The First Degree

On October 8th, 2000, 44-year-old Chris Northon is camping in Oregon with his wife, 38-year-old Liysa, and their 3-year-old son. After four years of marriage, Chris and Liysa were no longer happy. Both Chris and Liysa hoped that this weekend getaway could help mend their relationship’s troubles. But when Liysa confronts Chris about his poor behavior and substance abuse, the couple trade harsh words—and blows. That night, Liysa uses her .38-caliber revolver to shoot Chris in the head while he is asleep in his sleeping bag. At trial, Liysa reveals that Chris abused her, physically and emotionally, for years. But when unexpected evidence appears mid-trial, Liysa goes to prison for 12 years with a plea deal. Controversy is sparked years later when prolific true crime author Ann Rule covers the case in her best-selling novel Heart Full of Lies. In episode 219, Jac and Alexis explore the tangled web of lies surrounding Chris Northon’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

That’s right, the girls and the ginger are learning all about those spooky-maybe-real-maybe-not-animals like the classic Big Foot. They debate Southwest Airlines, broccoli stalks, and the complexities of apartment neighbored relationships. Also, did you know Big Foot had boobs? Now you do! 🎟 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 November 29, 1996, two young men in Farmington, New Mexico, are murdered and mutliated inside a downtown business known as The Eclectic. At first it seems like a robbery gone wrong, but investigators soon deduce it’s more serious. However, despite the brutal nature of the crime, law enforcement is unable to pin down a suspect, and the city is on edge. It wouldn’t be until 4 years later, in December 2000, that investigators would apprehend the killers. Tragically, by this stage, one of the men had killed at least two more people, both from the Navajo nation, and was facing two additional trials. In episode 218, Jac and Alexis detail the frightening case of Robert Fry, a disturbed offender who over several years terrorised the northwest of New Mexico. 🎟 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 the girls and the gourmand (Matt) are back with a stomach-turning adventure! That's right, we're talking the worst of the worst when it comes to jellybean flavors. Also! Is it okay to have more than one Halloween costume? What about free candy? We're getting into it with this week's On The Stand. PLUS! (and this one really doesn't fit the theme) A pants-wetting worstie. Enjoy! 🎟 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 18, 2020, a 44 year old mother of two goes missing from Crawfordsville, Indiana, after a heated argument with her husband. Two days later, when she hasn’t returned home, her husband reports her disappearance. The same day, a sickening discovery is made just outside town, but the mystery only deepens. If the victim met her killer after leaving her home, law enforcement is in a race against the clock to find the person responsible before they strike again. But when the real killer is identified, and the motive for the murder is revealed, it’s as disturbing as it is incomprehensible. In episode 217, Jac and Alexis detail the grisly case of Hope Parks, and the gruesome lengths some people will go to when they feel they don’t have a choice. 🎟 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 the girls and gourmand dive into the most notorious outlaws of the Wild West. They debate going shoeless in public, dogs in bags on trains, and…cars??? Also is Matt too good of a person to be a part of TFD? Pls let us know 🎟 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 September 1st, 2003, 17-year-old Justine Vanderschoot sat down with her parents to eat dinner. Her boyfriend, 18-year-old Danny Bezemer, joined them. Recently, Justine and Danny had discussed getting married later that year, and Justine’s parents supported them despite their young age. After dinner, Danny went home and Justine went to bed. The next day, Justine was gone. Immediately, the Vanderschoot family organized search parties, passed out fliers, and organized a candlelight vigil to find their beloved daughter. Sixteen days after Justine vanished, Justine’s boyfriend, Daniel, and his roommate, 21-year-old Brandon Fernandez, led police investigators to her body’s location. After tapping Justine’s phone, Daniel had learned she was speaking to another man. In a fit of jealous rage, Daniel and his roommate Brandon strangled Justine, buried her alive, and killed her. In episode 216, Jac and Alexis unravel the tragic murder of Justine Vanderschoot. 🎟 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 the girls are joined by none other than May and Bill Vanek. That's right, the entire fam is here and we have quite the special episode for all you firsties. Poisonous Tylenol, botched haircuts, couples in matching outfits, single-use towels, and much, much 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

