The First Degree

Even though the world has seemingly moved on from Epstein, we refuse to stop talking about it. This week we are diving into the headlines of the week, including the new bestie statues of Trump & Epstein, the new search of Zorro Ranch, and the Clinton questioning. Then we’re going through the latest release of two victim’s accounts from Epstein’s Palm Beach home. And we end the episode with a good ole fashioned existential crisis. 🎟 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 📓 Substack: http://thefirstdegree.substack.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In February 2006, a newly married 29-year-old man is walking home from a Mardi Gras celebration in New Orleans when a black truck nearly strikes him and his wife. One block later, the truck circles back, runs him down, and flees, leaving his wife screaming in the intersection. Detectives call it a deliberate burst of road rage. But as weeks turn into months, the homicide investigation loses momentum. Years pass without an arrest, and his family is left questioning whether the urgency this case deserved was ever truly there. In episode 394, Jac and Alexis examine the unsolved murder of Toby Beaugh, and the years-long fight his sister has taken on to keep his case from being forgotten. 🎟 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 📓 Substack: http://thefirstdegree.substack.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

We’ve been pulled into a few different rabbit holes this week, and it’s yet again a crazy ass ride. First, we look into Epstein’s ties to the Interlochen Center for the Arts summer camp in Michigan, and its infamous “Epstein Lodge”. We also learn the whistleblower’s identity who worked at the jail who posted on 4Chan the night of Epstein’s death (and what he said was pretty damning to say the least!). And lastly, we discuss the fact that the FBI willingly wiped the jail cell tapes to destroy all of the evidence from the night. Not sketchy at all! 🎟 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 📓 Substack: http://thefirstdegree.substack.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

On October 29, 2010, a 50-year-old woman is shot at her home in Cresson Township, Pennsylvania. The same day, her college aged son is also involved in a car crash. The tiny community where the family lives is thrown into a state of turmoil as residents grapple with the incomprehensible news. The much-loved school nurse, wife, and mother of two leaves behind a heartbroken family and school community who are left to pick up the pieces. But when the killer’s identity is revealed, the profound sadness and disbelief everyone is experiencing is magnified. Could this tragedy have been avoided? The victim seemed to have everything. But there was one threat she couldn’t contain. One that bubbled and festered under the surface, in her periphery. In episode 393, Jac and Alexis detail the devastating case of Sharon Choros, and how those who appear to have it all can be more at risk of violence and heartbreak than we think. 🎟 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 📓 Substack: http://thefirstdegree.substack.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Another week of chipping away at the iceberg. Today we’re diving into the Gislaine sighting in Canada, Bill Gates admitting to affairs with two Russian women, Trump releasing the alien files (anything but release the Epstein files we guess), Epstein’s FedEx account being used after his death, and apparently Epstein’s autopsy findings (apparently the dude can grow new body parts?). Tin foil hats ON. 🎟 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 📓 Substack: http://thefirstdegree.substack.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

