Tip on missing woman leads police to expand search to wooded area, SC officials say

A tip has led the Lexington Police Department to expand their search for Elena Katherine Moore, the South Carolina woman who has been missing for days.

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On Wednesday morning, police said that someone reported seeing the 39-year-old Moore walking toward the woods near Lakeside Middle School. That’s at 455 Old Cherokee Road, little more than a mile from where original reports said that Moore was last seen June 11.

A search in the woods by the school began Wednesday afternoon, according to police.

Lexington Police Inspector Melissa Silcox told The State that the searchers are looking for a living woman, and that law enforcement is under the belief that Moore is alive.

There’s currently no suspicion of foul play involved in Moore’s ongoing disappearance, Silcox said.

Moore was first reported missing June 12, by police.

Initial reports said that Moore was last seen June 11 at 5609 Sunset Boulevard. That’s near the intersection with North Lake Drive in a part of Lexington densely packed with retail businesses and restaurants in strip malls.

That was updated to show that at 6:40 p.m. June 11, Moore signed in to the Planet Fitness, which she frequently visits, at 560 Whiteford Way. That’s in the vicinity of the Sunset Boulevard address, an area densely packed with retail businesses and restaurants in strip malls.

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Moore was seen walking away from Planet Fitness toward the wooded area behind Lowe’s home improvement store, according to police.

Since then, police said they obtained surveillance footage that shows Moore walking through the Publix parking lot, at 100 Old Cherokee Road, at 9:17 p.m. on June 11.

In that footage, Moore was wearing the olive-green zip-up hoodie with black athletic pants that she was seen in at Planet Fitness, according to police.

Police described Moore as a 5-foot-7, 120-pound woman with brown hair and brown eyes.

Anyone who has seen Moore, or has information about her, is asked to contact police at 803-358-7271 or [email protected]. Information also can be shared via CrimeStoppers at 888-CRIME-SC or submit an online tip.

In the case of an emergency, always call 911.