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Jac Vanek

Alexis Linkletter

Do you ever wonder what it’s like to be friends with a murderer? Or escape a kidnapping? Or have a father who was a serial killer? Join Jac Vanek and Alexis Linkletter on a chilling ride into the darkest corners of your worst nightmares. Murders, cults, kidnappings, and conspiracies—all told through the eyes of a guest who is one degree of separation from the story itself. From infamous serial killers to the unbelievable unknown murder in your own backyard, The First Degree delivers a new perspective to the already fascinating true crime landscape. And who knows... you may be our next guest. (Plus, join them every Thursday for Killing Time, the light-hearted, true crime-adjacent aftershow!)

The First Degree

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:

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📸 Instagram: instagram.com/thefirstdegree

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📓 Substack: http://thefirstdegree.substack.com
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DEEP DIVE: THE EPSTEIN FILES, PART 2

After more than a year of stalking, threats, and repeated pleas for help, the danger in Peggy Klinke’s life reaches its breaking point. As the 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:

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📸 Instagram: instagram.com/thefirstdegree

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Episode 390: Peggy Klinke, Part 2

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
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DEEP DIVE: THE EPSTEIN FILES

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
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Episode 389: Peggy Klinke, Part 1

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
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DEEP DIVE: BLAKE VS JUSTIN (AND TAYLOR?)

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

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Episode 388: The Bird Creek Tragedy

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
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DEEP DIVE: BECKHAM FAMILY FEUD

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

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Episode 387: Jonathan Gerlach

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
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DEEP DIVE: STOP BULLYING ME!

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
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Episode 389: Peggy Klinke, Part 1

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