The First Degree

"Welcome to the house of fun. I'm Trey.” This is how teenager Trey Sessler introduced himself to the world on his Facebook profile. What was so fun about Trey’s house? He lived with his best friend brother and their parents. He was obsessed with anime, and had a popular Youtube channel where he commented on different movies and TV shows. And he liked guns. And one day, the house of fun turned into a house of nightmares. On the 80th episode of The First Degree, Jac, Alexis and Billy tell the horror story of Mr. Anime—and what he was planning on next. 🎟 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 ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

What if you were at a party and someone looked through your purse? What if they found something that to you was completely innocent—but to them was a threat? On Episode 80 of The First Degree, Jac, Alexis and Billy delve into the 2018 case of missing 19-year-old Megan Metzger. A case that deals with a chance Facebook message, a three-day long party, crazed paranoia, a car set on fire and a pact between “friends” that would change many lives in a small town in Virginia. 🎟 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 ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

You’re awakened at night by a prowler entering your home. What do you do? In the case of Kinney Glasson, you grab your gun and investigate—to devastating consequences. In episode 79 of The First Degree, Jac, Alexis and Billy begin with a home invasion, which then opens up into a world of exotic dancers, biker clubs and desperation. 🎟 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 ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

He was an eccentric doctor in charge of fighting VD in Los Angeles. He held lavish parties at his Frank Lloyd Wright-designed home, entertaining famous artists and actors. He went to trial for raping his 14-year-old daughter. And he is the suspect that makes the most sense in the biggest murder mystery in American History. On episode 78, Jac, Alexis and Billy are joined Yvette Gentile and Rasha Pecoraro of the Root of Evil podcast, and together they delve deep into their great grandfather George Hodel, investigate the horrific things he did to their family and stack up the evidence that shows how he may very well have killed Elizabeth Short, the Black Dahlia. 🎟 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 ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The body of a woman is found in a vacant lot in suburban Los Angeles. She has been mutilated, cut in two with surgical precision, and her face has been slashed at both ends of her mouth, giving her a ghastly, horrific smile. In episode 77, Jac, Alexis and Billy delve into Elizabeth Short’s life in Hollywood and the lives—and lies— of the early suspects of the case, before landing on the one man who checks all the boxes of the psychological profile of the killer. 🎟 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 ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

A mother and her two children seemingly disappear from their home in rural Missouri. An officer searching for them from the air spots something strange floating in a pond near their house. When he lands and investigates, a horrific nightmare begins to reveal itself. On episode 76, Jac, Alexis and Billy explore a case that begins in the countryside of Missouri, spans the United States with a national manhunt, and ends with two perpetrators confessing to one of the most sickening crimes—and one of the most brutal causes of death—ever covered on The First Degree 🎟 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 ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Aurora Duran was busy getting her children ready for school when she heard a commotion at her front door. When she went to investigate, she saw two men dragging her 17-year-old daughter out of the house and into a waiting car. It was the stuff of nightmares for any parent. On episode 75, Jac, Alexis and Billy delve into one of the most unique cases—and speak with one of the most unique guests— in First Degree history. 🎟 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 ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

On New Year's Day of 2014, the parishioners of St. Bernard's Roman Catholic Church were waiting patiently for morning mass to commence in Eureka, California. Father Eric Freed was slated to lead services, but when he failed to show up that morning, concern began to fill the room. Worry grew to panic when a horrific discovery was made in the church rectory. On episode 74, Jac, Alexis and Billy explore the case, recount the bizarre events that proceeded the crime, and attempt to find a motive in a case of senseless violence. 🎟 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 ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

On today’s very special New Years Day episode, Jac, Alexis, and Billy revisit one of the nations most infamous child abduction cases. On October 1, 1993, s 12-year-old girl was abducted from her room during a slumber party. Her name was Polly Klaas, and abduction and murder were a catalyst to vast policy reform. 🎟 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 ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

On episode 72 of the first degree, Jac, Alexis and Billy discuss Alexis' most recent first degree connection which acts as a chilling reminder for the fact that a murderer could be hiding in your family whether you realize it or not. 🎟 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 ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Comedian Margaret Cho joins Jac, Alexis and Billy to tell the harrowing tale of how she found out a former romantic flame had taken a turn towards darkness. The story begins on a high note: Cho in Hollywood for her big break, a sit-com based on her life. Living the dream and working on the show, an accomplished TV writer caught her eye. The relationship never went far, but years later, Cho happened to google his name. His description had changed a bit. Now it read: American sit-com writer, television producer, and convicted murderer. On episode 71, Cho and our hosts explores her intimate connection to a man who went on to kill his own wife, hiding her body in his attic for weeks until he was caught 🎟 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 ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

