The First Degree

This week the girls and the ginger return with an electrifying episode! It’s all things Benjamin Franklin! Find out what it takes to make it onto the 100 dollar bill! Spoiler alert, it’s a lot of weird shit! On the stand this week: separate sleeping zones on the same bed, Red Hot Chili Peppers, befriending birds, and crowdsurfing! Plus! A worstie firstie with a dinnertime diss!🎟 Catch up to FOUR bonus episodes per month plus full video episodes over on Patreon:patreon.com/thefirstdegree❤️ The Heavy Metal Project: theheavymetalproject.com📸 Instagram: instagram.com/thefirstdegree🕺 TikTok: tiktok.com/@thefirstdegreee👤 Facebook: facebook.com/thefirstdegree⚖️ On the Stand: (818) 446-6889💩 Worst Thing You’ve Ever Done: (818) 446-6889🤝 Advice: hello@thefirstdegreepodcast.com 🎟 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 July 4, 2016, 911 is called to respond to a 4 year old girl in Athens, Alabama, who’s not breathing. At the hospital, the youngster is placed on life support while her family hope and pray she regains consciousness. But three days later, with no hope of recovery, the little girl’s distraught parents make the heartbreaking decision to turn off her life support. A cause of death can’t be determined and there’s no obvious sign of injury. But those close to the family, as well as police, are starting to become suspicious. Nine months later, with the case still open, there’s a shocking development. When the killer makes themselves known and the circumstances behind the tragedy become clear, there’s answers, but the pain is not lessened. In episode 252, Jac and Alexis detail the devastating murder of Zadie Cooper, at the hands of one person who loved her more than anything in the world.🎟 Catch up to FOUR bonus episodes per month plus full video episodes over on Patreon:patreon.com/thefirstdegree❤️ The Heavy Metal Project: theheavymetalproject.com📸 Instagram: instagram.com/thefirstdegree🕺 TikTok: tiktok.com/@thefirstdegreee👤 Facebook: facebook.com/thefirstdegree⚖️ On the Stand: (818) 446-6889💩 Worst Thing You’ve Ever Done: (818) 446-6889🤝 Advice: hello@thefirstdegreepodcast.com 🎟 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 PARANOID! We’re here drawing some interesting conclusions between modern society and George Orwell’s dystopian social science fiction novel 1984. But first! On the stand this week: PB&J on wheat bread, hugging, ignoring crooked picture frames, and street sweeping! And finally, a familiar firstie shares her worstie.🎟 Catch up to FOUR bonus episodes per month plus full video episodes over on Patreon:patreon.com/thefirstdegree❤️ The Heavy Metal Project: theheavymetalproject.com📸 Instagram: instagram.com/thefirstdegree🕺 TikTok: tiktok.com/@thefirstdegreee👤 Facebook: facebook.com/thefirstdegree⚖️ On the Stand: (818) 446-6889💩 Worst Thing You’ve Ever Done: (818) 446-6889🤝 Advice: hello@thefirstdegreepodcast.com 🎟 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

When you think of public places where children should all be expected to feel safe, school is one of them. Church is another. Sometimes in such spaces, it’s not uncommon to come across unusual, even weird people. But you can’t control who attends a school or turns up to church service on Sundays. Usually we can brush off interactions with these people as just odd encounters. But sometimes, people who make us uncomfortable come into our lives not only for an extended period but in a way involving close contact. If we’re lucky, they eventually drop out of their lives and we don’t hear anything about them ever again. But what happens when you receive sudden news that takes you straight back to your unpleasant memories of someone, and you learn they’re accused of the very thing you always suspected but could never confirm? In episode 251, Jac and Alexis detail the case of Thomas Brackett.🎟 Catch up to FOUR bonus episodes per month plus full video episodes over on Patreon:patreon.com/thefirstdegree❤️ The Heavy Metal Project: theheavymetalproject.com📸 Instagram: instagram.com/thefirstdegree🕺 TikTok: tiktok.com/@thefirstdegreee👤 Facebook: facebook.com/thefirstdegree⚖️ On the Stand: (818) 446-6889💩 Worst Thing You’ve Ever Done: (818) 446-6889🤝 Advice: hello@thefirstdegreepodcast.com 🎟 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 The First Degree is joined by Jessica Taylor’s cousin, Jasmine- who fondly recalls the details of growing up with her vivacious older cousin. Jessica loved to dance, she loved double dutch, and she loved to read… but most importantly, she was adored by her family.  In July of 2003, when Jessica was only 20-years-old, she was kidnapped and murdered by the Long Island Serial Killer. It’s been 20 years since she disappeared, which is the same number of years Jessica lived before her life was senselessly cut short. Today’s bonus episode is dedicated to keeping Jessica’s memory alive and exploring her place in the unsolved Long Island Serial Killer case.🎟 Catch up to FOUR bonus episodes per month plus full video episodes over on Patreon:patreon.com/thefirstdegree❤️ The Heavy Metal Project: theheavymetalproject.com📸 Instagram: instagram.com/thefirstdegree🕺 TikTok: tiktok.com/@thefirstdegreee👤 Facebook: facebook.com/thefirstdegree⚖️ On the Stand: (818) 446-6889💩 Worst Thing You’ve Ever Done: (818) 446-6889🤝 Advice: hello@thefirstdegreepodcast.com 🎟 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 get ready for another installment of Ask a Girl, Ask a Ginger! That’s right, we’re here yet again to offer some advice to some of our faithful firsties! But first! On the stand this week: instrumental interludes in songs, heating pads, the sidewalk salsa, and seeded grapes! And finally, a worstie with a sister secret you have to hear to believe! PLUS! It’s the end of the world as we know it!🎟 Catch up to FOUR bonus episodes per month plus full video episodes over on Patreon:patreon.com/thefirstdegree❤️ The Heavy Metal Project: theheavymetalproject.com📸 Instagram: instagram.com/thefirstdegree🕺 TikTok: tiktok.com/@thefirstdegreee👤 Facebook: facebook.com/thefirstdegree⚖️ On the Stand: (818) 446-6889💩 Worst Thing You’ve Ever Done: (818) 446-6889🤝 Advice: hello@thefirstdegreepodcast.com 🎟 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 9th, 2015, the former Suffolk County Chief of Police James Burke is arrested for assaulting Chris Loeb three years earlier. Back in December 2012, Chris stole several items from Burke’s police vehicle, including a black duffel bag with an alleged homemade snuff film inside of it. Concerned that Chris would reveal the contents of his duffel bag, Burke struck Chris repeatedly and threatened to kill him. In November 2016, Burke is sentenced to 46 months in prison for his crimes. But, during the investigation of Burke, more of his corruption was revealed. From January 2012 to October 2015, Burke single-handedly slowed the progress of the Long Island Serial Killer case. He shut out the FBI, forced out detectives on the case, and stopped the searches for more victims. In episode 250, Jac and Alexis delve into how Burke could be responsible for allowing the Long Island Serial Killer to get away with multiple murders.🎟 Catch up to FOUR bonus episodes per month plus full video episodes over on Patreon:patreon.com/thefirstdegree❤️ The Heavy Metal Project: theheavymetalproject.com📸 Instagram: instagram.com/thefirstdegree🕺 TikTok: tiktok.com/@thefirstdegreee👤 Facebook: facebook.com/thefirstdegree⚖️ On the Stand: (818) 446-6889💩 Worst Thing You’ve Ever Done: (818) 446-6889🤝 Advice: hello@thefirstdegreepodcast.com 🎟 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

