Summary of "What Happened to Talina Zar" - Episode: The Mattress (E4)

Introduction

In Episode 4, titled "The Mattress," of the What Happened to Talina Zar series by iHeartPodcasts, host Melissa Jeltson delves deeper into the mysterious disappearance of Talina Zar during the COVID-19 lockdown. This episode focuses on the events surrounding Talina's roommate, Corey Bommily, the subsequent suspicions raised by friends and online sleuths, and the unraveling of Corey’s dubious actions that have cast a shadow over Talina's vanishing.

Background: Talina Zar and Corey Bommily

The episode begins with testimonies from individuals close to Talina Zar, highlighting her deep love for animals and her welcoming nature toward Corey's pets after her own separation.

Greg Thompson, a local handyman who assisted Corey, shares insights into the household dynamics:

"Corey butchered that thing. And I'm like, what? She said, yeah, she kept that horse up in tiny little pieces..." ([02:58])

This unsettling revelation about Corey's handling of Talina's old horse raises early red flags about her character and the circumstances surrounding Talina's disappearance.

Suspicious Activities and Community Concerns

Approximately a week after Talina's disappearance, Talina's friend Eris visits Corey's house to drop off pre-paid sausage meat orders and to collect a promised mattress for Talina's son. However, Corey exhibits strange behavior by refusing to invite Eris inside, citing COVID-19 fears. Upon discovering that the mattress intended for Talina's son has been burned in the backyard, Eris senses an extreme reaction from Corey:

"Burning Talina's bed in the backyard strikes Eris as an extreme reaction to Covid." ([08:16])

Corey's nonchalant attitude toward these disturbing actions further deepens the community's suspicions.

Corey's Strange Behavior and Community Investigation

Friends and neighbors, including Greg Thompson and Rachel, notice Corey's evasive behavior and begin questioning her authenticity. The online community, galvanized by local friends like Jess and Eris, starts scrutinizing Corey's background, uncovering a felony from six years prior for credit card misuse in Wisconsin:

"Her criminal records will pop up online and it said she had used credit cards at different places." ([21:31])

Despite this discovery, online sleuths recognize that a non-violent felony doesn't directly implicate Corey in Talina's disappearance. They continue to build a profile, uncovering Corey's use of multiple aliases and her extensive travel history across four states.

eBay Findings and Evidence Collection

A breakthrough occurs when Nicole, a friend in Tennessee, observes Corey selling Talina's personal belongings on eBay, including deeply personal items like Talina's wedding ring and her deceased husband's military medals. This leads to a strategic intervention:

"Armed with this evidence, Nicole contacts the cops." ([25:24])

Nicole orchestrates a plan where her cousin bids on these items, resulting in Corey shipping Talina's possessions to her. This direct evidence significantly strengthens the case against Corey, prompting both Nicole and Jess to report their findings to law enforcement.

Police Involvement and Corey’s Interrogation

Detective Joel Weber investigates Corey's property, noting peculiar items like a map marking missing persons in national forests. During an intensive two-hour interview, Corey appears defensive and evasive, admitting to her past felony as a misunderstanding but dismissing the significance of selling Talina's items. She offers to cooperate fully, including taking a polygraph test:

"Rachel: So let's whatever we have to do to get to that point." ([42:25])

Detective Weber expresses frustration over Corey’s uncooperative demeanor and the relentless speculation from online communities, emphasizing the need for concrete evidence over rampant theories:

"Rachel: So I said, prove me wrong. Have your crime junkies find her. Prove me wrong." ([40:12])

Despite Corey's assurances, her inconsistent explanations and the coincidental sale of Talina’s belongings keep suspicions alive.

Impact on the Community and Next Steps

The ongoing investigation takes an emotional toll on the amateur investigators. Jess confesses the strain of lying to friends and feeling overwhelmed by the complexities of the case:

"Jess: I lied to a lot of people. A lot. Friends of Talina's, friends of Marty's. Sometimes I felt like I was in over my head." ([42:43])

As the community grapples with conflicting information and Corey's seemingly hidden motives, the mystery of Talina Zar's disappearance remains unresolved. The episode concludes with hints that new evidence has emerged, challenging the established timeline and suggesting deeper layers to the case.

Conclusion and Teaser for Next Episode

Melissa Jeltson wraps up the episode by noting the increasing pressure on both the community and law enforcement as more details surface, promising listeners further revelations in the subsequent episode:

"Next episode on What Happened to Talina Zar? The amateur investigators' investigation starts to take its toll on Jess." ([42:43])

Notable Quotes

• Greg Thompson ([02:58]):

  "Corey butchered that thing. And I'm like, what?"

• Eris ([07:16]):

  "Talena had already prepaid for these items, and I didn't want to keep that, even though she was missing at this point."

• Rachel ([25:24]):

  "Nicole's cousin wins the bid. Corey packs up the wedding ring and some of Tom's military medals and ships it off."

• Rachel ([42:43]):

  "I lied to a lot of people. A lot. Friends of Talina's, friends of Marty's."

Key Takeaways

• Corey's suspicious actions, including the handling and sale of Talina's personal belongings, have raised significant doubts about her role in Talina's disappearance.

• The collective efforts of Talina's friends and online sleuths have unearthed critical evidence, pushing law enforcement to scrutinize Corey's behavior more closely.

• Personal testimonies reveal the emotional and psychological strains placed on the community battling to uncover the truth behind Talina's mysterious vanishing.

Looking Forward

As the investigation unfolds, listeners can anticipate uncovering more about the discrepancies in the timeline of Talina's disappearance and the deepening complexities surrounding Corey Bommily's involvement in the next episode.

Credits

What Happened to Talina Zar is brought to you by iHeartPodcasts, with writing and reporting by Melissa Jeltson, story editing by Lauren Hanson, and executive production by Ryan Murdoch. Special thanks to contributors and voice actors who bring this chilling mystery to life.