Episode 408: Deanna Merryfield

The First Degree

Alexis Linkletter and Jac Vanek

News, Society & Culture, True Crime

4.5 • 10.4K Ratings

🗓️ 24 June 2026

⏱️ 59 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

In July 1990, a 13-year-old girl disappears in the early hours after sneaking out to see her twin sister in Killeen, Texas. When she is reported missing, police quickly classify her as a runaway and the case receives little to no investigation, leaving her family without answers and her case to fade into obscurity. But as the years pass, a troubling pattern emerges - one involving abuse allegations, inconsistent witness accounts, and a system that failed to properly follow through. With every new detail, the question of what really happened that night becomes more urgent, and more complicated. Decades later, her younger sister begins digging into the truth, uncovering long-buried information and reigniting an investigation that had gone cold for years. In episode 408, Jac and Lex explore the disappearance of Deanna Merryfield, and her sister Melissa’s relentless fight to finally uncover what happened to her. 🎟 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 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Transcript

Click on a timestamp to play from that location

0:00.0	Ready to launch your business? Get started with the commerce platform made for entrepreneurs.
0:04.8	Shopify is specially designed to help you start, run and grow your business with easy customizable themes that let you build your brand.
0:12.5	Marketing tools that get your products out there. Integrated shipping solutions that actually save you time.
0:17.5	From startups to scaleups, online, in person and on the go. Shopify is made for
0:22.9	entrepreneurs like you. Sign up for your $1 a month trial at Shopify.com slash setup.
0:30.1	Busy routines can make it hard to focus on your health goals, but MedExpress offers a simple way
0:35.2	to explore weight management treatment online.
0:38.0	Complete our short eligibility consultation with no need for face-to-face appointments or travel.
0:43.1	If eligible, treatment is delivered discreetly, with UK registered clinicians offering support along the way.
0:48.8	Visit Medexpress.co.com.ukest to get started today.
0:54.1	The first degree.
0:55.9	First degree. First degree. First degree. First degree. First degree. First degree. First degree.
1:00.5	The first degree.
1:02.0	You see it on the news. You see it on the paper. You see it on Facebook.
1:06.3	These things are supposed to happen in movies, not in real life.
1:20.6	Unfortunately, I don't remember a whole lot about the day that she went missing. From that day, it was like,
1:22.6	Gianna's gone, and our grandma reported her missing.
1:28.3	I don't remember them looking for her.
1:31.3	I learned really quickly.
1:33.3	We don't talk about Deanna.
1:35.3	We don't question adults.
1:38.3	I think definitely in their mind, they were protecting me from the truth.
	...

Transcript will be available on the free plan in 10 days. Upgrade to see the full transcript now.

Previous episode | Next episode

Disclaimer: The podcast and artwork embedded on this page are from Alexis Linkletter and Jac Vanek, and are the property of its owner and not affiliated with or endorsed by Tapesearch.

Generated transcripts are the property of Alexis Linkletter and Jac Vanek and are distributed freely under the Fair Use doctrine. Transcripts generated by Tapesearch are not guaranteed to be accurate.