Summary (tl;dr)

Elena Moore, a 39-year-old personal trainer who went missing from Lexington, South Carolina, last week, has been found deceased, with a body matching her description discovered after an extensive search. The case has transitioned from a missing persons investigation to an active death investigation led by the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division.

Essential Background

Elena Katherine Moore, a 39-year-old personal trainer, was last seen on Thursday, June 11, 2026, leaving a Planet Fitness gym in Lexington, South Carolina, at approximately 9:17 p.m. and walking toward a nearby wooded area. Her husband, Brannon Slice, officially reported her missing the following day, June 12, 2026. Police described her disappearance as "very out of character" for the personal trainer.

The Full Story

Following her disappearance, the Lexington Police Department, alongside multiple local and state agencies including the Lexington County Sheriff's Department and the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division (SLED), launched an intensive search operation. This involved deploying drones and conducting thorough ground searches of wooded areas behind the Planet Fitness gym and a nearby Lowe's Home Improvement store.

On Wednesday, June 17, 2026, a significant development occurred when a local resident provided a tip, recalling seeing a woman matching Moore's description entering woods near Lakeside Middle School. Acting on this information, search teams discovered a body in a heavily wooded area approximately one mile from where Moore was last seen on surveillance footage. The deceased individual was wearing clothing that precisely matched the olive-green zip-up hoodie and black athletic pants Moore was last seen in.

The case has now been officially transitioned from a missing persons search to a multi-agency death investigation, with SLED taking the lead. While positive scientific identification by the Lexington County Coroner is pending, an autopsy will be performed to determine the exact cause and manner of death. Authorities initially stated that foul play was not suspected, and Moore's husband is not considered a person of interest. However, detectives are now vetting recent statements from close acquaintances regarding Moore's state of mind and behavior prior to her disappearance.

Why It Matters

The tragic discovery of a body matching Elena Moore's description marks a somber turn in a case that had garnered significant community concern and widespread attention in Lexington, South Carolina. The transition of the investigation to a death inquiry, led by SLED, underscores the serious nature of the situation and the commitment to thoroughly examine the circumstances surrounding her passing. This development is crucial for providing answers to her family and the public, while highlighting the impactful role of community tips in ongoing investigations.

Geographic Location

• Planet Fitness, Lexington, Lexington County, South Carolina, United States (location where Elena Moore was last seen)
• Wooded area behind Lowe's Home Improvement Store and Planet Fitness, Lexington, Lexington County, South Carolina, United States (initial search area for missing person)
• Wooded area near Lakeside Middle School, Lexington, Lexington County, South Carolina, United States (location where a body matching Elena Moore's description was discovered)