Melissa Jeltsin

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

Talena's sister, Cheryl, is now a 58-year-old nurse who lives in Pennsylvania.

Talena's sister, Cheryl, is now a 58-year-old nurse who lives in Pennsylvania.

Cheryl remembers Talena as a shy kid, someone she felt she had to stand up for.

Cheryl remembers Talena as a shy kid, someone she felt she had to stand up for.

As kids, Cheryl and Talena were inseparable. As adults, their lives moved in different directions. Cheryl went to nursing school, got married, and had four children before getting a divorce and moving to Pennsylvania. Talena stayed in Indiana, wandered a bit to find her way. She joined the National Guard, then got into computer programming.

As kids, Cheryl and Talena were inseparable. As adults, their lives moved in different directions. Cheryl went to nursing school, got married, and had four children before getting a divorce and moving to Pennsylvania. Talena stayed in Indiana, wandered a bit to find her way. She joined the National Guard, then got into computer programming.

Like her sister, she also got married and divorced at a young age to a man named Russell Lovick, but she never had any kids. Instead, Talena played the auntie role with Glee.

Like her sister, she also got married and divorced at a young age to a man named Russell Lovick, but she never had any kids. Instead, Talena played the auntie role with Glee.

Cheryl's kids loved to come visit Aunt Jana, where they were often spoiled.

Cheryl's kids loved to come visit Aunt Jana, where they were often spoiled.

Talena's close relationship with her three nieces, Cherie, Chantal, and Chelsea, continued into their adulthoods. The girls all settled in the Indianapolis area, close to Talena and most of their extended family. Even after Talena moved to Oklahoma, she made a point to visit frequently.

Talena's close relationship with her three nieces, Cherie, Chantal, and Chelsea, continued into their adulthoods. The girls all settled in the Indianapolis area, close to Talena and most of their extended family. Even after Talena moved to Oklahoma, she made a point to visit frequently.

By 2020, Cheryl and Talena had fallen out of touch. And so, when her little sister goes missing, she hasn't spoken to her in almost three years. But her daughters are in regular contact with Talena. Talena was especially close with Chantel, Cheryl's middle daughter. They both had office jobs, and so it was common for them to send messages back and forth throughout the workday.

By 2020, Cheryl and Talena had fallen out of touch. And so, when her little sister goes missing, she hasn't spoken to her in almost three years. But her daughters are in regular contact with Talena. Talena was especially close with Chantel, Cheryl's middle daughter. They both had office jobs, and so it was common for them to send messages back and forth throughout the workday.

In late March, during the start of the COVID lockdown, Talena and Chantel are chatting like usual.

In late March, during the start of the COVID lockdown, Talena and Chantel are chatting like usual.

Then Talena messages Chantel that she has to go. She's tired and has a headache.

Then Talena messages Chantel that she has to go. She's tired and has a headache.

Then, on April 7th, Chantel sees Talena's Facebook post.