On a quiet February morning in an upscale Virginia suburb, a 911 call shattered the quiet. An au pair reported an intruder. A federal agent said he fired his weapon to protect his family. By sunrise, two people had lost their lives. At first, it sounded like a tragic act: a heroic husband trying to protect his wife, Christine. But as investigators began pulling at the threads, the story started to unravel.In episode 392 of The First Degree, Jac and Alexis walk you through the double murder that gripped northern Virginia — and the arrogance, betrayal, and devastating choices that left a child without her mother and two families forever changed. 🎟 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 📓 Substack: http://thefirstdegree.substack.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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 Eaton. The Knife is a journalistic, true crime podcast with immersive, narrative interview episodes and additional episodes where producers and hosts Hannah Smith and Patia Eaton tell eachother a crime story. Hannah and Patia formerly produced The Opportunist before launching The Knife in 2025.We have become huge fans and we know you'll love them too. Find them whenever you listen to podcasts. 🎟 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 📓 Substack: http://thefirstdegree.substack.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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 of documents and the implications of missing information. Then, Ghislaine Maxwell's testimony, the bizarre obsession with jerky in the files, and the potential for Epstein's offspring. Zorro Ranch, scopolamine, it just goes on and on! 🎟 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 📓 Substack: http://thefirstdegree.substack.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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 four was heartbroken. They, along with investigators, wondered who could be responsible for the brutal beating. Within days, the perpetrators were identified, charged, and eventually convicted. But for at least one family involved, something was amiss. Soon, cracks in the investigation revealed that someone had been wrongfully convicted while the real killer walked free; it sets Stephanie Tinsley on an unrelenting quest to expose the truth. In episode 391, Jac and Alexis detail the haunting murder of Danny Harris, and Stephanie’s journey towards the truth, which she chronicled in her hit podcast, Everything They Missed. 🎟 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 📓 Substack: http://thefirstdegree.substack.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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 the files (shrimp, cheese, sushi, white tuna), learn about Gislaine’s dad owning the company that produces American textbooks, and did you know Epstein won the lottery? Yep, nothing surprises us anymore. 🎟 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 📓 Substack: http://thefirstdegree.substack.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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 criminal case against her stalker inches toward trial, she does everything she can to stay hidden - even moving a thousand miles away to protect herself. But her stalker refuses to stop. He searches relentlessly, exploiting gaps in the system, until he finally finds her. In episode 390, Jac and Alexis examine Peggy Klinke’s preventable murder and her sister Debbie’s determination to ensure Peggy’s death saves as many lives as possible. 🎟 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

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 headlines: Epstein swerving Elon, Bill Gates drugging Melinda, files getting deleted in real time, Epstein getting banned from XBOX, and is Epstein really still alive? All we know it it’s not a conspiracy anymore. 🎟 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 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 through a study group, her life begins to shift. What starts as control quickly escalates into a years-long campaign of stalking, intimidation, and fear. As the behavior intensifies, she reports threats, files charges, seeks protection, and even moves a thousand miles away to stay safe - only to find that the systems meant to help her consistently fall short. In episode 389, Jac and Alexis begin the story of Peggy Klinke, tracing the early warning signs, the relentless escalation of stalking, and the critical moments where intervention could have prevented Peggy’s murder. 🎟 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 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 line analyzing the “Taylor texts”. We’ve had almost a week to hyper analyze the docs and we are coming with receipts! 🎟 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 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 tragically taken her own life. Questions about the possibility of an accidental death are also raised. The much-loved woman’s estranged husband seems just as bewildered about what happened. But soon, evidence reveals a different cause - and manner - of death than what was initially believed. And that’s just the beginning of the story. In episode 388, Jac and Lex take you through the devastating case from start to finish, landing at a place of hope for legislation that could change some of these senseless outcomes. 🎟 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

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 mention? We NEED to see the video!). Plus, Stephen Hawking carnival, Aaron Rodgers and his AI wife, and Jeffrey Epstein’s weird ass masks. And P.S., we recorded this ep right before the Blake / Taylor texts dropped, so we’ll be deep diving all of that next week! 🎟 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

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 Jonathan Gerlach, a man prosecutors say was involved in the systematic theft and trafficking of human remains, allegedly targeting hundreds of graves across multiple states. Much of the investigation focuses on Mt. Moriah Cemetery in Pennsylvania — one of the largest historic cemeteries in the country — but the scope of the alleged crimes extends far beyond a single location. As details have emerged, Gerlach has been dubbed a “modern-day Ed Gein.” In today's episode, Jac and Lex take you through all the information available so far tied to a rapidly expanding case. Buckle up. 🎟 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