New Years day, 2003. The small town of Fillmore, California. A horrific discovery is made in a drainage ditch. The community is in shock. But as they file out of the church after the funeral, their shock multiplies when the location of the crime scene is revealed. On episode 70, Jac, Alexis and Billy examine the ripple effect of tragedy within a small town—and the evidence that led police to capture a budding serial killer. 🎟 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 ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

It was January of 2013 when friends and family lost touch with sisters Rose & Daisy Edwards. The radio silence from the girls would come to destroy a family and baffle the community of Billings, Montana. On episode 69, Jac, Alexis & Billy are joined for the first time by two first degrees on opposite sides of this story; the brother of the victims and someone who grew up with the perpetrator. 🎟 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 ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

They crossed paths by an abandoned house in Dayton, Ohio. 27-year-old Curtis Gray and 51-year-old Daniel Mooty were strangers, but this chance encounter would drastically change the course of one of their lives...and immediately end the other. On episode 68, Jac, Alexis and Billy deconstruct the evidence with Courtney, one of Curtis' best friends and our First Degree guest. 🎟 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 ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Things didn’t add up when a neighbor found Becky Sutton’s two year old strolling the apartment building courtyard unattended. Becky was known to be a responsible parent, and the two of them were known to be joined at the hip. On episode 67 Jac, Alexis and Billy look into her mysterious disappearance which turned a quiet suburb upside down and took several false starts and over a decade to crack. 🎟 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 ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

What happens when you fall for a bad boy—a boy your parents refuse to let you to see? On episode 66, Jac, Alexis and Billy discuss a tragic murder case that destroyed an entire family and took away First Degree connection Audrina's best friend in high school. Through Audrina, they delve into the months leading up to the crime, the toxic influence on her friend's life, the horrific details of the murder, and finally, the pain in the aftermath. 🎟 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 ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Mike Gargiulo was a chameleon who possessed the ability to blend into the gritty backdrop of Los Angeles, slipping into the lives and proximity of his targets without a trace. Gargiulo committed crimes that both proceeded and followed the murder of Ashley Ellerin. His method of choice? Stalking each beautiful woman from the outskirts of their lives, acquainting himself with each of their habits before Striking at their most vulnerable moment. On episode 65, Jac, Alexis and Billy are joined again by Ashley Ellerin's childhood best friend Carolyn Murnick, as they discuss the hunt for the monster who would come to be known as The Hollywood Ripper. 🎟 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 ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

22-year-old Ashley Ellerin was standing outside her Hollywood home next to a car with a flat tire when a handsome guy approaches and insisted on helping. This "chance encounter" would eventually be revealed as the first step in a carefully choreographed scenario designed to win Ashley's trust. It’s through this story that America would be introduced to a methodical serial killer; one who would leave a path of destruction and catch hundreds of people -- from a close-knit family in Illinois to Ashton Kutcher in Los Angeles -- in his wake. In episode 64, Jac, Alexis and Billy explore Ashley's life and the mysterious identity of the man who stole it. 🎟 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 ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

One student is last seen at a Metallica concert. Her remains are found three months later. Fast forward five years, another student is last seen on late night surveillance video walking from bar to bar in the same town. And someone else is seen on the video—following her. It would be the clue that would capture a serial killer—-one who it seems could have been stopped much earlier. In a special crossover episode with Billy’s other podcast, Jensen & Holes: The Murder Squad, Jac, Alexis and Billy explore how a high school football star turned into a sexual predator and serial killer. 🎟 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 ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

When a fire breaks out at a Texas drive-in theater, everyone assumes it was an accident. But once the firemen entered the ticket booth, they learned the truth— the fire had been started intentionally in an attempt to conceal a horrific crime. In episode 62, Jac, Alexis and Billy dig into the details of the case, the unexplainable events that happened in the days that followed, and speak to two members of the Stotts family whose lives were forever altered by the events of that evening. Honey - Get Honey for FREE at JoinHoney.com/FIRSTDEGREE Canvas 1839 - Go to CanvasRelief.com/firstdegree and get your Travel Size Relief Cream for $2 before they’re gone! Simple Health - The annual prescription is usually $20, but our listeners can try Simple Health for FREE - just go to SimpleHealth.com/DEGREE , or enter the code 'DEGREE' at checkout. 🎟 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 ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

