Elena Moore update: Body found in wooded area searching for missing Lexington woman; authorities provide update
A body was found during the search Elena Katherine MooreA woman was reported missing after leaving a gym last week Lexington, south carolina. The 39-year-old woman is described as a white female with brown hair and brown eyes. Police said she is 5 feet 7 inches tall and weighs 120 pounds, NBC News reported.
The South Carolina Law Enforcement Division (SLED), the state’s major crime unit, joined an investigation in South Carolina on Wednesday, June 17, after authorities said they found a body in the woods where Moore was last seen a week ago. The Lexington Police Department (LPD) said the body “fits our missing person’s clothing description,” but has not yet formally identified it.
The case is listed as an active death investigation. SLED is currently assisting in determining the cause of death and confirming the identity, Fox News reported.
LPD Chief Terrence Green said authorities discovered the body after receiving a tip from a citizen, which led investigators to conduct a targeted search.
“At approximately 2:48 p.m., we discovered an unidentified body matching the clothing description of a missing person. We are still waiting for the coroner to confirm her identity,” Green said.
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The woman whose body was found was reportedly wearing “similar green clothing” to what Moore was last seen on surveillance footage the night before she disappeared. The coroner has not yet formally identified the body. The Lexington County Coroner’s Office said an autopsy will be scheduled, but the process may take some time.
“Regarding the body found in the area of Old Cherokee Road and North Lake Avenue in Lexington, Coroner Margaret Fisher can confirm that the body of a female matching the clothing description of the missing person, Elena K. Moore, has been recovered,” the office said in a statement.
The statement added: “As of this time, no positive identification has been made. We will await positive identification before releasing any further information. The cause of death has not yet been determined.”
When asked if foul play was suspected, police said: “This is an active investigation and we are having SLED look into that.”
Elena Moore is missing
Moore was last seen on Thursday, June 11, at 560 Whiteford Way. Lexington police said she was seen walking toward a wooded area behind the Lowe’s Home Improvement store. She was last seen wearing an olive green zip-up hoodie and black sweatpants.
Moore was reported missing on Friday, June 12, and told police she frequented Planet Fitness. “Further investigation revealed that she checked in at the location at approximately 6:40pm on Thursday 11 June 2026,” police said. “There have been no reports of further contact with the missing woman.”
Surveillance video shows Moore in a Publix grocery store parking lot around 9:17 p.m. the night she disappeared.
Anyone with information on Moore’s whereabouts is asked to call Lexington police (803) 358-7271 or write to asantoro@lexsc.gov.