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 arrested for “online bullying”…who knew!). Plus, we share the story of Sascha Riley, an Epstein adjacent survivor who’s story is getting squashed by mainstream media, and dive into Hailey Bieber sending a cease and desist to a TikToker simply sharing their opinion. Moral of the story: rich and powerful people are once again above the law! 🎟 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 March 30, 1981, the 40th President of the United States, Ronald Reagan, is just two months into his presidency when he attends a speaking engagement at the Hilton Hotel in Washington, D.C. As the president exits the building and makes his way towards his limousine, six shots ring out. Members of the public and the Secret Service pounce on a 25-year-old man wielding a handgun nearby. In the affray, the president has been struck, along with three others. All recover, but when the motivation for the attack is revealed to be not about politics, but instead an obsession with a Hollywood star, the questions around the would-be assassin deepen. In episode 386, Jac and Alexis detail the bizarre attempted assassination of President Reagan by John Hinckley Jr, and ponder whether someone who acts on their obsession in such an extreme way can -or should - ever really go on to live a life without scrutiny. 🎟 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 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 airport you don’t need to announce your departure!). Plus we give you updates on D4VD, Nick Reiner, David Harbor, Justin v Blake and more. 🎟 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 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 investigate, the case quickly stalls. With no arrests and no clear motive, the man’s family is left grappling not only with his sudden loss, but with the silence that follows. Living hundreds of miles away, they struggle to advocate from afar, returning to Florida year after year to keep his case from being forgotten. In episode 385, Jac and Alexis examine the unsolved murder of Jason Marous, and the unbreakable bond between a mother and son that continues long after his 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

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 talk about Bill Gates?? We chat about Epstein island and all of the lame ass Lolita quotes. Plus, what the HELL is going on with Riley Keough and John Travolta?? 🎟 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 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 TV to investigations that exposed deep institutional failures, this episode revisits the cases that captured national attention and forced difficult conversations about accountability, justice, and trust in the system. As the year comes to a close, we reflect on what has changed, what still hasn’t, and why staying informed remains one of the most powerful tools we have. 🎟 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 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 diving into UFO sightings, the Blake and Justin saga, the Diddy trial and aftermath, the Epstein files, and everything in between. It’s been a wild year and we can only imagine how batshit next year will be! 🎟 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

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. The 1981 disappearance of Lonene “Lonnie” Rogers, a young mother who vanished during a blizzard in rural Pennsylvania. For decades, her family lived with questions and silence. Now, after years of tireless advocacy by Lonnie’s daughter, there has been a major and unexpected development that may finally bring accountability. Then, we turn overseas to a case that stunned us to learn about for the first time. An American student living in London finds himself at the center of a brutal homicide investigation after a young woman is found murdered in her apartment. What followed was an international trial, a disturbing defense strategy, and a verdict that has sparked intense conversation about power, control, and violence. Two cases. Two very different paths. One episode that reminds us how long justice can take, and why telling these stories still matters. 🎟 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

This week we delve into the shocking events surrounding the tragic deaths of Rob and Michelle Reiner, exploring the complex family dynamics, and the chilling accusations against their son Nick. Plus, we’ve got Diddy and D4VD updates and spoiler alert: it’s not looking good. 🎟 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 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, the law finally catches up with him in the form of US Secret Service Agent Brad Beeler, who’s keen to understand how the man he’s been pursuing for seven years has managed to pull off one of the most daring counterfeit currency operations in the country undetected. As a result, three generations of one family all end up behind bars, including Art’s 18-year-old son. But it’s not the end of the story. In episode 382, Jac and Alexis detail the path of redemption for Art following his release, the impact and influence of generational trauma, and how sometimes the parallels between those on both sides of the law highlight just how similar we are, instead of our differences being the defining factors in shaping our character, spiritual path, and future. 🎟 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 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 bombshells in the doc, the aftermath on social media, and the main takeaway: Diddy was a LOSER. 🎟 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 1999, a young US Secret Service special agent is assigned to the counterfeit squad in Chicago, Illinois. Aside from dignitary protection, one of the agencies’ roles is to investigate counterfeiting. Across the Midwest, someone is spending up big with $100 counterfeit notes. The level of skill, expertise, and execution required to break the most secure and sophisticated note in the history of the US Treasury is equal parts impressive and intimidating. But the con can’t last forever. In episode (insert number), Jac and Alexis detail the life and crimes of Arthur ‘Art’ J Williams Jr, whose journey from street crime to becoming the top currency counterfeiter in the country brought him face to face with Special Agent Brad Beeler. This two-part story shows how two men from opposite sides of the law can come to develop respect for each other as they each make their way to the top of their chosen careers, and how redemption is never too late. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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 craziest Epstein / Gislaine / Richard Branson rabbit hole we’ve never heard about before: TerraMar. And it is a WILD ride. Plus Luigi updates, Kate Beckensale thinks her daughter’s boyfriend is laying eggs, and tin foil hats on for the Kim K / Elon Neuralink conspiracy. 🎟 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 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 searching for her, a troubling picture emerges - one involving older men, threats, and details her mother waited days to reveal. With each revelation, the focus shifts from assumptions of a runaway to something far more alarming. But with no sign of her anywhere, charges remain elusive. As the case stalls, her older sister begins her own investigation, stepping into the role their mother never fulfilled. In episode 380, Jac and Alexis explore the disappearance and suspected murder of Danielle Bell, and her sister Bonnie’s decades-long mission to uncover the truth. 🎟 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 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 celebs in the Epstein emails, as well as analyze his “radical breakthroughs”. Spoiler alert: they’re not radical. Plus, updates on DV4D, Slenderman, and Kevin Spacey is NOT poor you guys. 🎟 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

