エピソード

  • Episode 369: Brown's Chicken Massacre, Part 1
    2025/09/17
    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
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    56 分
  • DEEP DIVE: SHOW ME DEM ALIENS
    2025/09/11
    This week we’re going all over the place, so buckle up for the ride. Starting off with a dead body being found in a TikTok star’s Tesla trunk (but he’s been on tour so who put it there???), UFOs are all over the damn place, just released terrifying shirtless selfies of Bryan Kohberger, and Elizabeth Gilbert admitting to *almost* attempting to kill her partner but no one seems to care?? WHAT IS HAPPENING 🎟 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
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    49 分
  • Episode 368: Zahra Baker
    2025/09/10
    On the afternoon of October 9, 2010, police in Hickory, North Carolina, receive a report of a missing 10-year-old girl. Everyone in her life is desperate for her safe return. But as the search continues, it emerges that she hasn’t been seen outside the house for some time. Almost a month after the youngster is reported missing, her remains are found in nearby woods, her cause of death unknown. When a suspect is arrested, the community is stunned and appalled when it learns the gruesome and despicable details of what has befallen the young girl. In episode 368, Jac and Alexis detail the heartbreaking murder of Zahra Clare Baker, by someone who committed the most heinous and unforgivable of acts against a child, and the impact of catastrophic systemic failures when it comes to protecting our children. 🎟 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
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    1 時間 9 分
  • DEEP DIVE: UNKNOWN CALLER, THE HIGH SCHOOL CATFISH
    2025/09/04
    The title says it all. This week we are deep diving Unknown Caller: The High School Catfish documentary, because we’ve got THOUGHTS. We analyze every moment of the documentary, what was missing from it, and share how we really feel about Kendra. Plus, Luigi Mangione modeling for SHEIN?? 🎟 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
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    49 分
  • Episode 367: An Arrest: Nikki Cheng Saelee McCain
    2025/09/03
    When we first covered the disappearance of 39-year-old mother of four, Nikki Cheng Saelee McCain, in episode 330, her case was still classified as a missing persons investigation. Months later, everything has changed. Authorities have reclassified the case as a homicide, Nikki’s husband Tyler has spoken publicly for the first time, and now he’s been arrested and charged with her murder. In this update episode, Jac and Lex revisit Nikki’s story, track the dramatic turns since March, and explore how media attention and relentless advocacy from Nikki’s family have kept the case alive, and helped push it forward. 🎟 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
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    40 分
  • DEEP DIVE: BASED ON A FAKE STORY
    2025/08/28
    It’s a variety show kinda week, and we’re covering all ends of the oddity spectrum for you. From Will Smith’s AI concert promo fail, to forensic otters, to getting knives stuck in your chest for 10 years, to the Burning Man Orgy Dome, to super powered humans who feel no pain, you’e bound to learn a new random useless fact or two to take with you this 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
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    49 分
  • Episode 366: The Kalamazoo Uber Murders
    2025/08/27
    It began as an ordinary night in Kalamazoo, Michigan. Families were out, friends gathered, strangers hailed rides to get across town. But beneath the surface of that routine evening, something unthinkable was unfolding. A man who seemed to have everything together, a job, a family, no history of violence, suddenly broke from the life he knew. Over the course of just a few hours, a city was gripped by a series of random, senseless attacks that defied explanation. Between rides for a car service, he struck again and again, leaving investigators and residents searching for answers. On episode 366 of The First Degree, Jac and Lex dive in, exploring the answers of impossible questions. Like, what could drive someone with no warning signs to unleash chaos on total strangers? And how do you stop a threat that blends so seamlessly into the everyday? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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    51 分
  • DEEP DIVE: DIZZY GLIZZY
    2025/08/21
    It’s a week full of replacing eyeballs with teeth, con men “suicides”, and thousands of hotdogs flying through the air. Plus, Jenna Miscavige is officially on TikTok and answering all of our most burning questions about Scientology (like where the HELL is Shelly???). Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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    45 分