"Elaine didn't say that lessee believes the lease is in force."
Elaine didn't say a lot of things. Therein lies the problem. You're good though at taking sparse facts and turning them into something. I'm sure that Jon in Michigan appreciated the lesson on Race states, but only one company had contacted him, so none of that was applicable to his question. He just wanted to know if he could get out of his lease.
The final and best advice was for him to see an attorney. The final and best advice here is for someone to check the records for Elaine, and find out what is going on. Someone who actually knows what they are talking about.