Melissa Jeltsen

While she's giving me a tour of her home, I notice her bookshelf is crammed with true crime stories, old and new. My husband makes fun of me.

While she's giving me a tour of her home, I notice her bookshelf is crammed with true crime stories, old and new. My husband makes fun of me.

Jess tells me her fascination with crime started when she was still a kid. She remembers following the Menendez brothers case on TV and watching OJ Simpson's Bronco racing down the expressway in real time.

Jess tells me her fascination with crime started when she was still a kid. She remembers following the Menendez brothers case on TV and watching OJ Simpson's Bronco racing down the expressway in real time.

But the first true crime story that completely enthralled her was that of Eileen Wuornos, who killed at least seven men between 1989 and 1990 and has been dubbed America's first female serial killer. Eileen Wuornos was a huge one for me.

But the first true crime story that completely enthralled her was that of Eileen Wuornos, who killed at least seven men between 1989 and 1990 and has been dubbed America's first female serial killer. Eileen Wuornos was a huge one for me.

I find them fascinating. Jess became an avid reader of crime novels. She devoured In Cold Blood by Truman Capote, To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee, worked her way through the back catalog of True Crime Icon and Rule. The stories she liked the best dealt with big, complicated questions of justice, punishment, and fairness, what's right and what's wrong, and where those lines become blurry.

I find them fascinating. Jess became an avid reader of crime novels. She devoured In Cold Blood by Truman Capote, To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee, worked her way through the back catalog of True Crime Icon and Rule. The stories she liked the best dealt with big, complicated questions of justice, punishment, and fairness, what's right and what's wrong, and where those lines become blurry.

As a reporter who's dedicated my life to these topics, I can relate. Later, around 2017, after crime podcasts exploded onto the scene, Jess got into those too.

As a reporter who's dedicated my life to these topics, I can relate. Later, around 2017, after crime podcasts exploded onto the scene, Jess got into those too.

For Jess, part of the thrill of all this was discussing the cases with others on social media.

For Jess, part of the thrill of all this was discussing the cases with others on social media.

All those hours reading about true crime, listening to true crime, discussing true crime, provided Jess with a master class on how not to get murdered. She knows, never go to a second location. Always trust your instincts. You're much more likely to be killed by someone you know than a stranger. If you can run, run.

All those hours reading about true crime, listening to true crime, discussing true crime, provided Jess with a master class on how not to get murdered. She knows, never go to a second location. Always trust your instincts. You're much more likely to be killed by someone you know than a stranger. If you can run, run.

It also taught her some real-world skills on how to investigate cases, the same type of skills I use in my reporting. In between bartending shifts and putting the kids to bed, Jess learned how to do a background check, how to trace people's internet footprints, how to track down old criminal records, and dig up archival news coverage.

It also taught her some real-world skills on how to investigate cases, the same type of skills I use in my reporting. In between bartending shifts and putting the kids to bed, Jess learned how to do a background check, how to trace people's internet footprints, how to track down old criminal records, and dig up archival news coverage.

On the internet. It's on the internet, on a Facebook fan page for crime junkies, where Jess first sees Talena Zar's post about having COVID and choosing to go off into the wilderness alone rather than go to the hospital.

On the internet. It's on the internet, on a Facebook fan page for crime junkies, where Jess first sees Talena Zar's post about having COVID and choosing to go off into the wilderness alone rather than go to the hospital.

A friend of Talena's, named Nicole, had uploaded screenshots of Talena's post to the group in an attempt to solicit help. I asked Jess to read some of Nicole's plea.

A friend of Talena's, named Nicole, had uploaded screenshots of Talena's post to the group in an attempt to solicit help. I asked Jess to read some of Nicole's plea.