The First Degree

Alexis Linkletter, Jac Vanek and Billy Jensen

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!)

  • 37 minutes 55 seconds
    Episode 400: Father Robert Hoeffner

    On January 28th, 2024, a 76-year-old man and his 69-year-old sister are murdered at their home in Palm Bay, Florida. The killer flees, engaging the police in a dramatic shootout that ends in more tragedy, with additional lives lost and officers risking their lives to bring an end to the carnage. The shooting of the initial male victim, a retired priest, stuns locals, who mourn his loss. How could a well-respected pillar of the community become the victim of such senseless violence? As the investigation continues, dark and disturbing secrets are exposed about the man everyone thought they knew. The shocking revelations cast a whole new light not just on the motivation behind his death, but the complicity of a system that actively protects predators. In episode 400, Jac and Alexis detail the case of Father Robert Hoeffner and discuss how, when evil goes unpunished in powerful institutions, it’s the victims who continue to suffer as their alleged abusers walk free.

    🎟 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

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    📓 Substack: http://thefirstdegree.substack.com

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    29 April 2026, 10:00 am
  • 51 minutes 9 seconds
    DEEP DIVE: HALEY BECK, PART 2

    Another week of crazy headlines awaits us including D4VD finally being arrested, Michael Jackson’s weird link to Epstein, and Gislaine Maxwell’s possible pardon. And unfortunately we’re back diving deep into the Haley Beck / Angela Burlaka scandal because a new bombshell drops every day. Texts, videos from other classmates, unsent notes from her phone. The list goes on and on and on.

    🎟 Catch up to FOUR bonus episodes per month plus full video episodes over on Patreon:

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    📸 Instagram: instagram.com/thefirstdegree

    🕺 TikTok: tiktok.com/@thefirstdegreee

    👤 Facebook: facebook.com/thefirstdegree

    📓 Substack: http://thefirstdegree.substack.com

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    23 April 2026, 10:00 am
  • 1 hour 12 minutes
    Episode 399: Clayton Echard

    You might know Clayton Echard as The Bachelor, but this time, he’s sitting down to tell his side of the story. In this special interview episode, we’re joined by Clayton Echard and Stephani Young of Love Trapped as we dig into the questions everyone’s been asking.

    Nothing is off limits: Clayton opens up about the headlines, the controversy, and what it’s really been like navigating the paternity scandal in real time. It’s raw, unfiltered, and gives a deeper look at the story beyond what you’ve seen online.

    🎟 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

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    22 April 2026, 10:00 am
  • 1 hour 9 minutes
    Clayton Echard: The Story

    You might know Clayton Echard as The Bachelor, but lately his name has been tied to something far messier: a viral paternity scandal filled with bold accusations, conflicting stories, and nonstop online speculation. We’re unpacking the timeline, the drama, and what actually went down before we release our exclusive interview with him tomorrow, right in your feed.

    🎟 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

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    21 April 2026, 10:00 am
  • 43 minutes 39 seconds
    DEEP DIVE: HALEY BECK

    We have found our new hyper fixation and it is the insane and unbelievable case of Haley Beck. We’re reading the police report, going through texts, and discussing it ALL. But before we dive in, we talk Ruby Rose’s accusations against Katy Perry, Melania Trump’s Epstein speech, and Frida McFadden’s true identity (spoiler alert, its literally just her with curly hair).

    🎟 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

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    16 April 2026, 10:00 am
  • 36 minutes 44 seconds
    Episode 398: The Last New Year’s Eve

    On New Year’s Eve 2019, deputies respond to reports of gunfire at a quiet home outside Montgomery, Texas. Inside, a young mother has been shot multiple times, and the man responsible is still at the scene. What unfolds is a devastating story of violence that didn’t begin that night—and warning signs that were missed along the way. In episode 398, Jac and Alexis examine how patterns of intimate partner violence can escalate over time, leaving a trail of close calls before turning fatal, and the lasting impact on the families left behind.

    🎟 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

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    15 April 2026, 10:00 am
  • 45 minutes 56 seconds
    DEEP DIVE: EPSTEIN, ALIENS, AND EVEREST

    Epstein, aliens, and Everest, oh my! It’s a scam filled week over here at the Deep Dive, and we are exposing them all. From Mount Everest fraud, to alien controversy, to valley girl humanoid robots visiting the White House. And you know we couldn’t leave you hanging without giving you the latest tea on Blake & Justin.

    🎟 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

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    9 April 2026, 10:00 am
  • 47 minutes 59 seconds
    Episode 397: Jonathan Hoang

    On the morning of March 31, 2025, a mother goes to wake her son for school and finds his room empty. He is 21 years old, autistic, and vulnerable, and his routine is something he never breaks. But that morning, he is gone without a trace. As a widespread search begins and days pass with no answers, questions start to shift from where he went…to when someone took him. In episode 397, Jac and Alexis examine the disappearance of Jonathan Hoang and the urgent search to bring him home.

    🎟 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

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    8 April 2026, 10:00 am
  • 50 minutes 11 seconds
    EXCLUSIVE: THE HALEY BECK SCANDAL

    *** BONUS EPISODE ALERT***

    A disturbing scandal has surfaced in Peoria involving Centennial High School, where two female teachers from the same campus are accused of grooming the same male student, an allegation that has shocked the community and ignited intense scrutiny. One of the teachers, 27-year-old Haley Beck, is the sister of TikTok star turned actor Noah Beck, adding a layer of public attention to an already deeply troubling case. In this premium episode, Jac and Lex break down the rapidly unfolding details, examining how the alleged relationships developed, the warning signs that may have been missed, and the broader questions this case raises about power, access, and accountability inside schools.


    If you enjoyed this bonus episode in your feed this week, there's more where that came from, a LOT 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

    📓 Substack: http://thefirstdegree.substack.com

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    7 April 2026, 10:00 am
  • 48 minutes 12 seconds
    DEEP DIVE: DISNEY ADULTS

    We’re all over the place with this weeks deep dive! Starting off with the headlines: government bimbo fetishes, Lindsey Graham (who has no kids) waving around a bubble wand at Disneyland while TSA workers still aren’t being paid, and allegedly the bullet that killed Charlie Kirk didn’t match Tyler Robinson’s gun (surprise surprise!). Then we pull the Epstein string to uncover some disgustingly similar operations in the 1970’s. It truly doesn’t stop!

    🎟 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

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    2 April 2026, 10:00 am
  • 55 minutes 10 seconds
    Episode 396: They Never Stop

    In February 2008, two trusted members of the Turlock, California community - a police officer and a teacher - are both accused of exploiting their positions to prey on a 17-year-old student. As the cases unfold, shocking details emerge about how the abuse began and how it was hidden. Years later, another respected educator from the same town is exposed for an inappropriate relationship with a student, setting off a chain of events that will eventually lead to a Dr. Phil appearance and a criminal investigation that stretches across decades. In episode 396, Jac and Alexis explore the crimes of officer Jorge Cruz and teacher James Hooker, and how patterns of grooming, manipulation, and abuse continued long after the first warning signs appeared.

    🎟 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

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    1 April 2026, 3:15 pm
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