Coroner Reveals Elena Moore Death Cause in Lexington Case

Lexington County Coroner Margaret Fisher announced October 9 that Elena Moore, a 39-year-old woman found dead in Lexington on June 17, died from complications related to a heart condition diagnosed when she was 14, according to the coroner's office.

Fisher said Moore died the same day she was discharged from a mental health facility after a five-day involuntary commitment. Medical records cited by Fisher listed diagnoses including unspecified psychosis with paranoia and delusions, ADHD, a mood disorder, alcoholism, and cannabis use disorder.

Fisher said Moore's heart medication was documented as being administered at least once during treatment, but none was found in her system after her death. She linked the case to concerns about mental health care responses in Lexington County.

"This is mental illness. Her heart condition, she probably could have lived through it with her medication, she was in a full mental health crisis and so many people missed it," said Margaret Fisher, Lexington County Coroner.

Fisher said Moore's husband, Brandon Slice, attempted to help her access support and was never considered a person of interest or suspect. She also criticized the handling of Moore's release from a mental health facility.

"The only person who really tried to help this girl, get her help through the system, is her husband. " said Margaret Fisher, Lexington County Coroner.

"So many people saw her in crisis but did not call," said Margaret Fisher, Lexington County Coroner.

Fisher said Moore had been taken to Lexington Medical Center on June 5 after emergency medical services found her in a mentally disturbed state. She said Moore was discharged five days after being involuntarily committed by emergency room doctors.

"You don't recover from the mental health crisis that she's going through overnight. But yet, five days later, they let her go," said Margaret Fisher, Lexington County Coroner.

Fisher said she believed Moore was released too early and that the facility should have recognized the severity of her condition. Moore left in a taxi after discharge despite her husband offering to pick her up.

"Somebody should have recognized that she was in a mental crisis, and she was in a facility that is trained to do that. How did you let her go?" said Margaret Fisher, Lexington County Coroner.

Fisher said Moore later stopped at a CVS on Sunset Boulevard, where she previously worked, and reported concerns about the taxi driver. The coroner said Moore left the store with four bottles of wine and a water bottle.

"To all the online investigators, you don't know what you don't know, and you're never going to know unless the family chooses to release that information," said Margaret Fisher, Lexington County Coroner.

"You don't have a right to know." said Margaret Fisher, Lexington County Coroner.

Fisher said the case drew widespread attention because of Moore's public profile and circumstances surrounding her disappearance. She emphasized that the investigation found no evidence of traumatic injury.

"This case would not have garnered the attention that it got had Elena not been this beautiful 8,000 follower bodybuilder who just happened to be married to an ex-cop," said Margaret Fisher, Lexington County Coroner.

The Lexington County Coroner's Office said an autopsy conducted June 20 found no bruising, lacerations, gunshot wounds, stab wounds, blunt force trauma, strangulation, or other external injuries. Police found Moore's body in a wooded area near Lakeside Middle School after beginning a search on June 17.

Michelle Jeanis, a criminal justice professor and researcher, discussed challenges in missing adult cases and the lack of standardized procedures across jurisdictions.

"A lot of people say, well it's not illegal to disappear from your life," said Michelle Jeanis, criminal justice professor and researcher.