The preliminary autopsy results for Elena Katherine Moore came down on June 22, 2026. The exam happened at the Medical University of South Carolina. It did not find an immediate cause of death.
Preliminary Report
No evidence of traumatic injury emerged in the report. Notably, the person who carried out the autopsy found no bruising. There weren’t any lacerations either. And no gunshot wounds.
Ruled out were stab wounds, blunt force trauma, and strangulation, per WSBA.
For now, the cause and manner of death remain pending.
The Investigation Status
Investigators still have plenty of work to do. They ordered a toxicology screening and histological studies to analyze her organ tissues under a microscope.
They are also reviewing her medical records. “No further information will be released until these studies are completed,” said Lexington County Coroner Margaret Fisher.
These additional evaluations usually take several days or weeks.
Background of the Case
Close to mid-June this year, Elena Moore, 39, left a Planet Fitness gym. The Lexington, South Carolina resident was a trainer, but nobody saw her alive again after that.
Her husband, Brannon Slice, reported her missing on June 12. It should be noted that he hasn’t been named a suspect. Some confusion may stem from early reporting.
A body found in a wooded area matched the clothing of Elena Moore, per Fox News.
The coroner positively identified her on June 19.
Community Reaction
The mystery has local residents talking. Friends noted that Moore seemed deeply unsettled before she disappeared.
In a previous article on Soap Opera Spy, we reported that a friend shared that Moore “feared for her life.” The behavior got strange a week before she vanished.
On June 4, a neighbor’s Ring camera appeared to show Moore acting erratically, grabbing someone else’s food delivery, and trying to walk into their home.
An EMS dispatch from that same day described a disoriented woman in her 30s who appeared heavily paranoid.
The dispatch noted the woman was “reacting to internal stimuli,” which often signals delusions.
Then came June 11. According to previous reporting, Moore was discharged from a mental health facility and placed in a taxi. She told the driver to stop at a CVS and walked inside.
Later, she left, and just disappeared.
Investigators have not yet explained how Moore died, and many questions remain unanswered.
Forensic Criminologist Weighs In
Forensic criminologist Dr. Laura Pettler spoke with Ashleigh Banfield on Drop Dead Serious on Wednesday. She noted that deaths without external trauma force investigators to look at hidden factors.
She explained that experts must rely on entomology, bug activity, and botany to build a strict timeline.
Pettler shared that even the fluid in a victim’s eyeballs can hold the answers to chemical exposure or overdose.
What Comes Next
Investigators in South Carolina still look for answers. If you have any information about Elena Moore’s final days, call the Lexington County Sheriff’s Department.
In the meantime, it’s not clear when the full autopsy results will arrive. Per Lexington Chronicle, the “Coroner’s Office will not provide further information until all pending studies have been completed.”
For now, the local community remains in limbo, waiting for toxicology and laboratory results that may finally explain what happened to Elena Moore.
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