UPDATE: Search for missing Lexington woman continues as law enforcement searches more wooded areas

Regarding the ongoing search for a woman who was reported missing in Lexington late last week, Lexington Police Department said it "will begin searching wooded areas in the vicinity of 455 Old Cherokee Road" on Wednesday afternoon. This is the area of Lakeside Middle School.

"[Elena Katherine Moore] remains a missing person since Friday, June 12, 2026. Recently obtained camera footage shows Ms. Moore walking through the Publix parking lot, at 100 Old Cherokee Road, on Thursday, June 11th, 2026. Camera footage captures her walking in the direction of Old Cherokee Road at 9:17 p.m. She was wearing the same olive-green zip-up hoodie with black athletic pants as reported from Planet Fitness,” LPD released on Tuesday evening. “Investigators are releasing new photographs of Ms. Moore to increase the likelihood that someone realizes or remembers they encountered Elena in the past few days. Photographs were captured on a front door camera a week prior to Elena being reported as a missing person.”

LPD said Monday evening that the search for the 39-year-old missing woman in wooded areas was "not a recovery operation, but rather a precise effort to rule out one less place Ms. Moore could be."

Monday's search covered wooded areas along Caughman Farm Lane, behind the Lowe's Home Improvement store and the Planet Fitness gym on Whiteford Way that Moore is said to frequent.

No trace of her has been found.

Moore was originally reported to have last been seen at a CVS on Sunset Boulevard, but police released on Monday morning that her last known whereabouts were actually at the Planet Fitness in Lexington on Thursday, June 11.

She was reported missing on Friday, June 12.

"According to the complainant, Ms. Moore often frequents Planet Fitness, located 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. No further contact with the missing woman has been reported," according to Monday morning's press release from LPD. "Ms. Moore was last seen walking away from Planet Fitness toward the wooded area behind Lowe’s Home Improvement Store. She was wearing an olive-green zip-up hoodie with black athletic pants."

A drone was used in the area Moore was last seen, but no new information came from the drone search. Around the time the drone was first used, which was before Monday afternoon's detailed search of the wooded areas, a preliminary search of the woods was also done, according to police. 

The second, more detailed search of the wooded areas was done by the Lexington Police Department with the help of the Lexington County Sheriff’s Department, Lexington County Fire Services, Lexington County Emergency Medical Services, Lexington County Communications, South Carolina Law Enforcement Division and the Department of Natural Resources, according to a release from LPD.

LPD had released on Monday morning that "it is unknown if she has her cellular telephone," but on Tuesday afternoon, LPD Inspector Missy Silcox verified with the Chronicle 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. "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 verified that Moore's husband was the one who reported her missing on June 12.

"There is no known vehicle in her possession," according to the department.

Moore has brown hair, brown eyes, weighs 120 pounds and is 5'7'', according to the missing poster.

If you have information regarding Moore, contact Detective Santoro at 803-358-7271 or asantoro@lexsc.gov.

Those with information can also contact Midlands Crimestoppers in the following ways:

PHONE TIP – Call the toll-free number at 1-888-CRIME-SC (888-274-6372)

WEB TIP – Go to www.midlandscrimestoppers.com and click “Submit a Tip.”

MOBILE TIP – Download the new P3 Tips app on your Apple or Android Device.

"Information that Ms. Moore had been located was reported earlier," according to the release from Monday morning. "Unfortunately, these were false reports and the Lexington Police Department apologizes for any confusion this may have caused. As of the release of this information, Ms. Moore is still currently missing."