On June 1, 2011, a 39 year old mother of triplets goes missing from Cape Girardeau, Missouri after visiting her divorce attorney. The woman’s panicked family is extremely concerned for her welfare. Police soon zero in on the missing woman’s husband. Investigators learn that there’s a history of abuse and domestic violence. However, when the victim goes missing, both she and her husband are on the same page about the divorce. In the past he’d threatened her life if she left. But now, he was happy to proceed. How could someone have such a profound shift in their perspective? Can we really trust someone when they change their mind about something so significant? In episode 215, Jac and Alexis detail the tragic case of Jacque Waller, a woman who was on the cusp of a new life when a killer cruelly robbed her of that 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

This week, the girls and the ginger are taking a trip to Salem to learn about the hysteria surrounding the town during the witch trials. Plus! The metaverse is on the stand, along with adult birthday parties and surprise drop=by's. Also! Stick around until the end for one of Lex's best Costanza Stanzas to date! 🎟 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 3, 2021, 27-year-old Austin Lanz boards a bus to Arlington, Virginia. He exits onto a bus station platform that is mere steps away from the US military headquarters known as the Pentagon. Without any warning or provocation, Austin immediately ambushes and kills a Pentagon police officer, 37-year-old George Gonzalez. Then, Austin kills himself. Two weeks prior, Austin had been charged with breaking into his neighbor’s home after terrorizing and stalking the residents for years. A few months later, Austin's 22-year-old brother Matthew Lanz snaps from the pressure of his emotional turmoil. On November 18th, 2021, Matthew kills the man and woman he believes his older brother was obsessed with, only to discover that this is a tragic case of mistaken identity. In episode 214, Jac and Alexis reveal the wild twists and turns of the Lanz brothers’ crimes and explain how their unwarranted violence affected so many. 🎟 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 the girls and the ginger are rollin out! Looking for America’s greatest diners, drive ins, and dives. That’s right, Guy Fieri is on the stand. Also, we’re discussing the evolution of Charles Darwin’s dating life. Plus! Tongue in a wedding kiss? That’s all right here, right now on The First Degree (Killing Time). 🎟 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 22, 1992, a 40 year old woman and her 41 year old boyfriend are brutally attacked in a motel room in Tampa, Florida. The couple is beaten unconscious and hacked at with a knife before their attacker does something unimaginable to his male victim. The seeds of malevolence are sown in this perpetrator long before he gets to this point. But what was his ‘sliding doors’ moment? People don’t just evolve into criminals in a social and environmental vacuum. There’s a tipping point for everyone, a point of no return. When it comes to criminality, is there such a thing as genetic predetermination? When it seems like the world is against us from a young age is there truly hope for us to have the freedom to choose our own path? In episode 213, Jac and Alexis detail the incomprehensible case of Terry Barron, a serial abuser whose desire for control and vengeance knew no bounds. 🎟 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 the girls and the ginger discuss Dr. Phil, phones on silent, and loose change! Then, they dive in for a big heaping helping of history, as Alexis tries her best to teach us all about Joan of Arc! Plus, heresy! 🎟 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 December 17, 1998, a 39 year old prominent clinical geneticist at the Baylor College of Medicine in West University Place, Texas, is raped, stabbed, and bludgeoned to death at her home by an intruder. When investigators find the victim’s Jeep Cherokee in San Antonio, a stranger’s fingerprints are on the steering column. It wouldn’t be until at least six month later, in June 1999, that law enforcement would apprehend the killer. Tragically, by this stage he’d killed another six people across two states. But the body count was far greater than anyone initially realised. In episode 212, Jac and Alexis detail the disturbing case of Angel Resendiz, a violent offender who became known as the Railroad Killer, and struck terror into the hearts of railroad communities across Florida, Kentucky, Texas, Georgia, IIlinois, and as far west as California. 🎟 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 the girls and the ginger go back to 1912 and learn all about the dark history of the Titanic. They debate cruises, singing in public, and whether you should sit next to or across from your partner at dinner. Plus, chats about immortal deep sea creatures! 🎟 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 12, 2011, 29-year-old Brittany Norwood and 30-year-old Jayna Murray are discovered in the bloody backroom of a Lululemon Athletica store. Brittany is alive, but she is bound with zip-ties and injured. Jayna is dead. In interviews with law enforcement, Brittany explains that two masked men robbed the store, attacked the women, and fled the scene. But as police gather more and more evidence about this brutal crime, it's apparent that Brittany’s story doesn’t match reality. In episode 211, Jac and Alexis uncover the true events of Jayna Murray’s tragic 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

