Melissa Jeltsin

But the world they uncover is beyond their wildest imagination.

Listen to What Happened to Talena Zarr on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.

Listen to What Happened to Talena Zarr on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.

This is Jess, our internet sleuth in Minnesota. A few weeks into her own investigation, she's also discovering that Talena and Marty's relationship may not have been exactly how he described it. And she's beginning to suspect that he's been lying to her Which is tough because they've become very close very fast.

This is Jess, our internet sleuth in Minnesota. A few weeks into her own investigation, she's also discovering that Talena and Marty's relationship may not have been exactly how he described it. And she's beginning to suspect that he's been lying to her Which is tough because they've become very close very fast.

When Marty talks about his relationship with Talena, he makes it seem as though they were extremely close, the best of friends. But Jess is learning new information that introduces some ambiguity into the picture. For one, she finds out from another friend of Talena's that Marty had allegedly stolen from Talena a few months before her disappearance.

When Marty talks about his relationship with Talena, he makes it seem as though they were extremely close, the best of friends. But Jess is learning new information that introduces some ambiguity into the picture. For one, she finds out from another friend of Talena's that Marty had allegedly stolen from Talena a few months before her disappearance.

Jess also suspects that Talena had been helping Marty out financially. For a while.

Jess also suspects that Talena had been helping Marty out financially. For a while.

As Marty explains to Jess, he suffers from chronic pain and addiction, has had a hard time holding down a job. On one of their calls, Marty even goes so far as to ask Jess for some money for his pain medication, but that's a line Jess isn't willing to cross. According to Jess, Marty said Talena would sometimes pay his phone and water bills, even chip in for his meds.

As Marty explains to Jess, he suffers from chronic pain and addiction, has had a hard time holding down a job. On one of their calls, Marty even goes so far as to ask Jess for some money for his pain medication, but that's a line Jess isn't willing to cross. According to Jess, Marty said Talena would sometimes pay his phone and water bills, even chip in for his meds.

Things were messy between Marty and Talena, but when I asked Jess about Marty and Talena's friendship ending abruptly just before her disappearance, Jess didn't think it was that black and white. As far as she could tell, the two had been communicating regularly.

Things were messy between Marty and Talena, but when I asked Jess about Marty and Talena's friendship ending abruptly just before her disappearance, Jess didn't think it was that black and white. As far as she could tell, the two had been communicating regularly.

By the pandemic's start, it looks as though Corey, not Marty, had become the primary recipient of Talena's generosity. According to Jess's research, Corey was living rent-free in Talena's home. She used Talena's cars to get around, and while she worked odd jobs, it was Talena's steady paycheck that provided the household income.

By the pandemic's start, it looks as though Corey, not Marty, had become the primary recipient of Talena's generosity. According to Jess's research, Corey was living rent-free in Talena's home. She used Talena's cars to get around, and while she worked odd jobs, it was Talena's steady paycheck that provided the household income.

It seems in those crucial months before Talena's disappearance, the people in her close orbit were shifting places. Marty's star was fading and Corey's was ascending.

It seems in those crucial months before Talena's disappearance, the people in her close orbit were shifting places. Marty's star was fading and Corey's was ascending.

I was able to get a hold of a copy of Talena's will.

I was able to get a hold of a copy of Talena's will.

The sleuths feel certain that Corey had something to do with Talena's disappearance. I mean, becoming the beneficiary of someone else's estate months before they go missing? That's motive 101. They've also heard through the grapevine about Corey burning Talena's mattress, selling her items on eBay. And Corey's criminal past suggests she's no stranger to lying and manipulation.