On the morning of June 28th, 1999, Darlene Anderson failed to show up to work. Darlene always showed up to work. After a massive search, police made an awful discovery that led them to believe that she may have crossed paths with a serial killer. On episode 61, Jac, Alexis and Billy explore the decades of violence inflicted by Roger Fain. They'll discuss the many cases he's been linked to, the tactics he used to select his victims, the flawed system that allowed him the opportunity to kill over and over again and the police work that finally took him down. Living Proof - make the switch to Living Proof today by visiting LivingProof.com/first and use promo code FIRST to get a free sample of their award-winning dry shampoo with your purchase! 🎟 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 ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

25-year-old Jaymie Adams went out to meet a friend in Oklahoma City. When the pregnant mother of four failed to return home, the community watched as a bizarre case unfolded, and a likely suspect emerged. On episode 60 of The First Degree, Jac, Alexis and Billy examine the crime, the investigation and explore how personal biases possess the potential to ruin lives. Stamps.com - get a 4-week trial PLUS free postage AND a digital scale without any long-term commitment. Just go to Stamps.com, click on the Microphone at the TOP of the homepage and type in FIRSTDEGREE Canvas1839 - Visit canvasrelief.com/firstdegree to get your FREE Travel Size of CBD cream. No strings attached. No hidden subscription fees. Just $2 bucks to try the best damn CBD on the market. Noom - Visit noom.com/firstdegree to start your trial today! Honey - Get Honey for FREE at JoinHoney.com/FIRSTDEGREE 🎟 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 ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The body of a young woman is found under a bridge in Birmingham Alabama. She had been stabbed and sexually mutilated. Her murder sent shock waves through the bible belt community, this was 1986, and rumors of a connection to witchcraft and devil worship spread through the town. On episode 59, Jac, Alexis and Billy delve into the evidence, theories, the investigation, and discuss the impact this woman's murder had on the 14-year-old girl who discovered her body. Simple Health - try Simple Health for FREE, just go to simplehealth.com/DEGREE , or just enter the code 'DEGREE' at checkout! REN clean skincare - get 20% off all full-size items including Perfect Canvas at usa.renskincare.com using code 'FIRST' 🎟 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 ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Glen Rogers charmed his way into Linda Price’s life at the Mississippi state fair in the autumn is 1995–and in less than three weeks she would be found murdered in the bathtub of the apartment they shared. The police soon learned that Linda was not the first beautiful redhead killed by the man come to be known Casanova Killer. And she wouldn’t be the last. The hunt for Rogers was an urgent multi state effort that landed his name at the top of the FBI's most wanted list. On episode 58, Jac, Alexis & Billy conclude Linda Price's story through the first degree experience of her daughter Chrystal, and delve into Glen Rogers' reign of terror—which he continues to inflict upon the families from behind bars on Florida's death row. CANVAS 1839 - Visit canvasrelief.com/firstdegree -- and get your Travel Size of cream. No strings attached. No hidden subscription fees. Just $2 bucks to try the best damn CBD on the market. REN SKINCARE - For a limited time, listeners get 20% off all full-size items including Perfect Canvas at usa.renskincare.com using code: FIRST HONEY - Get Honey for FREE at JoinHoney.com/FIRSTDEGREE 🎟 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 ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

On a fall evening at the Mississippi State Fair, Linda Price was approached a blonde stranger named Glen Rogers. He was charming, mysterious, and exactly what Linda had been looking for. But what started out as a storybook romance quickly turned into a nightmare, when Linda couldn't be reached by her family on Halloween night. On episode 57, Jac, Alexis and Billy speak with Linda's daughter Chrystal about the horror she and her family experienced at the hands of Glen Rogers, also known as The Casanova Killer. FabFitFun - Use coupon code " FIRSTDEGREE " for $10 off your first box at fabfitfun.com LivingProof - visit LivingProof.com/first and use promo code " FIRST " to get a free sample of their award-winning dry shampoo with your purchase! ThirdLove - Go to thirdlove.com/firstdegree to find your perfect-fit ting bra, and get 15% off your first purchase! 🎟 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 ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

