Investigators continue searching for a Lexington woman last seen walking toward a wooded area after an evening workout.
LEXINGTON, S.C. — Authorities in South Carolina are continuing a search for a 39-year-old personal trainer who disappeared after leaving a Lexington fitness center Thursday evening. Investigators say Elena Katherine Moore was last seen walking toward a wooded area behind nearby businesses after completing a workout.
Police and family members have spent days trying to determine what happened after Moore left the Planet Fitness location on Whiteford Way. The disappearance has drawn widespread attention across the Lexington area as officers review surveillance footage, examine available evidence, and pursue tips. Investigators say they have not found evidence of foul play and do not currently believe Moore is in immediate danger, but her whereabouts remain unknown.
According to the Lexington Police Department, Moore visited the Planet Fitness gym at 560 Whiteford Way on Thursday evening. Investigators said gym records showed she signed in at approximately 6:40 p.m. Surveillance footage later captured her leaving the facility and heading toward a wooded area behind a nearby Lowe’s store. That location has become the focal point of the investigation because it represents the last confirmed sighting of Moore. Police said family members became concerned when they could not reach her and reported her missing Friday. Detectives quickly began reconstructing her movements and interviewing individuals who may have been in the area. The circumstances that led Moore into the wooded section remain unclear. Investigators have not publicly identified any destination she may have been heading toward, nor have they indicated whether she planned to meet anyone after leaving the gym.
As search operations expanded, officers and investigators examined the wooded area where Moore was last seen. Authorities said those efforts did not locate Moore and did not uncover evidence explaining what happened after she left the fitness center. Police described Moore as 5-foot-7 and about 120 pounds, with brown hair and brown eyes. She was last seen wearing an olive green zip-up hoodie and black athletic pants. Investigator Missy Silcox said Moore’s husband reported her missing after concerns grew about her unexplained absence. Officials also confirmed that Moore was believed to have her cellphone when she disappeared. However, investigators said the device was not actively pinging, limiting their ability to determine its location through conventional tracking methods. Police have not disclosed whether additional surveillance recordings from nearby businesses, electronic records, or witness interviews have produced significant leads. The lack of publicly announced evidence has left many questions unanswered while detectives continue gathering information.
The case has generated unusual attention in Lexington, a growing community west of Columbia where missing-person investigations are relatively uncommon. Community members have closely followed updates as law enforcement officials work to establish a complete timeline of Moore’s final known movements. Missing-person cases often require investigators to combine surveillance reviews, witness interviews, digital evidence, and physical searches to identify what occurred after a person was last seen. In this case, the wooded area behind the shopping and commercial district has become especially important because it marks the final verified location connected to Moore. Residents familiar with Moore through local fitness programs and personal training work have expressed concern as days pass without confirmed sightings. Friends and supporters have circulated photographs and information across the community, hoping someone may remember seeing Moore after she exited the gym. Despite the attention, authorities have repeatedly emphasized the importance of focusing on verified facts rather than speculation.
Investigators have not announced any arrests, identified any suspects, or named any persons of interest. The case remains classified as an active missing-person investigation. Detectives are continuing to analyze available evidence, review footage from businesses in the area, and follow up on information provided by witnesses and members of the public. Law enforcement officials typically attempt to establish a minute-by-minute timeline in the early stages of a disappearance, particularly when no clear indication of criminal activity exists. Police have not disclosed whether additional search operations are planned or whether outside agencies may join the investigation. Officials also have not released details about any forensic examinations, cellphone records, or other investigative techniques that may be underway. For now, authorities continue working to determine Moore’s movements after she left the fitness center and entered the area where she was last seen.
The disappearance has had a noticeable impact on the local community. Friends, neighbors, and fellow fitness professionals have closely monitored developments while hoping for new information. Investigator Silcox said police do not currently believe Moore is in imminent danger, a statement that has provided some reassurance while still leaving significant uncertainty about her whereabouts. Residents have continued sharing updates and discussing the case as investigators seek additional details. The wooded area behind the businesses near the gym remains central to the search because it is the final location supported by surveillance evidence. Community members have expressed hope that additional witness accounts or new evidence will help investigators fill gaps in the timeline. For many following the case, the lack of confirmed sightings after Moore left the gym remains one of the most troubling aspects of the investigation.
As of Thursday, Moore remained missing and investigators continued reviewing evidence and pursuing leads. Authorities have indicated that the next major development is likely to come from new witness information, additional evidence, or future search findings as detectives work to determine what happened after her Thursday evening workout.
Author note: Last updated June 18, 2026.