Lexington police locates body with clothing consistent with missing woman
A body — suspected to be that of a missing woman — was located in a wooded area near Lakeside Middle School, according to Lexington Police Chief Terrance Green.
Following a tip that led the Lexington Police Department to expand their search for Elena Katherine Moore — a 39-year-old who was reported missing days ago — a body, matching the clothing last seen on the woman, was found in the woods near Old Cherokee Road, according to Green.
The expanded search began around 1:30 p.m. Thursday, Green said during a news conference. At around 2:48 p.m., police found a body, suspected to be Moore.
A positive identification of the body will come from the Lexington County Coroner’s Office, Green said.
SLED was requested by the Lexington Police Department and the Lexington County Sheriff’s Department to conduct a death investigation after the body was found, according to a news release.
Additional information from SLED may be available at a later time as the investigation continues, the release said.
At a brief news conference announcing the discovery, Green thanked the various Lexington County and state agencies that had assisted with the search.
Green also said the extensive media coverage and discussion around Moore’s disappearance had aided the investigation.
“You guys put this case out there,” Green said. “That’s how we received this tip.”
Due to its active status, Green did not provide further details on the ongoing death investigation at the news conference.
This story was originally published June 17, 2026 at 7:09 PM.
