Melissa Jeltsin

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 Zar 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.

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After finding out about Talena's disappearance from a Facebook post, it doesn't take Jess long to connect Talena to the Gorian subculture.

After finding out about Talena's disappearance from a Facebook post, it doesn't take Jess long to connect Talena to the Gorian subculture.

Scrolling through Talena's Facebook, Jess comes across a post from January 2020, just a few months before Talena goes missing. It's a photo of Talena's new Oklahoma driver's license, along with her story of dealing with the bureaucracy of legally changing her name.

Scrolling through Talena's Facebook, Jess comes across a post from January 2020, just a few months before Talena goes missing. It's a photo of Talena's new Oklahoma driver's license, along with her story of dealing with the bureaucracy of legally changing her name.

So right before Talena disappeared, she legally changed her name. And not just her last name, both of her given names. She went from Jana Lovick to Talena Galloway. Galloway was Tom's last name. Even though they never formally married and Tom had been dead for over two years, carrying on his memory in this way seemed important to her.

So right before Talena disappeared, she legally changed her name. And not just her last name, both of her given names. She went from Jana Lovick to Talena Galloway. Galloway was Tom's last name. Even though they never formally married and Tom had been dead for over two years, carrying on his memory in this way seemed important to her.

And the name Talena, she'd been using that first name for years amongst friends and family, according to the petition she filed with the state. Online, she used the handle Talena Zar for her social media accounts. Jess isn't sure where Zar comes from, but Talena, it appears she'd taken it directly from the Gore books. The gore world is one Jess knows nothing about, but she's willing to learn.

And the name Talena, she'd been using that first name for years amongst friends and family, according to the petition she filed with the state. Online, she used the handle Talena Zar for her social media accounts. Jess isn't sure where Zar comes from, but Talena, it appears she'd taken it directly from the Gore books. The gore world is one Jess knows nothing about, but she's willing to learn.

And how many did you read? I think probably 10. While the rest of the country is exploring new hobbies during quarantine, Jess is getting a mini education in BDSM and gore culture. And from what she learns, it seems like a subculture where women could easily be taken advantage of, hurt, or even killed. Jess knows that Talena's late husband Tom couldn't have been involved in her disappearance.

And how many did you read? I think probably 10. While the rest of the country is exploring new hobbies during quarantine, Jess is getting a mini education in BDSM and gore culture. And from what she learns, it seems like a subculture where women could easily be taken advantage of, hurt, or even killed. Jess knows that Talena's late husband Tom couldn't have been involved in her disappearance.

But what about the other men in the Gorg community? Men who saw women as property. Men who were not used to hearing the word no.

But what about the other men in the Gorg community? Men who saw women as property. Men who were not used to hearing the word no.

Jess and the internet sleuths start wondering, is their main source, Talena's friend Marty, also a Gorian? For one, there's that photo where he referred to Talena as another of his wives. And then there's his unusual nickname, Wolf or Wolfie.

Jess and the internet sleuths start wondering, is their main source, Talena's friend Marty, also a Gorian? For one, there's that photo where he referred to Talena as another of his wives. And then there's his unusual nickname, Wolf or Wolfie.

Still, Jess is not afraid to ask Marty, Wolf, pointed questions about Gore.

Still, Jess is not afraid to ask Marty, Wolf, pointed questions about Gore.