Body found in Lexington matches description of missing woman, police say

LEXINGTON, S.C. (WIS) - Authorities with the Lexington Police Department (LPD) confirmed Wednesday evening that a body was found during the search for a missing woman.

Lexington Police Chief Terrence Green said the body was found at 2.48 p.m. and matches the clothing description of 39-year-old Elena Katherine Moore.

Green also confirmed the Lexington County Coroner is working to confirm the identity of the body.

The South Carolina Law Enforcement Division (SLED) announced that LPD and the Lexington County Sheriff’s Department have requested a death investigation.

Moore, of Lexington, was last seen on June 11. She was reported missing the following day.

PRIOR COVERAGE

Moore is described as being 5′7″ and 120 pounds with brown hair and brown eyes.

Police said Moore reportedly frequents the Planet Fitness at 560 Whiteford Way; the investigation revealed that she signed in at that location on June 11 at 6:40 p.m.

She was reportedly last seen walking away from that Planet Fitness, toward the wooded area behind Lowe’s Home Improvement. She was wearing an olive green zip-up hoodie with black athletic pants.

A photo appearing to show Moore at the Planet Fitness was later released by police.

MONDAY’S SEARCH

WIS was at a scene behind the Lowe’s Home Improvement on Monday as a large presence of first responders gathered in the area.

Lexington police later said that this was “not a recovery operation, but rather a precise effort to rule out one less place Ms. Moore could be.” No trace of Moore was found in the area, according to police.

LPD Investigator Missy Silcox told WIS that Moore’s husband was the one who reported her missing. As of Monday evening, she added that police do not yet suspect foul play, nor do they believe Moore is in imminent danger.

Silcox also said police believe Moore did have a phone with her, but that it was not pinging on Monday.

TUESDAY UPDATE

Recently obtained camera footage from the Lexington Police Department shows Moore walking through the Publix parking lot, at 100 Old Cherokee Road, on Thursday, June 11th.

Camera footage captured her walking in the direction of Old Cherokee Road at 9:17 p.m., wearing the same olive-green zip-up hoodie with black athletic pants as reported from Planet Fitness.

Photos were also captured on a front-door camera a week before Elena was reported missing.

WEDNESDAY UPDATE

LPD told WIS around 1:30 p.m. on Wednesday that police are starting a multijurisdictional search for Elena in the area of Lakeside Middle School, 455 Old Cherokee Road.

Old Cherokee Road is closed between North Lake Drive and Berkshire Drive as of 3:40 pm. No traffic will be allowed.

Lexington Police Chief Terrence Green said the body was found at 2.48 p.m. and matches the clothing description of 39-year-old Elena Katherine Moore.

Green also confirmed the Lexington County Coroner is working to confirm the identity of the body.

HAVE INFO? HERE’S WHO TO CALL

Anyone with information regarding Moore is asked to call the Lexington Police Department at 803-358-7271.

Feel more informed, prepared, and connected with WIS. For more free content like this, subscribe to our email newsletter, and download our apps. Have feedback that can help us improve? Click here.