On Sept. 10, 2010, Marti Hill was savagely attacked and left for dead in the basement of her Kansas home. On episode 55 of The First Degree, Jac, Alexis, and Billy speak with Marti’s daughter Mackenzie, and try to understand why her mother was targeted, and if it’s possible to keep ourselves safe if no clear motive can be detected. Right now, FD listeners can get a special offer that includes a 4-week trial PLUS free postage AND a digital scale without any long-term commitment - Just go to Stamps.com, click on the Microphone at the TOP of the homepage and type in FIRSTDEGREE Get an exclusive intro offe of 6 bottles of wine for only $29.95, plus free shipping at First Leaf! Just go to TRYFirstleaf.com/FIRSTDEGREE Get 20% OFF all FULL-SIZE items, including Perfect Canvas at usa.RENskincare.com by using code 'FIRST' 🎟 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 ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

On October 3rd 1995, 100 million Americans watched as a jury declared OJ Simpson not guilty of the murders of his ex-wife Nicole Brown and her friend Ronald Goldman. The verdict rattled faith in the justice system, stained popular culture, and the strategies implemented by Simpson’s defense team heightened police distrust. The country has (seemingly) moved on, but the emotional ruins left in the wake of Simpson’s acquittal continue to affect those who loved the victims. Research Sources & Credits: We could not have done this episode without the incredible work and observations made by Dominick Dunne, reflected in his Complete O.J. Simpson Trial Coverage for Vanity Fair. Get an exclusive intro offer of 6 bottles of wine for only $29.95!! Just go to TryFirstLeaf.com/FirstDegree Shop with confidence by signing up FREE at JoinHoney.com/FirstDegree 🎟 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 ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

On the night of June 12th, 1994, two people were murdered in the Los Angeles suburb of Brentwood. This double homicide would change the world, shatter the lives of the victims' families, and forever fracture our faith in the justice system. On episode 53, Jac, Alexis & Billy are joined by Kim Goldman, the sister of Ronald Goldman, a 25-year-old aspiring restauranteur who was stabbed to death attempting to protect his friend Nicole Brown. Use coupon code " FIRSTDEGREE " for $10 off your first box at www.fabfitfun.com 🎟 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 ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

On the landmark 52nd episode of The First Degree, Jac, Alexis and Billy are joined by Justin Evans of the Generation Why Podcast. Justin shares his first degree connection to the bizarre disappearance of his high school friend, 18-year-old Crystal Kipper, who vanished from the side of the highway in the winter of 1997. A twist of fate would reveal the truth about what happened to Crystal, and the story would be the stuff of nightmares. Episode Research Sources & Credits: Oscar Avila, Benita Y. Williams, and Mark Wifbe for the Kansas City Star & the St. Joseph News-Press. JoinHoney.com/FIRSTDEGREE to try it FREE! LivingProof.com/first and use promo code FIRST to get a FREE sample of their wonderful dry shampoo! Up your bra game by heading to ThirdLove.com/FIRSTDEGREE and get 15% OFF your first order! 🎟 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 ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

On episode 51, Jac, Alexis and Billy delve into a double homicide that rocked the small town of St. George Utah over Christmas in 2010. Two men were immediately arrested, but the bizarre nature of the killings provided more questions than answers, and as the suspect motives were called into question, onlookers were left wondering: Were these senseless murders committed by willful and deliberate choice or were they the result of fear, compulsion and addiction? TRYFirstLeaf.com/FirstDegree to get 6 bottles of wine for $29.95! Stamps.com with code 'FIRSTDEGREE' for a four week trial PLUS free postage and a digital scale! 🎟 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 ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The disappearance of a 15-year-old girl named Elyse Pahler was initially ignored by law enforcement. But months later, a 16-year-old boy confessed to killing her—and claimed that her murder was a part of a carefully concocted plot by him and his friends to sacrifice her to the devil. They believed the killing would be their ticket to hell—and it would in turn make them better at their instruments, which they wielded in their thrash metal band. On episode 50, Jac, Alexis and Billy discuss the chilling case and explore how the band death metal band was dragged into a precedent- setting lawsuit accusing music companies of intentionally introducing youngsters to a violent, X-rated world of devil worship, human sacrifice and necrophilia. 🎟 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 ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