This week the girls and the ginger follow the yellow brick road and learn all of the dark, twisted, messed up facts surrounding The Wizard of Oz. They debate yellow mustard, Dole Whip, and of course…deviled eggs. Plus, wanna know where Toto is buried? We got you! 🎟 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 concludes Jennifer’s story of escaping Peter Paul, which will inspire you, haunt you, and make you truly believe in the power of karma. Jennifer never should have had to try so hard to escape an abusive relationship, because doing so almost cost her her life. Domestic violence is hidden in every crease and corner of so many people’s lives, and as a society, we need to do better. 🎟 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 the girls are graced with the presence of a very special guest: their bestie and celeb makeup artist Afton Williams for a very special makeup themed episode. They dive into different killers who incorporated makeup into their M.O. and debate fake freckles, bright eyeliner, and the Little Miss trend. Plus, makeup tips! 🎟 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’s story is one of the most harrowing we’ve ever told, and reveals the dark, and sometimes hopeless reality of being imprisoned by an abusive relationship. There are two key things we want listeners to take away from listening to Jennifer’s story. Number one. Never, ever ask a domestic abuse survivor why they didn’t “just leave?” Number two. Karma is REAL… and if you weren’t a believer before, you will be by the time you finish this story. 🎟 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 the girls and the ginger discuss different murderers whose narcissism and self obsession lead to their own demise. They debate ketchup on eggs, Judge Judy, and taking professional phone calls on the treadmill. Plus, a BTK shit talking sesh! 🎟 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

Of all the places young women expect to feel safe, the classroom is one of them. Sure, school bullies can make our lives hell, but teachers are meant to be the ones we can trust to guide us through many of the usual pitfalls of high school. Inspiring and compassionate mentors can make all the difference. But what happens when this trust and duty of care is grossly violated in such a painful and traumatic way that it changes your life forever? To make things worse, what if you had to deal with people not only not believing you, but victimizing you further for being brave enough to speak the truth? This story is not only about such a profound violation of privacy and trust, but a sex offence facilitated by technology where most victims don‘t even know they’ve been targeted. 🎟 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 the girls and the ginger are talking about pets, pests, and plagues. They learn about all of the worst infestations in history, and debate having a bug as a pet, saving the world by singing into your phone, and the plague doctor costume. Plus, capybaras! 🎟 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 nothing more intriguing than a peek behind the curtain of an elusive and exclusive world… What’s even more seductive is being welcomed into it. On episode 207, Jac and Lex explore the elicit and sometimes violent world of Motorcycle Clubs, specifically, the Gypsy Joker Outlaws. 🎟 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 the girls and the ginger learn about the most messed up way to make a burger. They debate In N Out fries, breakfast all day, and a cheese-less burger. Plus, when stealing a Pog gets slammed into your mind forever! 🎟 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 6, 2000, a 15 year old student walking not far from his home in Los Angeles is snatched off the street. Little does anyone know, he’ll never see his family again. When details emerge about what preceded the young man’s disappearance and what transpired afterwards, the motive, sequence of events and the many people involved make it seem like something out of a movie. In fact, it does become a movie, which only adds fuel to the fire, thanks to a state prosecutor having a questionable level of creative input on the project. To complicate matters, the orchestrator of the horrific events goes on the run, prompting an international manhunt and evading capture for almost 5 years. In episode 206, Jac and Alexis detail the case of Jesse James Hollywood, and how the murder of Nicholas Markowitz appalled the affluent neighbourood of West Hills, California. 🎟 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 the girls and the ginger celebrate the anniversary of the moon landing by diving into space related conspiracy theories! They debate lobster ice cream, “the crunch”, and picking money up off the ground. Plus, we discovered the gateway to 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 September 9, 2016, a 47 year old off duty firefighter attends to assist a vehicle which is stuck in the mud on a road on the outskirts of town. Before the night is over, the man will be dead and his devastated wife inconsolable. When an arrest is made, those who knew the victim are in disbelief. Because there’s more than one person involved in this dark and twisted story, and the motive is truly chilling. In episode 205, Jac and Alexis detail the case of Robert “Bob” Poynter and how his murder shocked the small community of Royse City, Texas. 🎟 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 the girls and the ginger put on their berets for a French themed KT! They debate frog legs, ice in drinks, and conversing with your plane seat mate. Plus they go through France’s most bizarre laws. Au revoir! 🎟 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

