Melissa Jeltsen

This is Nicole Carr. She's the author of the post asking for help finding Talena.

This is Nicole Carr. She's the author of the post asking for help finding Talena.

Nicole knew Talena's habits because she was one of her best friends. They'd been close since they met in 2010.

Nicole knew Talena's habits because she was one of her best friends. They'd been close since they met in 2010.

Nicole and Talena's friendship had always been long distance. They'd never lived in the same state at the same time. But they found ways to connect, both online and in person.

Nicole and Talena's friendship had always been long distance. They'd never lived in the same state at the same time. But they found ways to connect, both online and in person.

In February 2020, Talena went to Tennessee to visit Nicole at her home.

In February 2020, Talena went to Tennessee to visit Nicole at her home.

Talena left, and immediately the friends started planning their next visit. This time, Talena would host Nicole at her house in Wagner, Oklahoma. But COVID got too big too quickly.

Talena left, and immediately the friends started planning their next visit. This time, Talena would host Nicole at her house in Wagner, Oklahoma. But COVID got too big too quickly.

As the COVID pandemic took over everybody's lives, the friends continued to communicate as they normally did. Texting, keeping up with each other's social media. And it was on Facebook where Nicole saw that her friend wasn't feeling well. First, it was a post on Sunday, March 29th, about a migraine.

As the COVID pandemic took over everybody's lives, the friends continued to communicate as they normally did. Texting, keeping up with each other's social media. And it was on Facebook where Nicole saw that her friend wasn't feeling well. First, it was a post on Sunday, March 29th, about a migraine.

Migraines were a fairly regular occurrence for Talena, so Nicole didn't think much of it. But a day later, on Monday, March 30th, she saw a post about Talena's headache worsening.

Migraines were a fairly regular occurrence for Talena, so Nicole didn't think much of it. But a day later, on Monday, March 30th, she saw a post about Talena's headache worsening.

Nicole texted Talena a few times checking up on her, but didn't hear back. A week went by, and then on April 7th came Talena's cryptic post.

Nicole texted Talena a few times checking up on her, but didn't hear back. A week went by, and then on April 7th came Talena's cryptic post.

Nicole knew that her friend prized her solitude. But after a few days without hearing from Talena, she had a feeling that something wasn't right.

Nicole knew that her friend prized her solitude. But after a few days without hearing from Talena, she had a feeling that something wasn't right.

Nicole was in lockdown in Tennessee, hundreds of miles away from Talena's home in Wagner, Oklahoma. Feeling antsy, Nicole started reaching out to Talena's friends, some of them also in far-flung states, others in the same town as Talena.

Nicole was in lockdown in Tennessee, hundreds of miles away from Talena's home in Wagner, Oklahoma. Feeling antsy, Nicole started reaching out to Talena's friends, some of them also in far-flung states, others in the same town as Talena.