Valerie Lyn Mack was a loving sister, a caring mother, and a dynamic woman During her childhood, Valerie trekked from foster home to foster home for almost a decade. But, when she was nine years old, Valerie was adopted by two loving parents: Edwin and JoAnn Mack. Valerie thrived with the Macks. Her grades improved, she participated in theater, and she showed real leadership potential. But, throughout Valerie’s teen and adult years, she would struggle financially, battle drug abuse, and become entrenched in sex work. By the fall of 2000, 24-year-old Valerie stopped communicating with her family. Deeply concerned, the Macks attempted to file a missing person report for Valerie, but the New Jersey police refused. In this episode, Jac and Alexis will shed light on Valerie’s life and death, as well as the progress her case has seen over the past two decades. 🎟 Catch up to FOUR bonus episodes per month plus full video episodes over on Patreon:patreon.com/thefirstdegree❤️ The Heavy Metal Project: theheavymetalproject.com📸 Instagram: instagram.com/thefirstdegree🕺 TikTok: tiktok.com/@thefirstdegreee👤 Facebook: facebook.com/thefirstdegree⚖️ On the Stand: (818) 446-6889💩 Worst Thing You’ve Ever Done: (818) 446-6889🤝 Advice: hello@thefirstdegreepodcast.com 🎟 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 back to explore some post-life plans. Turning into a coral reef, maybe a tree? Get launched into the sun? Anything is possible with money! On the stand this week: tasting before ordering a flight, milk, businesses answering the phones with a simple “hello?”, and toe shoes!! Plus! A worstie with some toothbrush treachery!🎟 Catch up to FOUR bonus episodes per month plus full video episodes over on Patreon:patreon.com/thefirstdegree❤️ The Heavy Metal Project: theheavymetalproject.com📸 Instagram: instagram.com/thefirstdegree🕺 TikTok: tiktok.com/@thefirstdegreee👤 Facebook: facebook.com/thefirstdegree⚖️ On the Stand: (818) 446-6889💩 Worst Thing You’ve Ever Done: (818) 446-6889🤝 Advice: hello@thefirstdegreepodcast.com 🎟 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 May 1st of 2010, 23-year-old Shannan Gilbert gets into a black SUV with her hired driver and de facto security guard, Michael Pak. Shannan and Michael travel from New York City’s Manhattan to a wealthy gated community on Long Island known as Oak Beach. Shannan, a sex worker, enters the home of her client, Joseph Brewer. Three hours later, Shannan runs screaming from Brewer’s home. She calls 911 and, although she is sometimes incoherent, clearly conveys that someone is trying to kill her. By the time the Suffolk County police arrive on the scene an hour and a half later, Shannan has vanished into thin air. In episode 249, Jac and Alexis demystify how the search for Shannan became the unexpected catalyst that revealed the existence of the Long Island Serial Killer, nine murdered sex workers and a child, and the corruption within the Suffolk County Police Department.🎟 Don't want to wait? This entire 3-part series is available now on Patreon:patreon.com/thefirstdegree❤️ The Heavy Metal Project: theheavymetalproject.com📸 Instagram: instagram.com/thefirstdegree🕺 TikTok: tiktok.com/@thefirstdegreee👤 Facebook: facebook.com/thefirstdegree⚖️ On the Stand: (818) 446-6889💩 Worst Thing You’ve Ever Done: (818) 446-6889🤝 Advice: hello@thefirstdegreepodcast.com 🎟 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