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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

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
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Episode 373: Joseph "Joby" Palczynski

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
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DEEP DIVE: PSYCHIC MEDIUM JONATHAN MARK

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.
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Episode 372: The Hillside Stranglers, Part 2

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
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DEEP DIVE: BAD WITCH CLUB

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.
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Episode 371: The Hillside Strangers, Part 1

Power. Fame. Obsession. Betrayal. These are more than headlines. They are the forces behind some of the most unforgettable crimes in history. Crimes Of... is a weekly true crime anthology series, hosted by Sabrina Deana-Roga and Corinne Vien of Two Girls One Ghost, that explores a new theme each season, such as crimes of the paranormal, unsolved murders, mysterious disappearances, and more. 

For their first season, Sabrina and Corinne are diving into Crimes of: Infamy. The real-life true crime events behind Hollywood’s most iconic horror villains, from cult classics to massive franchises. Norman Bates. Buffalo Bill. Ghostface. Jason Voorhees. The names alone send a shiver down your spine. Now, discover the chilling crimes that brought them to life. 

Crimes Of... is a Crime House Original, powered by PAVE Studios. Listen wherever you get your podcasts. 

Listen here: https://link.podtrac.com/5s45q3gc
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Introducing: CRIMES OF…

Get in loser we’re going to reveal the bleak, disgusting truths about your favorite fashion trends (hint: they all originated as ways to hide disease in the Medieval times)! Plus, a deep dive on belly buttons and what they say about your personality and life expectancy! Oh, and how to prevent murder while taking a 💩. 
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DEEP DIVE: BIG ASS WIGS

For nearly ten years, investigators had no clue who killed seven people in the Palatine Brown’s Chicken on January 8th of 1993. They followed more than 4,800 leads and arrested several potential suspects, but nothing came of these efforts. The murders of Brown’s Chicken employees 16-year-old Michael Castro, 17-year-old Rico Solis, 31-year-old Tom Mennes, 32-year-old Marcus Nellsen, and 47-year-old Lupe Maldonado and owners 49-year-old Lynn Ehlenfeldt and 50-year-old Dick Ehlenfeldt were a tragic mystery. The case remained cold until April of 2002, when Anne Lockette spoke to the authorities. At the time of the crime, her boyfriend, 20-year-old Jim Degorski, and his friend, 18-year-old Juan Luna, robbed the Brown’s Chicken, stole $1,800, and told her every detail—but not before threatening Anne’s own life. In episode 370, Jac and Alexis dive into how a confounding case was solved with Anne’s key testimony and DNA technology advancments that allowed better testing of saliva samples gathered from a half-eaten chicken bone.
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Episode 370: Brown's Chicken Massacre, Part 2

Move over octopuses, eels are the REAL alien in town. Jac accidentally fell into the Bermuda Triangle and she’s sharing all of her eel facts with the class (spoiler alert….we don’t know ANYTHING about them???). Plus Dancing with the Sharks and a quick Blake vs Justin update!

🎟 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: DEEP IN OUR EELINGS

Shortly after 9 p.m. on January 8th of 1993, seven people begin the closing routine for the Brown’s Chicken & Pasta restaurant located in Palatine, Illinois. Of the seven people, five are employees: 16-year-old Michael Castro, 17-year-old Rico Solis, 31-year-old Tom Mennes, 32-year-old Marcus Nellsen, and 47-year-old Lupe Maldonado. The other two individuals are the owners: 49-year-old Lynn Ehlenfeldt and her 50-year-old husband, Dick Ehlenfeldt. When two men approach the Brown’s Chicken’s locked doors after closing, no one is alarmed. Instead, the men are welcomed into the Brown’s Chicken. One man orders food, eats a few bites, and discards the rest. Then, that same man pulls out a knife, and his companion reveals a .38 snub-nosed revolver. The men proceed to murder all seven Brown’s Chicken workers. For nearly 10 years, investigators searched high and low for these killers. But it wasn’t until Anne Lockette spoke up about her violent ex-boyfriend that 20-year-old Jim Degorski, and his friend, 18-year-old Juan Luna, were put away for their crimes. In episode 369, Jac and Alexis work with author and lawyer Patrick Wohl to explain how this needless massacre changed the Palatine community forever and nearly ended the Brown’s Chicken franchise. This is part one of a two-part series.

🎟 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

Episode 369: Brown's Chicken Massacre, Part 1

A man doesn’t show up to his job. A co-worker goes to check on him and sees a smear of blood on the front door. Inside, he finds the man dead, his head bludgeoned. Upstairs, his wife is in bed, clinging to life. And under the covers is a bloody axe. Who could have done this? In episode 154, Jac, Alexis and Billy begin to unravel the horrifying tale of Peter and Joan Porco.

🎟 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 154: Peter Porco Part 1

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