Melissa Jeltsin

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.

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

Chantel tells her mom there's no way Talena wrote the post. She thinks someone else must have.

Chantel tells her mom there's no way Talena wrote the post. She thinks someone else must have.

Once the whole family is in the loop about Talena's disappearance, they start comparing notes, trying to work out the last time anyone had any real contact with her. The date they come up with is March 27th, 2020. That's the day Chantel was last Facebook messaging with her aunt.

Once the whole family is in the loop about Talena's disappearance, they start comparing notes, trying to work out the last time anyone had any real contact with her. The date they come up with is March 27th, 2020. That's the day Chantel was last Facebook messaging with her aunt.

A few days later, the Wagner County Sheriff's Department calls Talena's family and speaks to her mother and brother.

A few days later, the Wagner County Sheriff's Department calls Talena's family and speaks to her mother and brother.

Talena's family, who are spread out across multiple states, face a difficult question. Should they go to Wagner, Oklahoma to look for Talena themselves in the middle of COVID lockdowns?

Talena's family, who are spread out across multiple states, face a difficult question. Should they go to Wagner, Oklahoma to look for Talena themselves in the middle of COVID lockdowns?

Even if they went, they didn't know where to start looking. Talena had kept so much of her life their secret.

Even if they went, they didn't know where to start looking. Talena had kept so much of her life their secret.

Cheryl and her family knew of only one person in Wagner that Talena had ever mentioned.

Cheryl and her family knew of only one person in Wagner that Talena had ever mentioned.