NBC’s long-running true-crime newsmagazine Dateline revisits the harrowing 2020 disappearance and murder of 53-year-old Talina Galloway in an episode titled “Heartless.” Hosted by correspondent Josh Mankiewicz, the broadcast explores how a missing-person report filed during the early weeks of the COVID-19 pandemic unraveled into a complex homicide investigation spanning multiple states and involving Galloway’s roommate, Kore Bommeli.
The Disappearance of Talina Galloway in Wagoner, Oklahoma
Talina Galloway, also known as Talina Zar, lived in Wagoner, Oklahoma, following the 2017 passing of her husband, Alfred “Tom Zarius” Galloway. A former Microsoft employee who worked remotely during the pandemic, Talina shared her home with Kore Bommeli, also known as Kore Adams. On April 17, 2020, Bommeli contacted the Wagoner County Sheriff’s Office to report that Talina was missing.
According to Bommeli, Talina had left their residence after posting on Facebook that she had contracted COVID-19 and was afraid of being intubated. Bommeli claimed her roommate went to quarantine near a lake, taking two guns, her phone, medications, and a bottle of alcohol with her. However, friends and family quickly grew suspicious, noting that the social media post did not sound like Talina and that she had left behind crucial personal belongings, including her keys, wallet, and clothes.
How Investigators Disproved the COVID-19 Quarantine Claim
Wagoner County investigators, including Lt. Danny Elliott and investigator Joel Weber, immediately scrutinized Bommeli’s narrative. Authorities checked local medical facilities and discovered that Talina had never been tested for COVID-19 at Wagoner Community Hospital, nor had she communicated with her personal doctor about a diagnosis or quarantine instructions.
As the investigation deepened, forensic tests on the home revealed that large areas of the bedroom and garage had been scrubbed clean with chemical reagents. Investigators also found scraps of a burnt mattress in the backyard, which they believed had been destroyed days before the missing-person report was filed. Evidence indicated that Talina’s credit card had allegedly been used to pay one of Bommeli’s attorneys, and a kitchen freezer and utility trailer had vanished from the property.
The Discovery of Remains and Connection to a Wisconsin Case
The case shifted from a missing-person inquiry to a homicide investigation in January 2021. A woman in Polk County, Arkansas, reported a foul odor emanating from the woods near Mena, where authorities discovered a white freezer containing human remains. The medical examiner positively identified the remains as Talina Galloway and ruled her death a homicide, determining she had suffered severe blunt force trauma before her body was dismembered and transported across state lines.
During the ongoing investigation, authorities uncovered Bommeli’s violent criminal history. In 2014, Bommeli had attempted to poison her neighbors with homemade ricin in Dane County, Wisconsin. She was subsequently convicted of two counts of attempted first-degree intentional homicide and sentenced to 35 years in prison in Wisconsin.
The Legal Resolution and 35-Year Prison Sentence
Kore Bommeli was arrested and charged with first-degree murder and desecration of a human corpse in connection with Talina’s death. After more than five years of legal proceedings, the case was on the verge of going to trial in Wagoner County in September 2026. Instead, a last-minute plea agreement was reached.
Bommeli entered a no-contest plea to amended charges of first-degree manslaughter, desecration of a human corpse, and possession of a firearm after a former felony conviction. While her defense attorney, Bryan Cannonie, emphasized in statements to NBC affiliate KJRH that Bommeli maintained her innocence regarding the killing, District Attorney Jack Thorp noted that Talina’s family supported the plea deal to bring closure to the prolonged legal battle.
Bommeli received a combined 35-year Oklahoma prison sentence: 28 years for manslaughter served concurrently with her Wisconsin sentence, five years concurrently for the weapons charge, and seven years consecutively for the desecration of a human corpse. She remains incarcerated to serve her time behind bars.
Frequently Asked Questions About the Talina Galloway Case
When did Talina Galloway go missing?
Talina Galloway was reported missing by her roommate, Kore Bommeli, on April 17, 2020, from her home in Wagoner, Oklahoma.
When and where were Talina Galloway’s remains found?
Her remains were discovered on January 14, 2021, inside a freezer located in a wooded area near Mena, Polk County, Arkansas.
Who was convicted in connection with her death?
Her roommate, Kore Bommeli (also known as Kore Adams), was convicted after entering a no-contest plea to first-degree manslaughter, desecration of a human corpse, and possession of a firearm after a felony conviction.
What sentence did Kore Bommeli receive?
Bommeli received a combined 35-year prison sentence in Oklahoma, structured to run alongside her existing 35-year sentence for an attempted poisoning conviction in Wisconsin.
What was the premise of Bommeli’s initial alibi?
Bommeli claimed Talina left home to quarantine after testing positive for COVID-19, a claim that investigators entirely disproved through medical records and hospital checks.
Which Dateline episode covers this case?
NBC’s Dateline featured the investigation in the episode titled “Heartless,” hosted by Josh Mankiewicz.
