Body Found in Woods as SLED Joins Search for Missing Trainer
State Police Join Investigation After Body Discovered Near Last Known Location of Missing Personal Trainer
A significant development has occurred in the search for Elena Katherine Moore, a 39-year-old personal trainer who vanished nearly a week ago. Law enforcement authorities confirmed on Wednesday the discovery of a body in a wooded area of Lexington, South Carolina, where Moore was last seen. The South Carolina Law Enforcement Division (SLED), the state’s primary investigations unit for major crimes, has now joined the effort.
The discovery follows a six-day intensive search for Moore, who reportedly disappeared on Thursday evening after leaving a Planet Fitness gym. The Lexington Police Department (LPD) has stated that while the body has not yet been officially identified, it matches the clothing description of the missing individual. The case has been reclassified as an active death investigation, with SLED assisting in determining the cause of death and confirming identity.
Citizen Tip Leads Authorities to Discovery
According to LPD Chief Terrence Green, investigators located the body on Wednesday afternoon after receiving a crucial tip from a member of the public. This information directed authorities to a specific area for a targeted search. “At approximately 2:48 p.m. we found an unidentified body that fits the clothing description of our missing person. We are still waiting on the coroner to identify her,” Chief Green stated.
Reports indicate the body was clad in a “similar green outfit” consistent with what Moore was observed wearing in surveillance footage on the night she went missing. The Lexington County Coroner’s Office has confirmed that an autopsy will be scheduled in the coming days, a process that is expected to take some time. Coroner Margaret Fisher issued a statement confirming the discovery, noting, “the body of a female matching the clothing description of the missing person, Elena K. Moore has been found.” The statement also emphasized, “No positive identification has been made as of this time. We will await positive identification before any further information is released. No cause of death has been determined.”
When questioned about the possibility of foul play, police indicated, “Again, it’s an active investigation and we are having SLED investigate that.”
Timeline of Disappearance and Search Efforts
Moore was initially reported missing last Friday, triggering a widespread search operation involving multiple agencies and the use of a drone. She was last seen on Thursday night, captured on surveillance footage walking through the Publix parking lot at 100 Old Cherokee Road. The video shows her wearing an olive-green zip-up hoodie and black athletic pants, attire consistent with what she was reportedly wearing when she departed Planet Fitness.
In the days preceding her disappearance, Moore exhibited behavior described as out of character, including a sudden absence and a noticeable shift in her social media activity, according to information obtained.
