Melissa Jeltsin

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Hi, listeners. I'm Melissa Jeltsin, host of What Happened to Talena Zarr. It's the story of a woman who disappears in the early days of COVID lockdowns and the group of online sleuths who try to find her.

Hi, listeners. I'm Melissa Jeltsin, host of What Happened to Talena Zarr. It's the story of a woman who disappears in the early days of COVID lockdowns and the group of online sleuths who try to find her.

You can now get access to episodes of What Happened to Talena Zarr 100% ad-free with an iHeart True Crime Plus subscription. I'm a subscriber and you should be too. So don't wait. Head to Apple Podcasts, search iHeart True Crime Plus and subscribe today.

You can now get access to episodes of What Happened to Talena Zarr 100% ad-free with an iHeart True Crime Plus subscription. I'm a subscriber and you should be too. So don't wait. Head to Apple Podcasts, search iHeart True Crime Plus and subscribe today.

This is Greg Thompson, the local handyman who did small jobs for Talena. When Corey moved into Talena's house, fresh off a separation from her husband, she came with a menagerie of animals, both big and small.

This is Greg Thompson, the local handyman who did small jobs for Talena. When Corey moved into Talena's house, fresh off a separation from her husband, she came with a menagerie of animals, both big and small.

Talena was a huge animal lover, and she welcomed Cory's cats and dogs into her home. The larger animals that couldn't fit were placed with her neighbor and house cleaner named Billy Schiltz.

Talena was a huge animal lover, and she welcomed Cory's cats and dogs into her home. The larger animals that couldn't fit were placed with her neighbor and house cleaner named Billy Schiltz.

From iHeart Podcasts, I'm Melissa Jeltsin, and this is What Happened to Talina Zarr.

From iHeart Podcasts, I'm Melissa Jeltsin, and this is What Happened to Talina Zarr.

Episode four, the mattress.

Episode four, the mattress.

About a week after Talena disappears, her friend Eris stops by her house and meets with her roommate, Corey. The purpose of Eris's visit is twofold. She's dropping off some meat that Talena had ordered and also picking up a mattress of Talena's, which had been promised to her son. She's just moved into a new house, and Talena had been instrumental in helping to furnish it.

About a week after Talena disappears, her friend Eris stops by her house and meets with her roommate, Corey. The purpose of Eris's visit is twofold. She's dropping off some meat that Talena had ordered and also picking up a mattress of Talena's, which had been promised to her son. She's just moved into a new house, and Talena had been instrumental in helping to furnish it.

Corey meets Eris at the door, but doesn't invite her in. She's worried that the virus could still be lingering inside and doesn't want Eris to get sick.

Corey meets Eris at the door, but doesn't invite her in. She's worried that the virus could still be lingering inside and doesn't want Eris to get sick.

Standing on the front porch, Eris asks about the mattress and learns that it's gone.

Standing on the front porch, Eris asks about the mattress and learns that it's gone.

Burning Talena's bed in the backyard strikes Eris as an extreme reaction to COVID. But then again, so is the decision to shut down businesses and schools. I mean, people were spraying their groceries with Lysol before touching them. It was a weird time. Luckily, Corey says there's another mattress she can take instead. And so, Aris and her husband load it up.