Melissa Jeltsin

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.

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.

But what about Marty? To the sleuths, he presents himself as someone who's also suspicious of Corey, even though they're friends. He tells the sleuths he'll use his friendship with Corey to try to get more information.

But what about Marty? To the sleuths, he presents himself as someone who's also suspicious of Corey, even though they're friends. He tells the sleuths he'll use his friendship with Corey to try to get more information.

But the sleuths aren't sure if he's being entirely transparent about his relationship with Corey either. Here's Rosie.

But the sleuths aren't sure if he's being entirely transparent about his relationship with Corey either. Here's Rosie.

And they're hearing rumors from other people in Wagner that contradict how Marty describes his relationship with Corey.

And they're hearing rumors from other people in Wagner that contradict how Marty describes his relationship with Corey.

Jess suspects maybe they're in cahoots. Maybe Marty's telling Corey everything they're telling him. And Jess tells him that, too.

Jess suspects maybe they're in cahoots. Maybe Marty's telling Corey everything they're telling him. And Jess tells him that, too.

Jess is starting to feel exhausted. The investigation is hard work. So is changing her persona with each new source she reaches out to, trying to get them to open up, trying to find the thing that's going to crack the case wide open. Sometimes she pretends she knew Talena. Other times she gives fake backstories to gain access.

Jess is starting to feel exhausted. The investigation is hard work. So is changing her persona with each new source she reaches out to, trying to get them to open up, trying to find the thing that's going to crack the case wide open. Sometimes she pretends she knew Talena. Other times she gives fake backstories to gain access.

When Jess told me all of this, that she lied to get information out of people, I had to wonder, could I trust her to be completely truthful with me? After all, in her very first email, she had mischaracterized her relationship to Talena, saying she was her friend. Over the year I spent reporting this story, I've tried to confirm every detail Jess told me.

When Jess told me all of this, that she lied to get information out of people, I had to wonder, could I trust her to be completely truthful with me? After all, in her very first email, she had mischaracterized her relationship to Talena, saying she was her friend. Over the year I spent reporting this story, I've tried to confirm every detail Jess told me.