Officials Investigate Elena Moore Death After Body Found

Elena Katherine Moore was reported missing in June 2026 and found dead days later in a wooded area of Lexington County, where officials are investigating the circumstances of her death after preliminary autopsy findings found no clear cause.

According to Lexington police, Moore was last seen on June 11 after signing in at 6:40 p.m. at Planet Fitness at 560 Whiteford Way before walking toward a wooded area behind a nearby Lowe’s.

Surveillance footage reviewed by investigators showed the 39-year-old walking through the Publix parking lot at 100 Old Cherokee Road at 9:17 p.m. that night, according to Lexington police. She was wearing an olive-green zip-up hoodie and black athletic pants that matched clothing found on the body.

Police first reported Moore missing on June 12, describing her as 5-foot-7 and 120 pounds with brown hair and brown eyes. Her vehicle was never found, according to police information.

A tip on June 17 led officers to search a wooded area near Lakeside Middle School at 455 Old Cherokee Road, where a body matching Moore’s clothing description was discovered during a search that lasted from about 1:30 p.m. to 2:48 p.m., Lexington Police Chief Terrence Greene announced.

The Lexington County Coroner’s Office identified the body as Moore on the evening of June 19. The office scheduled an autopsy for 10 a.m. the following day at the Medical University of South Carolina in Charleston.

Preliminary autopsy findings released June 22 found no cause of death and no bruising, lacerations, gunshot wounds, stab wounds, blunt force trauma or signs of strangulation, according to the coroner’s office.

Officials later confirmed that Moore’s remains showed no evidence of traumatic injuries, leaving investigators without an explanation for how she died. The investigation remained active after the findings were released.