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 the mysterious death of 18-year-old Anna Kepner aboard a Carnival Cruise, the shocking criminal evolution of Ryan Wedding, from Olympian to one of the FBI’s most wanted, and the explosive Long Island love triangle that ended in a fatal shooting outside a luxury yacht club.Three cases. One chaotic holiday week. And a whole lot to unpack. 🎟 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

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 weird shit again, an adorable proposal turned into murder confession, and is Kris Jenner’s bday party the new Bohemian Grove? You tell us! 🎟 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 began as a familiar face from high school, someone she once trusted. But over thirteen years, that connection twisted into something far darker. No matter how many times he was arrested or how long he was behind bars, he always came back. On episode 378 of The First Degree, Jac and Lex profile a harrowing story of an obsession without limits, and reveal what happens when the system can’t stop it. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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 Bush’s presidential corruption and scandal (pretty convincing evidence if you ask us). Plus, Diddy got caught drinking booze in jail, the Prince Andrew situation is unraveling, and we learn way too much about the Golden State Killer’s nether regions. 🎟 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 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 series of strange text messages from her cell phone. Less than 12 hours after the abduction, she’s found at a gas station in Illinois, shot to death. The following day, law enforcement receives a tip from a couple. Their 26-year-old son admits to the shocking murder before telling his parents he intends to commit one final act of violence. Authorities locate the killer and close in, hoping to take him into custody before anyone else is hurt. In episode 377, Jac and Alexis detail the tragic murder of Gina N. Bryant at the hands of her ex-boyfriend Justin Wendling, and try to make sense of the out of control freight train that is the epidemic of women losing their lives to intimate partner violence. Please visit the foundation her family established in her memory here: https://www.journey4gina.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

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 because they’re supporting his pedo ass. We deep dive this as well as creepy David Harbour updates, Tom Brady cloning dogs, and is RL Stein writing an adult novel?! Fingers crossed! 🎟 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 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 after calling 911 for help. Police arrive within minutes, but she has already been taken. With no signs of struggle and no suspect identified, her case goes cold for decades. Then in 2023, a suspect emerges, bringing the investigation closer to answers than ever before. In episode 376, Jac and Alexis dive into the tragic abduction of Kelly Bergh Dove and the unwavering determination of her family, who refuses to stop fighting for the truth. 🎟 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 another week full of heists, weirdos, and conspiracy theories. George Clooney denies getting a BJ from Gislaine Maxwell, Lily Allen & the dude from Stranger Things are getting a divorce and she is airing ALL their dirty laundry out via lyrics on her new album and Luigi Mangione is a Swiftie??? We knew 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

