South Carolina Woman Missing After Leaving Gym

A South Carolina woman, Elena Katherine Moore, disappeared last week after being last seen leaving a Planet Fitness gym and heading towards a nearby wooded area. The incident took place on Thursday evening in Lexington, a suburb west of Columbia, according to local authorities.

Moore, aged 39, signed in at the gym around 6:40 p.m. She was observed walking away from the gym, moving towards the woods behind a nearby Lowe’s Home Improvement store. Moore, a personal trainer, was reported missing the following day. The Lexington Police Department noted that her sudden disappearance is highly unusual for her.

The initial search efforts commenced on Friday when investigators deployed a drone for a preliminary sweep of the last known area. However, they found no trace of her presence. By Monday, the search was expanded to include multiple local and state agencies. It encompassed the wooded areas behind the gym and the Lowe’s store, involving the Lexington County Sheriff’s Department, South Carolina Law Enforcement Division, and the Department of Natural Resources.

Lexington Police Chief Terrence Green stated that the search aimed to eliminate one potential location where Moore might be found, emphasizing that it was not a recovery operation, as no signs of Moore were discovered during the efforts.

Elena Katherine Moore is described as a white female, standing 5 feet, 7 inches tall, weighing approximately 120 pounds, with brown hair and brown eyes. She was last seen wearing an olive-green zip-up hoodie and black athletic pants. Police have not confirmed whether she had her cellphone at the time.

Authorities urge anyone with information regarding Moore’s location to reach out to detectives at 803-358-7271 or contact Midlands Crimestoppers.