A body matching the clothing description of Elena Katherine Moore, a 39-year-old woman who vanished from Lexington, South Carolina, over a week ago, has been discovered in a wooded area where authorities believe she was last seen alive.
The discovery marks a significant development in a case that has gripped the community since Moore disappeared on June 11.
The body was located in the area of Old Cherokee Road and Northlake Drive after law enforcement received a citizen tip that led investigators to conduct a targeted search.
Lexington Police Chief Terrence Green confirmed that officers found the unidentified body at approximately 2:48 p.m. on June 17. The woman located was wearing a green outfit consistent with what Moore was last seen wearing in surveillance footage from the night before her disappearance.
“We found an unidentified body that fits the clothing description of our missing person,” Green said during a press conference. “We are still waiting on the coroner to identify her.”
Last Moments Before Disappearance
Moore was last seen leaving Planet Fitness at 560 Whiteford Way on Thursday evening, June 11, around 6:40 p.m. Surveillance footage captured her walking toward a wooded area behind a nearby Lowe’s Home Improvement store.
She was dressed in an olive green zip-up hoodie and black athletic pants. On Friday, June 12, someone who knew Moore reported her missing after realizing no one had made contact with her.
Additional surveillance footage recovered during the investigation placed Moore at a Publix grocery store parking lot at 9:17 p.m. the night she disappeared.
A private investigator working the case noted that this footage helped establish the direction Moore was traveling, but did not provide a complete picture of her movements that evening.
According to authorities, Moore’s vehicle remained with her husband throughout the evening. Moore’s husband had been distraught over her disappearance, and authorities described her as a well-liked individual who had no known conflicts with others.
Investigation Continues
Coroner Margaret Fisher confirmed that the body discovered matches the clothing description of Moore, but emphasized that identification has not yet been made.
An autopsy has been scheduled, though the coroner indicated that the identification process could take time. The Lexington County Coroner’s Office stated that no cause of death has been determined at this time.
The South Carolina Law Enforcement Division, which serves as the state’s major crimes unit, officially joined the investigation following the discovery.
The case has been classified as an active death investigation, and authorities are working to determine the circumstances surrounding the death.
When asked whether foul play was suspected, police stated that the matter remained an active investigation and declined to comment further.
The Lexington Police Department continues to request information from the community. Anyone with knowledge relevant to the case is encouraged to contact the police at (803) 358-7271 or email asantoro@lexsc.gov.
The discovery of the body answers some questions about Moore’s fate but leaves many details still to be determined. The investigation remains ongoing as authorities work to confirm the identity and establish how Moore died.