos, and conspiracy theories. George Clooney denies getting a BJ from Gislaine Maxwell, Lily Allen & the dude f...
Episode 375: Sarah & Kayla Anderson
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, ki...
Introducing a chilling new podcast: TWISTED TALES WITH HEIDI WONG
Reality is the real horror.
Every Monday, poet and paranormal obsessive Heidi Wong unearths the chilling true stories behind the world’s...
DEEP DIVE: THE HEIST
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 stor...
Episode 374: Meghan Kiefer
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 s...
DEEP DIVE: ROMANTIC HOMICIDE
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 hap...
Episode 373: Joseph "Joby" Palczynski
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 bef...