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, killing a 41-year-old woman and her 15-year-old daughter before shooting dead an older couple. The most terrifying part of the senseless quadruple murder is that the victims were all shot somewhere they should have felt safe - in their own homes. The killer is not only swiftly apprehended, but confesses to the crimes. Everyone hopes for a speedy trial given the overwhelming evidence against him. Perhaps he’ll even plead guilty. But it’s not to be. In episode 375, Jac and Alexis detail the heartbreaking murders of Sarah and Kayla Anderson, and Clyde and Sally Knox, in a case that demands an answer to the deeply troubling question: how does society deal with someone so self-serving that they persist in hiding behind the system in refusing to face the consequences of their actions? Visit: https://www.sarahandkayla.org/ 🎟 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

Reality is the real horror. Every Monday, poet and paranormal obsessive Heidi Wong unearths the chilling true stories behind the world’s most terrifying legends. From haunted dolls to cursed houses, each episode of Twisted Tales reveals the disturbing real-life events that inspired horror’s biggest blockbusters and the ones too twisted to make it to screen. Some stories are stranger than fiction. These are darker. New episodes every Monday. Twisted Tales is a Crime House Original Podcast, powered by PAVE Studios. Follow on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music, or wherever you listen to podcasts. Listen here: https://link.podtrac.com/listentotwistedtales Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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 story of a Scottish gen z girl who faked a pregnancy and fooled her friends and family with a doll, and diving into Dax Shepard and Kristen Bell’s weird ass gross relationship (spoiler alert….he sucks). 🎟 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 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 stay, and plans for the future. But when her ex-boyfriend shows up and refuses to leave, her attempt to start over ends in tragedy. In episode 374, Jac and Alexis examine the murder of Meghan Kiefer, and how her mother Bevin has dedicated her life to advocating for domestic violence survivors across the country. 🎟 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

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 happened in the last few years. Plus, not all heroes wear capes! Ian Watkins is gone from this world and burning in hell! 🎟 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 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 before holding a family of three hostage in a standoff lasting almost four days. Almost two weeks after the fuse was lit, the ordeal finally comes to an end. But it’s not without controversy and not before another life is lost in the process. In the aftermath, fingers are pointed and unanswered questions hang in the air as people wonder if the tragedy was entirely foreseeable, if not preventable. In episode 373, Jac and Alexis detail the disturbing case of Joseph Chester Palczynski, who held a community in the grip of terror, leaving a path of devastation and destruction in his wake that continues to impact scores of lives today, raising questions about the effectiveness of the systems meant to protect the lives of the innocent, and what happens when these fail. 🎟 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

This week on a very special Deep Dive, we are joined by psychic medium Jonathan Mark! We chat with him about why celebrities trust him to do their readings, how he discovered he was different and what he really thinks about the most controversial true crime cases. He is truly a gem of a human, and we hope you enjoy our conversation as much as we did! 🎟 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 call from Washington changed everything. When Los Angeles detectives learned Kenneth Bianchi had been arrested for a double murder hundreds of miles away, the truth about the Hillside Strangler finally began to surface. But uncovering the killers was only the beginning. In episode 372, Jac and Lex take you inside the longest murder trial in American history. A case marked by manipulations, bizarre side shows, and near-collapse, as Bianchi turned on his cousin Angelo Buono, and prosecutors fought to hold the case together. This is the story of how the Hillside Strangler murders ended in conviction, and how Los Angeles was forever changed. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

It’s officially soooky szn, and what better way to kick it off than with a PROFESSIONAL WITCH! It’s a super special Deep Dive with Sarah Potter: tarot reader, psychic medium, and yes…pro witch. She helps us lean into our own powers to be the baddest witches we can be. 🎟 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 late 1977, Los Angeles was terrorized by a string of brutal murders that the press dubbed the work of the “Hillside Strangler.” Victims were found in public places, bound and strangled, their bodies eerily posed. A witness spotted two men with one of the victims, sparking theories that the crimes were a coordinated effort. In episode 371, Jac and Lex delve into the story of the Hillside Stranglers, a case that stumped law enforcement until a phone call from Washington broke the investigation wide open. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices