“Heartless”: Dateline NBC Reports on Talina Galloway Homicide October 9 2026

NBC’s Dateline returns on Friday, October 9, 2026, with “Heartless,” a two-hour investigation into the disappearance and murder of Talina Galloway, an Oklahoma woman whose disappearance during the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic developed into a homicide investigation involving her roommate, Kore Bommeli.

Correspondent Josh Mankiewicz examines a case that began with a missing-person report in Wagoner County, Oklahoma, in April 2020. Bommeli claimed Galloway had left their home after receiving a positive COVID-19 test and instructions to quarantine. Investigators discovered that key elements of her account were contradicted by medical records and information obtained during the search.

The investigation crossed state lines when Galloway’s remains were discovered in a wooded area near Mena, Arkansas, in January 2021. Authorities determined that her death was a homicide and charged Bommeli with first-degree murder and offences involving the handling of human remains.

The case took another turn when investigators uncovered Bommeli’s criminal history in Wisconsin, where she had been convicted of attempting to poison two neighbours with ricin. The discovery introduced a separate attempted-murder case into an investigation that had attracted widespread attention through social media and an online community known as “Talina’s Army.”

After more than five years of legal proceedings, Bommeli entered a no-contest plea in September 2026, days before her Oklahoma murder trial was due to begin. The agreement reduced the homicide charge to first-degree manslaughter and resulted in a combined 35-year Oklahoma prison sentence.

“Heartless” revisits the disappearance, the conflicting accounts, the discovery of Galloway’s remains, the criminal investigation and the legal resolution reached just weeks before the episode’s broadcast.

• Who Was Talina Galloway & What Happened to Her? 2026 Update & Profile
• Who Is Kore Bommeli & Where Is She Now? 2026 Update & Profile

Who Was Talina Galloway?

Talina Galloway was a resident of Wagoner County, Oklahoma, whose disappearance in April 2020 prompted a search involving law enforcement, friends, relatives and members of the public. She shared a home with Kore Bommeli, the woman who reported her missing and would become the principal suspect in her death.

Galloway’s case attracted attention during a period when the coronavirus pandemic had disrupted ordinary life across the United States. Restrictions, health concerns and uncertainty surrounding the virus formed the backdrop to the search, while investigators attempted to establish where Galloway had gone and whether she was in danger.

Friends and people close to Galloway provided information about her circumstances, relationships and last known movements. Their accounts became important as authorities examined the explanation Bommeli had given for her roommate’s absence.

The disappearance left those who knew Galloway without answers for months. What began as a search for a missing woman developed into a homicide investigation after human remains were found across the state line in Arkansas.

Talina Galloway Disappears in April 2020

On April 17, 2020, Kore Bommeli contacted authorities to report that her roommate, Talina Galloway, was missing. The report brought deputies from the Wagoner County Sheriff’s Office into the case and established Bommeli as a central source of information about Galloway’s whereabouts.

According to investigators, Bommeli claimed that Galloway had tested positive for COVID-19 and left their home after being instructed by a doctor to quarantine. The explanation appeared connected to the public health emergency affecting Oklahoma and much of the country.

The account presented investigators with questions about where Galloway had gone, who had seen her and whether she had sought medical treatment. Establishing her movements became a priority as the search progressed.

The pandemic explanation became one of the most significant aspects of the investigation. Authorities sought records and other evidence that could confirm whether Galloway had received a coronavirus diagnosis or instructions from a medical professional.

The COVID-19 Story That Raised Questions

Bommeli’s explanation depended on the claim that Galloway had received medical advice following a positive COVID-19 test. Investigators examined that account as they worked to establish a timeline of Galloway’s disappearance.

Authorities determined that Galloway had not been screened at a hospital and had no documented contact with the doctor identified in Bommeli’s account. Those findings contradicted the explanation given when she was reported missing.

The discrepancies prompted investigators to examine the circumstances surrounding Galloway’s disappearance with greater scrutiny. Rather than establishing a confirmed medical reason for her departure, the available records undermined the account supplied by her roommate.

The timing of the disappearance added another dimension to the case. During the early stages of the pandemic, information about testing, quarantine requirements and medical access was changing across the country. Investigators had to separate claims about Galloway’s health from evidence that could be verified.

The contradiction did not establish what had happened to Galloway, but it raised questions about the reliability of the information provided to police.

The Investigation in Wagoner County

The Wagoner County Sheriff’s Office took responsibility for investigating Galloway’s disappearance. Deputies gathered information from people who knew her, examined the circumstances of her absence and worked to establish whether she had left voluntarily or become the victim of a crime.

Lt. Danny Elliott and investigator Joel Weber became central figures in the case. Their work would continue through the discovery of Galloway’s remains, the criminal charges and the legal proceedings that followed.

Investigators faced the challenge of reconstructing events without the missing woman available to explain her movements. Witness accounts, records and physical evidence became essential to understanding what had occurred.

The investigation required cooperation between law enforcement agencies in Oklahoma and Arkansas after the case expanded beyond Wagoner County. Prosecutors would become involved as the evidence developed and the investigation shifted toward homicide.

Wagoner County Sheriff Chris Elliott praised the work of Danny Elliott and Joel Weber following the September 2026 resolution. He credited their determination and the cooperation between investigators and prosecutors with bringing the case to a conclusion.

How Talina’s Army Became Involved in the Search

As Galloway’s disappearance attracted public attention, a group of online investigators and concerned members of the public began following developments. The community became known as “Talina’s Army,” reflecting its members’ determination to seek answers about the missing Oklahoma woman.

The group used online platforms to discuss the case, examine available information and follow developments in the investigation. Its involvement became one of the distinctive features of the story, demonstrating how social media communities can become invested in unresolved disappearances.

Internet sleuth Jess Trevino is among the people interviewed by Josh Mankiewicz for “Heartless.” The programme examines the role played by people outside law enforcement who sought information about Galloway and followed the investigation.

The participation of online communities can create opportunities for information sharing, but it can introduce complications when theories and unverified claims circulate alongside established facts. The episode explores that tension through the experiences of people who followed the case.

The attention surrounding Galloway’s disappearance helped keep her name in public discussion during the months before her remains were discovered. The work of law enforcement, however, remained responsible for establishing the evidence needed for criminal charges.

The Discovery of Talina Galloway’s Remains in Arkansas

In January 2021, human remains were discovered in a wooded area near Mena, Arkansas, in Polk County. Authorities identified the remains as those of Talina Galloway, bringing the missing-person search to a tragic conclusion.

The location was across the state line from Galloway’s home in Oklahoma. The discovery introduced questions about how her body had reached Arkansas and what had occurred between her disappearance and the recovery of her remains.

The medical examiner determined that Galloway’s death was a homicide. That finding changed the legal status of the investigation and supported the pursuit of criminal charges against the person investigators believed was responsible.

Authorities also investigated the handling of Galloway’s remains. Bommeli was accused of dismembering her roommate’s body, and prosecutors pursued a charge of desecration of a human corpse in connection with the case.

The recovery of the remains provided evidence that Galloway had died, but it did not bring an immediate resolution to the investigation. Authorities continued assembling the case that would be presented in court.

Kore Bommeli Becomes the Focus of the Murder Investigation

Kore Bommeli had been the person who reported Galloway missing in April 2020. Her account of the disappearance became a significant focus after investigators found that the medical explanation she provided could not be supported by the records they examined.

Following the discovery of Galloway’s remains in January 2021, authorities arrested Bommeli and charged her with first-degree murder and desecration of a human corpse. The charges reflected the prosecution’s allegation that she was responsible for Galloway’s death and the treatment of her body.

The case developed over several years as prosecutors prepared to bring Bommeli to trial. The charges were serious, and the potential consequences included a lengthy prison sentence if a jury convicted her.

Bommeli contested the allegations. Her defence maintained that she was not responsible for Galloway’s death, a position that remained part of the case even after the plea agreement reached in September 2026.

The investigation also uncovered details of Bommeli’s past that introduced another criminal case into the proceedings.

Kore Bommeli’s Criminal History in Wisconsin

During the investigation into Galloway’s death, authorities uncovered Bommeli’s connection to an attempted poisoning case in Wisconsin. The separate case involved allegations that she had tried to kill two neighbours using ricin, a highly toxic substance.

The Wisconsin prosecution concerned events in 2014. Bommeli was convicted of two counts of attempted first-degree intentional homicide in connection with the alleged poisoning plot.

The case resulted in a 35-year prison sentence in Wisconsin. That sentence became significant when Oklahoma prosecutors reached their own agreement with Bommeli in September 2026.

The Wisconsin convictions were separate from the charges arising from Galloway’s death. They did not establish how Galloway died, but they formed part of Bommeli’s criminal history and influenced the practical consequences of the Oklahoma sentence.

The discovery of the earlier attempted-murder case attracted attention because of the contrast between Bommeli’s role as the person who reported Galloway missing and her history of serious violent crime.

The Ricin Poisoning Case Explained

Ricin is a poison derived from castor beans. Exposure can cause severe illness or death, depending on the amount involved and the route of exposure. Its use in a poisoning plot can result in charges involving attempted homicide.

The Wisconsin case centred on allegations that Bommeli had attempted to poison a couple who lived near her. Prosecutors pursued two counts of attempted first-degree intentional homicide, and the proceedings resulted in convictions.

The case was distinct from the death of Talina Galloway. The available reporting on Galloway’s homicide does not establish that ricin was used to kill her, and the Oklahoma prosecution concerned a separate set of events.

The earlier convictions became relevant to Bommeli’s custody status and sentencing arrangements. By the time her Oklahoma case reached its conclusion, she was subject to a substantial prison sentence in Wisconsin.

The existence of the Wisconsin sentence influenced how the Oklahoma penalties were structured, including which terms would run at the same time and which would be served in sequence.

The Long Road to an Oklahoma Murder Trial

Bommeli’s arrest in January 2021 began a legal process that continued for more than five years. Prosecutors pursued charges arising from Galloway’s death while the defence prepared to challenge the state’s case.

The proceedings involved questions about the evidence collected during the investigation, the charges that could be sustained and the potential consequences of a conviction. The case remained unresolved through multiple years of court proceedings.

By September 2026, a trial had been scheduled in Wagoner County. Bommeli faced a first-degree murder charge, along with offences involving Galloway’s remains and possession of a firearm after a felony conviction.

The prospect of trial meant witnesses could be called to testify about the disappearance, the investigation and the evidence linking Bommeli to Galloway’s death. Prosecutors and defence attorneys were preparing to present competing accounts to a jury.

The trial did not proceed. A plea agreement was reached shortly before the scheduled proceedings, changing the legal outcome of the case.

The September 2026 Plea Agreement

In early September 2026, Bommeli entered a no-contest plea to three charges connected to Galloway’s death. The agreement resolved the Oklahoma case without a jury trial.

The most significant change involved the homicide charge. Prosecutors amended the original first-degree murder count to first-degree manslaughter, a lesser offence carrying a different sentencing framework.

Bommeli entered no-contest pleas to first-degree manslaughter, desecration of a human corpse and possession of a firearm after a former felony conviction. Eleven other counts were dismissed under the agreement.

A no-contest plea, known in legal terminology as nolo contendere, allows a defendant to accept a criminal judgment without making the same formal admission of guilt required by a guilty plea. The court can impose a sentence based on the plea.

Bommeli’s attorneys maintained that she denied responsibility for Galloway’s death. Defence co-counsel Bryan Cannonie told NBC affiliate KJRH that his client remained steadfast in her claim that she had not committed the killing.

The plea brought the prosecution to a conclusion while leaving a distinction between the criminal judgment and Bommeli’s stated position concerning the events.

Why Prosecutors Accepted the Plea Deal

District Attorney Jack Thorp explained that prosecutors had consulted Galloway’s family before offering the agreement. According to his comments to KJRH, the family supported a resolution that would bring the case to an end.

The decision came after years of investigation and legal proceedings. A jury trial would have required witnesses to testify and the prosecution to prove the charges beyond a reasonable doubt.

The plea secured convictions on the manslaughter, corpse desecration and firearm charges without the uncertainty of a trial verdict. It also ensured that Bommeli would receive a substantial sentence connected to Galloway’s death.