At 2:00 am on June 17th, 2019, 23-year-old Mackenzie Lueck got off a plane in Salt Lake City, took a Lyft to a suburban park, and then vanished. Police followed the digital breadcrumbs left by Mackenzie to a house where a slew of nightmarish clues were discovered—clues that told the story of Mackenzie's fate and lead to the arrest of a suspect. On episode 49, Jac, Alexis and Billy speak with a first degree connection—a woman who encountered the suspect on a dating app and actually met him for a date. They detail his chilling characteristics, his reported need to build a sound-proof dungeon in his home, and explore the complex dichotomy of straddling dating and safety in an ever-evolving world of technology. 🎟 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 ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

A 10-year-old girl goes missing from an indoor amusement park in Smithtown, New York. The family friend caring for her calls the police and dozens of officers begin searching for little Katie Beers. In the first two weeks, they don’t find her, but they do uncover stories of abuse amidst the disturbing cast of characters entrusted with her care. On episode 48, Jac, Alexis & Billy tell the tale of the race to find Katie, the chilling details of her captivity, and explore how the system left a little girl so vulnerable to a series of dangerous predators. Episode Research Sources & Credits: 'The Katie Beers Case; Mystery Surrounds Suspect and Underground Chamber', Ralph Blumenthal 'Girl, Missing for 16 Days, Is Found in Secret Room' by John T. McQuiston for The New York Times, Jan. 14, 1993. Newsday The New York Times 🎟 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 ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

On Episode 47, Jac, Alexis and Billy conclude with part two of the story of Joel Rifkin. In 1993, the discovery that a serial killer had been operating in the shadows of New York dominated the headlines. Rifken’s gruesome confessions—recounting his sexual perversion and utter disregard for human life—tore at the fabric of the quaint suburbs of Long Island, shattering the sense of security that the people in the suburbs were supposed to represent. New York’s most prolific serial killer was one of their own. 🎟 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 ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The police chase that began in that late evening in June revealed the body of a murdered woman in the bed of a pickup truck driven by Joel David Rifkin. At the start of his interrogation, there was one murder victim. By the end, there were 17, all buried throughout the Tri-State area, all killed by the hands of Rifkin. On episode 46, Jac, Alexis & Billy recount the bizarre life, disturbances, and horrors the most prolific serial killer in the history of New York. 🎟 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 ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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 behaviors and a decent into mental illness exhibited by the suspect that ultimately culminated in one of the most heinous acts imaginable. 🎟 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 ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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 details of the case and investigation, the concept of insanity, and the loss of childhood innocence in the wake of tragedy. 🎟 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 ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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 witnesses who reveal never-before heard details. Will this investigation lead to the release of discovered confidential audio recordings, so the public can hear the trial for the first time ever? Listen to the first episode now: http://bit.ly/2Mzf5Ks New episodes from this 10-part series will be available every Monday on PodcastOne.com and Apple Podcasts. Don’t forget to subscribe, rate and review. 🎟 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 ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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 📸 Instagram: instagram.com/thefirstdegree 🕺 TikTok: tiktok.com/@thefirstdegreee 👤 Facebook: facebook.com/thefirstdegree Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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 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 ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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 📸 Instagram: instagram.com/thefirstdegree 🕺 TikTok: tiktok.com/@thefirstdegreee 👤 Facebook: facebook.com/thefirstdegree Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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 📸 Instagram: instagram.com/thefirstdegree 🕺 TikTok: tiktok.com/@thefirstdegreee 👤 Facebook: facebook.com/thefirstdegree Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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 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 ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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 📸 Instagram: instagram.com/thefirstdegree 🕺 TikTok: tiktok.com/@thefirstdegreee 👤 Facebook: facebook.com/thefirstdegree Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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 📸 Instagram: instagram.com/thefirstdegree 🕺 TikTok: tiktok.com/@thefirstdegreee 👤 Facebook: facebook.com/thefirstdegree Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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 - Visit LivingProof.com/FIRST or use promo code FIRST for a free sample of dry shampoo Scentbird - Visit Scentbird.com/firstdegree and use code FIRSTDEGREE for 50% off your first month 🎟 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 ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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 boasts all the trappings of what some believe the day itself represents; chaos, materialism, and violence-inducing greed. Higher Education Skincare - Head over to HigherEducationSkincare.com and use promo code FIRSTDEGREE for 20% off your first order Living Proof - Visit LivingProof.com/FIRST or use promo code FIRST for a free sample of dry shampoo 🎟 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 ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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 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 ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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 🎟 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 ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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 LivingProof.com/FIRST or use promo code FIRST for a free sample of dry shampoo SeroVital - Try SeroVital Advanced by texting FIRSTDEGREE to 246810 and enjoy your $70 discount now 🎟 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 ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices