Law enforcement found a body matching the clothing description of Elena Katherine Moore on Wednesday, June 17. Moore was reported missing on Friday, June 12; she was last seen on Thursday, June 11, according to police. 

Lexington County Coroner Margaret Fisher confirmed on June 19 that the body discovered is Moore's.

Police have not confirmed if foul play was involved, and the cause of death has not yet been determined.

The case is now being handled by the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division. 

Here is a timeline of developments in the case: 

Thursday, June 11, 6:40 p.m.

Moore signed into Planet Fitness (560 Whiteford Way), according to information provided by police on June 15. 

Thursday, June 11, sometime between 6:40 and 9:17 p.m.

Moore is last seen walking away from Planet Fitness toward the wooded area behind Lowe’s Home Improvement Store (5412 Sunset Blvd.), wearing an olive-green zip-up hoodie with black athletic pants, according to information provided by police on June 15.

Thursday, June 11, 9:17 p.m. 

Camera footage captures Moore walking through the Publix parking lot at 100 Old Cherokee Rd. wearing the same olive-green zip-up hoodie with black athletic pants as reported from Planet Fitness, according to information provided by the Lexington Police Department the evening of Tuesday, June 16. 

Friday, June 12, unspecified time 

Moore’s husband reports her missing, according to police.

Friday, June 12, afternoon

Lexington Police Department alerts the public and the media of a missing person, Elena Katherine Moore, 39, last seen on Thursday, June 11, at 5608 Sunset Blvd. in Lexington (CVS). Information about her hair, eyes, height and weight are also provided. The public is provided a detective’s phone number to call if one has information on Moore’s whereabouts. A photo Moore had taken of herself is provided.

Monday, June 15, morning

Lexington Police Department alerts the public and the media that Moore is still missing and provides a photo of her at Planet Fitness (police now say she was last seen, not at CVS, but walking away from Planet Fitness). The following information was also shared along with the surveillance photo inside Planet Fitness: 

• “According to the complainant, Ms. Moore frequently visits Planet Fitness at 560 Whiteford Way. Further investigation revealed that she had signed in at that location on Thursday, June 11, 2026, at approximately 6:40 p.m.”
• Moore was last seen walking away from Planet Fitness toward the wooded area behind Lowe’s Home Improvement Store (5412 Sunset Blvd.), wearing an olive-green zip-up hoodie with black athletic pants
• “Officers deployed and circulated a drone in that region with negative results.”
• “There is no known vehicle in her possession, and it is unknown if she has her cellular telephone.”
• “Information that Ms. Moore had been located was reported earlier. Unfortunately, these were false reports and the Lexington Police Department apologizes for any confusion this may have caused.”

Monday, June 15, afternoon 

The Lexington Police Department tells the media and the public that the department, as well as the Lexington County Sheriff’s Department and Lexington County Fire Services, are searching areas behind Planet Fitness and Lowe’s Home Improvement, along Caughman Farm Lane, adding, “This is a precautionary measure at this time,” according to a Facebook post from the department. 

Monday, June 15, evening

The Lexington Police Department tells the media and the public that a “preliminary check” of the woods behind Lowe’s Home Improvement Store was done, and that the “detailed search” for Moore in the wooded areas along Caughman Farm Lane, behind the Lowe's Home Improvement store and Planet Fitness gym earlier that day was "not a recovery operation, but rather a precise effort to rule out one less place Ms. Moore could be." The public is provided with ways to provide tips to Midlands Crimestoppers.

Tuesday, June 16, afternoon 

LPD Inspector Missy Silcox confirms that it is possible Moore had a cell phone with her at the time of her disappearance. "In the initial reports, it was unclear whether Ms. Moore had a cell phone," Silcox told the Chronicle Tuesday afternoon. "Through investigations, it appears that she did. We are unsure if she still has the cell phone. The appropriate procedures are being done to gain locations/traces on it; however, cellular services often take time to respond to search warrants." Silcox also confirms that Moore’s husband is the complainant on the missing person report filed on June 12.

Tuesday, June 16, evening

The Lexington Police Department releases that camera footage captured Moore walking through the Publix parking lot at 100 Old Cherokee Rd. at 9:17 p.m. on Thursday, June 11, now deeming that her last known whereabouts. She was wearing the same olive-green zip-up hoodie with black athletic pants as reported from Planet Fitness. The department also releases additional photos of Moore captured via a front door camera a week before she was reported missing to “increase the likelihood that someone realizes or remembers they encountered Elena in the past few days.”

Wednesday, June 17, morning

Lexington Police Department is provided a tip saying Moore was last seen in the area of North Lake Drive and Old Cherokee Road on June 11 between 4 p.m. and 6 p.m., according to information provided to the Chronicle on June 22.

Wednesday, June 17, approximately 1:30 p.m. 

The Lexington Police Department tells the media and the public it will begin searching wooded areas in the vicinity of 455 Old Cherokee Rd. (Lakeside Middle School).

Wednesday, June 17, approximately 2:48 p.m.

Law enforcement discover a body matching Moore's clothing description, according to information provided at a press conference later that day.

Wednesday, June 17, afternoon

Lexington Police Department tells the media and the public that Old Cherokee Road is completely closed between North Lake Drive and Berkshire Drive.

Wednesday, June 17, approximately 6:30 p.m. 

Lexington Police Department Chief Terrence Green and Lexington County Sheriff Jay Koon hold a press conference announcing the discovery of a body matching Moore's clothing description. Green said during the press conference that law enforcement began searching the area of North Lake Drive and Old Cherokee Road after receiving a tip that Moore was last seen in the area on June 11 between 4 p.m. and 6 p.m. Green said the body was discovered at about 2:48 p.m. that day. Green said he was unable to comment on whether foul play is suspected, that Moore’s vehicle was always with her husband, and that the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division would be handling the case. 

Friday, June 19, afternoon 

Lexington County Coroner releases that the "body of the white female discovered near Old Cherokee Road and Northlake Drive on June 17, 2026, has been positively identified as missing person Elena K. Moore." Coroner also says that Moore's autopsy is scheduled for 10 a.m. on Saturday, June 20, at MUSC in Charleston.

"Additional information regarding the cause and manner of death is expected to be released on Monday, June 22, 2026," according to the release from the coroner. "Please note that determining a final cause and manner of death is a thorough process that may take several days or weeks to complete. Until that time, no further information regarding this investigation will be released."

Monday, June 22, approximately 4 p.m.

Lexington County Coroner Margaret Fisher releases the preliminary findings of Moore’s forensic autopsy. According to a press release shared with the Chronicle from the coroner’s office, the “autopsy did not identify an immediate cause of death.”

"Examination of the body revealed no evidence of traumatic injury, including no bruising, lacerations, gunshot wounds, stab wounds, blunt-force trauma, strangulation or other external injuries," the release stated.

Therefore, according to the release, Moore’s cause of death is
still pending.

“Additional evaluation is required, including histological studies, review of medical records, and toxicology testing.”

The release also said that the Lexington County Coroner's Office will not provide further information until all pending studies have been completed and the pathologist has determined the cause and manner of death.

Anyone with information relevant to the investigation can contact SLED at 803-737-9000 or tips@sled.sc.gov. 

Bryn Eddy contributed to this report.

This story has been updated after the coroner confirmed the body discovered is Moore's and after the coroner released on Monday that a cause of death is pending.