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.

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.

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.

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.

This episode mentions suicide. Please take care while listening.

This episode mentions suicide. Please take care while listening.

Greg Thompson is 53 years old and has lived within a 45-minute drive of Wagner, Oklahoma, his entire life.

Greg Thompson is 53 years old and has lived within a 45-minute drive of Wagner, Oklahoma, his entire life.

I looked it up. It's about double that, 8,000. Still small, a place where everyone kind of knows everyone and neighbors act neighborly. When Greg meets Talena, she's a recent transplant to the area.

I looked it up. It's about double that, 8,000. Still small, a place where everyone kind of knows everyone and neighbors act neighborly. When Greg meets Talena, she's a recent transplant to the area.

Greg became friends with Talena because he's the guy you call when you've got odd jobs that need doing.

Greg became friends with Talena because he's the guy you call when you've got odd jobs that need doing.

In early 2020, before COVID shuts the world down, Talena is on the hunt for the perfect mattress to help her troubled sleep. This turns out to be a tedious task for the 53-year-old, who buys and returns multiple mattresses in the process. But luckily, she has Greg to help her with the heavy lifting.

In early 2020, before COVID shuts the world down, Talena is on the hunt for the perfect mattress to help her troubled sleep. This turns out to be a tedious task for the 53-year-old, who buys and returns multiple mattresses in the process. But luckily, she has Greg to help her with the heavy lifting.

Finally, Talena finds a mattress that checks all the boxes. But now she has an extra mattress on her hands. Luckily, she knows a family in need.

Finally, Talena finds a mattress that checks all the boxes. But now she has an extra mattress on her hands. Luckily, she knows a family in need.

This is Eris Howell, another one of Talena's local friends. Eris had just closed on her very first house. Talena had guided her through the process, emotionally and sometimes even financially. In fact, the bed was just one of many things Talena offered to help make Eris' new house a home.

This is Eris Howell, another one of Talena's local friends. Eris had just closed on her very first house. Talena had guided her through the process, emotionally and sometimes even financially. In fact, the bed was just one of many things Talena offered to help make Eris' new house a home.