Internet technology evolves faster than any of us can keep up with. And as more and more of our lives are spent online, criminals are adapting. They’re exercising ingenuity, and concocting creative new ways to harm, victimize, and exploit the most vulnerable. This story is about one of those criminals: a pedophile who thought he was untouchable…only he wasn’t. 🎟 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 the girls and the ginger dive into the fascinating phenomenon of the Mandela Effect, and go through some of the craziest false memories from our recent history. They debate the concept of flavor blasted, carpets in airports, and sponges. Plus the best Worstie Firstie revenge involving puzzle pieces! 🎟 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 July of 1999, Racine County, WI Law Enforcement was called to the scene of a female victim who had been left in a cornfield. Based on her injuries, she'd suffered years of abuse and had been killed within 24 hours of being placed in the field. In the decades that followed, law enforcement agencies used every resource at their disposal in an effort to not only identify the victim, but also hone in on her killer. The answers to these questions wouldn't be revealed until 2019, and the person responsible for the crime would shock and horrify the people who knew her, especially those who'd had close encounters 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

This week the girls and the ginger dive into the messiest celebrity divorces of the 2000s, starting with the iconic Jessica Simpson & Nick Lachey. They debate over-preparing for a trip, 2 drink maximums at brunch, and shar pei tails. Plus the most heartwarming Worstie Firstie we’ve ever received. 🎟 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

Following soldier Deirdre Aguigui’s untimely death in July 2011, her husband Isaac becomes disenchanted with the military and government. For the next five months, Isaac and a small group of fellow soldiers spend the majority of Isaac’s $500,000 life insurance payout to get back payback. Multiple law enforcement agencies know what Isaac and his group are up to, but it’s not until two more innocent people are murdered that anyone is stopped. In episode 202, Jac, Alexis, and Billy detail how Isaac Aguigui funded and founded a militia within the Army, and how doing so led to the deaths of Tiffany York and Michael Roark. 🎟 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 2010, a soldier in her early 20s returns to the US from a deployment to Iraq - she’d been injured in a mortar attack. She and her husband settle into an apartment located on Fort Stewart, Georgia. They soon get pregnant, and are both beyond excited to be parents. But on July 17, all that excitement comes crashing down when the woman dies inside their on-base apartment. Her husband tells everyone he found her unresponsive, and that she died as a result of the injuries she sustained in Iraq. His story seems believable on the surface…until you find out how he spends the wife’s $500,000 life insurance payout. In episode 201, Jac, Alexis, and Billy detail the teenage years of Isaac Aguigui, his military career, and his marriage to Deirdre Wetzker, which ended in her 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

This week the girls and the goth discuss all of the movies inspired by real life killers, starting with the classic: Psycho. They debate audiobook gate keepers, peeing on the toilet seat, and the gloriousness of Topo Chico. Also a tangent about plane crashes! 🎟 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 20 year old woman escapes an abusive relationship, and moves into her own place, taking her young son along with her. She starts working at a job she loves, and focuses on providing a better life for her and her son. But just as things are starting to really look up for the woman, she’s found beaten and strangled in her South Carolina home. In episode 200, Jac, Alexis, and Billy detail the murder of Melissa “Missy” Clary, a victim of domestic violence in both life and 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