Thorp said the family wanted the case to reach a conclusion. The agreement reflected that objective while establishing penalties that would interact with Bommeli’s existing Wisconsin sentence.

The prosecution’s decision did not mean that investigators withdrew their belief that Bommeli was responsible for Galloway’s death. It meant the criminal case was resolved through a negotiated disposition rather than a jury verdict on the original murder charge.

Kore Bommeli’s 35-Year Oklahoma Prison Sentence

The September 2026 agreement resulted in a combined 35-year Oklahoma prison sentence. The penalties were divided among the three counts to which Bommeli pleaded no contest.

For first-degree manslaughter, she received 28 years in prison. The sentence included credit for time served and earned since February 3, 2021, and was ordered to run concurrently with her Wisconsin sentence.

For desecration of a human corpse, Bommeli received seven years. That term was ordered to run consecutively, meaning it would be served in addition to the relevant concurrent sentence.

The firearm conviction resulted in a five-year sentence, ordered to run concurrently with the other counts rather than adding another five years to the total.

The Oklahoma sentences amounted to 35 years, with the concurrent and consecutive provisions determining how the terms would be served alongside her existing Wisconsin imprisonment.

The state of Oklahoma indicated that Bommeli would serve her sentence in Wisconsin. The arrangement reflected the fact that she was subject to criminal judgments in two states.

Where Is Kore Bommeli Now?

As of October 2026, Kore Bommeli is serving a prison sentence connected to her Wisconsin attempted-murder convictions and the September 2026 Oklahoma plea agreement. Oklahoma authorities stated that she would serve the sentence in Wisconsin.

Her Oklahoma judgment includes 28 years for first-degree manslaughter, seven years for desecration of a human corpse and five years for unlawful firearm possession after a felony conviction. The sentences are structured to produce a combined 35-year Oklahoma term.

Bommeli’s Wisconsin sentence also totals 35 years for attempted murder in the separate poisoning case. The concurrency and consecutive sentencing provisions mean that the two states’ penalties cannot be understood as a simple addition of two 35-year terms.

Her precise release eligibility and projected release date have not been established in the available reporting. Those details depend on correctional calculations, credit for time served and the applicable sentencing rules.

The September 2026 plea resolved the pending Oklahoma prosecution. No jury verdict was returned on the original first-degree murder charge because the charge was amended and the case ended through the plea agreement.

The Investigators Who Pursued the Case

Lt. Danny Elliott and investigator Joel Weber of the Wagoner County Sheriff’s Office played central roles in the investigation into Galloway’s disappearance and death. Their work continued from the initial missing-person report through the discovery of her remains and the prosecution of Bommeli.

The investigation required authorities to examine conflicting statements, obtain records and coordinate with agencies outside Oklahoma. The discovery of Galloway’s remains in Arkansas introduced another jurisdiction into the case.

Sheriff Chris Elliott praised the investigators following the September 2026 resolution. He described their dedication to pursuing the truth and credited the cooperation between the sheriff’s office and District Attorney Jack Thorp’s office.

The sheriff emphasised that a criminal investigation depends on both the collection of evidence and the preparation of a case that prosecutors can bring before a court.

Their work formed the foundation of the charges filed against Bommeli and the prosecution that resulted in her plea and sentence.

The Witnesses and Interviews Featured in Dateline Heartless

Josh Mankiewicz’s investigation includes interviews with people connected to Galloway, the search and the criminal proceedings. The programme brings together accounts from friends, investigators, lawyers and members of the online community that followed the disappearance.

Among those interviewed is Kore Bommeli, whose account of Galloway’s disappearance became central to the investigation. Friends Kim Littlefield, Greg Thompson and Rachael Parker-Hall provide perspectives on Galloway and the events surrounding the case.

Internet sleuth Jess Trevino discusses the involvement of online investigators and the community known as Talina’s Army. The episode examines how public attention developed and how people outside law enforcement became involved in following the mystery.

Law enforcement interviews include Lt. Danny Elliott and investigator Joel Weber of the Wagoner County Sheriff’s Office. District Attorney Jack Thorp discusses the prosecution, while defence attorneys Rachel Dallis and Ryan Cannonie provide perspectives on Bommeli’s case.

