Episode 269: Rita And Colleen, Part 1

On February 24th of 2022, 57-year-old Cynthia Marie Cole of Jensen Beach, Florida vanishes into thin air. That morning, she’d walked on the beach. That evening, she’d attended a street festival with a few friends. But, by the next day, Cynthia is missing without a trace of evidence left behind. On March 1st, Cynthia’s friends and family report her disappearance to the local authorities. Within days, investigators discover Cynthia’s decomposing body inside her own septic tank. The process of extricating Cynthia’s submerged body is arduous and dangerous. When the police question those recently in contact with Cynthia, they immediately discover a suspicious character: Cynthia’s handyman and longtime friend 34-year-old Keoki Hilo Demich. From the evidence found on Cynthia’s body and Keoki’s own statements, he is ultimately charged with first-degree murder. In episode 253, Jac and Alexis cover the mind-boggling mystery surrounding Cynthia’s death and her killer’s potential motives. 🎟 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

21 Kesä 202349min

From the moment she was born on June 24th, 1985, Melissa Mary Barthelemy was loved. Between her mother, father, and siblings, Melissa was raised alongside people who truly cared about her. As a child, Melissa was recognized for her cleverness and charming smile. As a young woman, Melissa was respected for her independence and determination. After graduating high school in the early 2000s, Melissa went to cosmetology school and moved to New York City to become a hairstylist. Unfortunately, New York City’s notoriously high cost of living caused Melissa to struggle financially. That is until, one day, Melissa met a man who promised her quick, reliable money through sex work. As a result, on July 12th, 2009, Melissa left her Bronx apartment to meet a Long Island john. She was never seen again. In this episode, Jac and Alexis discuss Melissa Barthelemy’s heartbreaking story and her connection to the still-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

16 Kesä 202323min

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

15 Kesä 202355min

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

14 Kesä 202356min

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

8 Kesä 202355min

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

7 Kesä 202338min

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

2 Kesä 202321min

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

1 Kesä 202348min