This week the girls and the goth do a deep dark dive into Donald Duck’s possible involvement in WWII. They debate $35 beers, wooden utensils, and not throwing your trash away properly. Oh, and muppet is our new official word used to insult people! 🎟 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 21, 2020, two brothers aged in their early twenties are gunned down at their home in Wolcott, Indiana. Their bodies are discovered the next day. In the following days, police get a tip off that a 20 year old woman may know something about the shootings. When she’s interviewed, she admits to being at the scene of the crime with her boyfriend and his associate. She denies being involved in any shooting, and it soon becomes a matter of ‘he said, she said’. But the stories of the three accused don’t line up, especially when evidence emerges suggesting the alleged murders may have been planned all along. In episode 199, Jac, Alexis, and Billy detail the alleged murders of the Benyon brothers, Mathew and Daniel, at the hands of a former classmate Breann Cobb, her boyfriend Marlin Seay and another associate named Dorian Hale Jr. 🎟 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 the girls and the goth dive into all of the poor, poor inventors who were murdered by the very things they crested. They debate the two soy sauce maximum, the Mexican Pizza, and the concept of a table soup. Plus, how much is too much cheese? 🎟 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 December 12, 2021, a 34 year old Kansas man is arrested on a misdemeanor count of property damage. As fate would have it, the man’s cellmate is a family friend who fronts him half the money to pay his bond. On the night of the 13th, the 34 year old man is released from jail. Less than three hours later, his body is found in the back of a truck - he’d been brutally murdered. In episode 198, Jac, Alexis, and Billy dig in to the murder of Matthew Kelly and try to make sense of why anyone wanted him dead. 🎟 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 the girls and the goth put their fangs in and dive into the dark history of Dracula! They debate charcuterie vending machines, binging TV shows, and the word moist. And real question: was Dracula hot or nah? 🎟 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 December 1975, Lisa Peak helps authorities bring down John Carmody, the head of a sex trafficking extortion ring. By September 1976, Lisa, now 19 years old, is starting to move on with her life. She moves into the dorms for her sophomore year at Wartburg College in Waverly, Iowa. Two days later, she’s found dead. The obvious suspect is Carmody, but he’s still behind bars, so authorities look into the possibility that Lisa’s murder is connected to the unsolved murders of 14 year old Valerie Klossowsky and 18 year old Julie Benning. In episode 197, Jac, Alexis, and Billy pore through the details of all three murders and try to figure out if they’re connected. 🎟 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 the girls and the goth learn all about Henry VIII’s 6 wives (victims) and all of his bizarre medieval gaslighting. They debate bartender gatekeeping, iced water vs room temp, and if it’s an abomination for servers to call tap water “sink water”. Fun fact: did you know catfishing was invented in the 1500s? 🎟 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 fall of 1975, Lisa Peak is a freshman journalism student at Wartburg College in Waverly, Iowa when she is trapped into a sex trafficking extortion ring run by a sick and twisted man named John Carmody. After months of abuse, Lisa goes to the police and helps secure a conviction against him. With Carmody behind bars, Lisa tries to move on with her life - she decides to write a book about her experiences and she re-enrolls at Wartburg. But only one day after she moves into the all girls dorm, Lisa goes missing. In episode 196, Jac, Alexis, and Billy examine Marie “Lisa” Peak’s disappearance and her time as a member of John Carmody’s “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

This week the girls and the goth learn about all the wild predictions The Simpsons made throughout the years. They debate unpacking your suitcase right away, nacho cheese, and judging people by their book covers. PLUS! Is "you're not cool" the best dig ever? 🎟 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 part one, our first degree Katie shared harrowing details of her relationship with her ex boyfriend Ryan, and the abuse and escalating violence she experienced first hand. By the time she left him, Katie was convinced that Ryan had the ability to kill... and she was right. In episode 195, Jac, Alexis and Billy learn what happened after Katie escaped this relationship, the victims who came after her, and the senseless murder that sent shockwaves through Mansfield and Ashland Ohio. 🎟 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, the girls and the goth discuss espresso martinis, unsolicited guitar playing, and the magic of dueling piano bars. Also! A short talk about the Napoleon complex. Plus! Oops, we blew up your car! 🎟 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

Fifty seven women each month are shot and killed by intimate partners in America. An additional one million women in America have survived being shot by an intimate partner. How do we stop these perpetrators, and how can we avoid getting into relationships with them? The short answer is--We can’t. What we can do is educate ourselves in what behaviors to look out for, which is exactly the purpose of today’s episode. In episode 194, Jac, Alexis and Billy talk to Katie, a woman who survived one of these relationships, getting out of it just in the knick of time. And while she made it out alive, not everyone in this story 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