Shari and Mike Zigler and witness Janalyn Philpott-Aulds also appear in the programme. Their accounts contribute to the examination of the disappearance, the investigation and the events that led to the court proceedings.

The Impact of the Case on Talina Galloway’s Family and Friends

Galloway’s disappearance left her family and friends searching for answers during a period of uncertainty. The initial explanation involving COVID-19 raised questions about her movements, while the absence of confirmed information made it difficult to establish what had happened.

The discovery of her remains in January 2021 ended the search for her whereabouts but began another stage of the case. The homicide ruling and criminal charges meant those close to Galloway faced years of court proceedings before a resolution was reached.

The September 2026 plea agreement provided a conclusion to the Oklahoma prosecution without requiring a full murder trial. Prosecutors said they consulted the family before reaching the agreement and that the family supported bringing the case to an end.

The outcome carried significance for those who had followed the case since 2020. The criminal judgment established a manslaughter conviction and penalties for the treatment of Galloway’s remains, while Bommeli maintained her denial of responsibility.

The case remains a story of loss for the people who knew Galloway. The legal proceedings addressed criminal responsibility, but the sentence could not reverse the events that led to her death.

What Makes the Dateline Heartless Case Distinctive?

The investigation into Talina Galloway’s death involved several circumstances that attracted public attention. The disappearance occurred during the early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic, and the explanation given by her roommate relied on claims about testing and quarantine.

The case also developed across state lines when Galloway’s remains were discovered in Arkansas. Investigators had to examine how her body reached the wooded area near Mena and what evidence connected the discovery to events in Oklahoma.

Bommeli’s criminal history introduced a separate attempted-murder case involving ricin poisoning in Wisconsin. The convictions affected her custody status and became important when the Oklahoma court imposed its sentence.

The involvement of Talina’s Army added another dimension. The group reflected the growing role of online communities in missing-person investigations and the public interest surrounding cases that remain unresolved for extended periods.

The legal outcome also distinguishes the case. After more than five years of proceedings, the first-degree murder prosecution ended with a no-contest plea to manslaughter, rather than a jury verdict on the original charge.

When and Where to Watch Dateline NBC Heartless

“Dateline NBC: Heartless” airs Friday, October 9, 2026, at 9 p.m. Eastern and 8 p.m. Central on NBC. The two-hour episode is reported by Josh Mankiewicz and examines the disappearance of Talina Galloway, the investigation into her death and the criminal case against Kore Bommeli.

The programme includes interviews with people who knew Galloway, law enforcement officers involved in the investigation, prosecutors, defence attorneys and members of the online community that followed the case.

Viewers can watch the episode through NBC’s scheduled television broadcast. Streaming availability can be checked through Peacock following the broadcast, subject to the platform’s release schedule and regional access.

The episode arrives one month after Bommeli’s September 2026 plea and sentencing, giving the programme a recent legal outcome to examine alongside the events of 2020 and 2021.

The Outcome of the Talina Galloway Case

The disappearance of Talina Galloway in April 2020 developed into a homicide investigation after her remains were found in Arkansas in January 2021. Her roommate, Kore Bommeli, was charged with first-degree murder and offences involving the handling of her body.

The investigation uncovered contradictions in the account Bommeli gave when reporting Galloway missing. Authorities also identified her prior attempted-murder convictions in Wisconsin, where she had received a 35-year prison sentence in a separate poisoning case.

In September 2026, Bommeli entered no-contest pleas to first-degree manslaughter, desecration of a human corpse and possession of a firearm after a felony conviction. The original murder charge was reduced, eleven other counts were dismissed, and the Oklahoma court imposed a combined 35-year sentence.

The plea brought the criminal case to a conclusion without a jury trial. Bommeli continued to deny responsibility for Galloway’s death, while prosecutors and investigators maintained that the evidence supported the case against her.

For Galloway’s family, friends and the people who followed the investigation, the resolution marked the end of a legal process that had continued for more than five years.

NBC’s “Heartless” examines how a missing-person report during a public health emergency became a homicide investigation involving two states, a roommate with a history of attempted murder and an online community determined to find answers.

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