Melissa Jeltsin

A week before Talena disappeared, she posted about her illness on Facebook.

A week before Talena disappeared, she posted about her illness on Facebook.

Talena is talking about Corey, her roommate, running the household and watching out for her. Corey had been the last person to see Talena before she disappeared. On the day Talena posted her mysterious message, Corey said she'd been out running errands and came home to an empty house.

Talena is talking about Corey, her roommate, running the household and watching out for her. Corey had been the last person to see Talena before she disappeared. On the day Talena posted her mysterious message, Corey said she'd been out running errands and came home to an empty house.

The next day, Corey posted to her own Facebook page, alerting everyone to her missing roommate and asking for help. Here's a recreation of parts of the post.

The next day, Corey posted to her own Facebook page, alerting everyone to her missing roommate and asking for help. Here's a recreation of parts of the post.

A day later, Corey posts again, this time sharing insight into what Talena's experience with COVID had been like.

A day later, Corey posts again, this time sharing insight into what Talena's experience with COVID had been like.

A few days go by. Talena's friends hear nothing and start to worry she's died of COVID, alone, in a remote cabin. But they also start imagining other worst-case scenarios. Like Greg, who speculates that maybe Talena was abducted.

A few days go by. Talena's friends hear nothing and start to worry she's died of COVID, alone, in a remote cabin. But they also start imagining other worst-case scenarios. Like Greg, who speculates that maybe Talena was abducted.

Her friends think, hope, maybe Talena will emerge over the weekend. But as Saturday and Sunday come and go, their polite respect for her privacy curdles into concern and dread. And there's consensus that the police now need to be involved.

Her friends think, hope, maybe Talena will emerge over the weekend. But as Saturday and Sunday come and go, their polite respect for her privacy curdles into concern and dread. And there's consensus that the police now need to be involved.

On Monday, April 13th, Corey goes to the sheriff's department, but she's told that an adult woman leaving on her own is not considered a missing person, at least not yet. Four more days pass. By Friday, Talena has still not returned, so Corey tries again. This time, she's able to file a missing persons report. That same day, two deputies drive out to Talena and Cory's house.

On Monday, April 13th, Corey goes to the sheriff's department, but she's told that an adult woman leaving on her own is not considered a missing person, at least not yet. Four more days pass. By Friday, Talena has still not returned, so Corey tries again. This time, she's able to file a missing persons report. That same day, two deputies drive out to Talena and Cory's house.

Because of COVID, they play it safe and don't go inside. Instead, they talk to Cory in the driveway. They get the basic facts, like what Talena looks like and Talena's cell phone number, which they immediately try to locate. Surveying the property, the deputies note a gray shed in front of the house and several vehicles parked in the driveway, two cars and a red truck with a trailer attached.

Because of COVID, they play it safe and don't go inside. Instead, they talk to Cory in the driveway. They get the basic facts, like what Talena looks like and Talena's cell phone number, which they immediately try to locate. Surveying the property, the deputies note a gray shed in front of the house and several vehicles parked in the driveway, two cars and a red truck with a trailer attached.

And then they turn the case over to Detective Joel Weber, who will lead the search. A few days later, he asks Corey to come back to the station to provide more details.

And then they turn the case over to Detective Joel Weber, who will lead the search. A few days later, he asks Corey to come back to the station to provide more details.

Okay. Now two weeks after Talena's Facebook post, Corey arrives at the station wearing a COVID mask and gloves. We don't have a recording of the conversation, but we do have a transcript, parts of which we've recreated.

Okay. Now two weeks after Talena's Facebook post, Corey arrives at the station wearing a COVID mask and gloves. We don't have a recording of the conversation, but we do have a transcript, parts of which we've recreated.