A police officer in Georgia has been arrested and charged with moving the naked body of a teenage girl into a rural forest near Atlanta. The girl, who was just 16 when she died, had been missing since last summer.
Miles Bryant was arrested earlier this week by sheriff’s deputies from Gwinnett County Sheriff’s Office. A 22-year-old man has become a police officer for Doraville Police Station in the city of Doraville – an outer northeast suburb of Atlanta.
After his arrest, he was charged with concealing the death of another and falsely reporting a crime. The charges stem from his decision to move the body of a 16-year-old boy Susan Morales, who has been missing from his home in Gwinnett County since late last July, in a rural patch of woods in the area. Now, according to a press release sent out by the sheriff’s office this week, Bryant is currently in custody Gwinnett Detention Center without binding.
Related: Roommate’s Idaho Murder Victim Suffers ‘A Lot of Survivor’s Guilt’
An arrest affidavit in the case sheds more light on what happened to Morales and Bryant’s involvement. according to Atlanta News Firstwho first obtained an arrest warrant on Tuesday, Bryant “lived near the victim and dumped her naked body in the woods.”
OMG…
If you’re wondering why a police officer hasn’t been charged in Morales’ murder, it looks like charges are coming soon. according to Fox 5 Atlantathe investigator exercise Suspect Bryant both rape and murder, “but has not charged him with the offense,” and instead continue to investigate available evidence. The outlet noted Bryant and Morales had “no known relationship or relationship” prior to her disappearance and death.
Morales first went missing on July 26, 2022. That night, he texted his mother around 9:40 p.m. that he was coming home. When he still didn’t come home half an hour later, his family became worried and called the police. Police searched cellphone records and determined Morales had been walking down the street toward his home between 10:07 a.m. and 10:21 p.m. At some point, investigators believe he entered a vehicle on the street. Soon, her phone stopped pinging – indicating that it was dead or turned off.
For almost seven months, he remained a missing person. Then, on February 6, the body was found by a passerby in the woods near Doraville. Police arrived at the scene and determined that someone had died. The medical examiner takes over the case, and is soon able to identify the body as that of a missing teenage girl.
Related: Julia Fox Says She Almost Killed a Drug Dealer?!
In the days since Susana’s body was found, her family has rallied to support her. sister, Jasmine Moraleslaunched a GoFundMe campaign to help with funeral costs. His grieving sister also spoke Atlanta News First about the remains of 16 years found:
“It’s a very difficult final goodbye, and just seeing him buried is something we don’t expect, but to get the good news today gives us hope.”
As for Bryant, Doraville PD confirmed in a press release that he is “now an ex-cop” after his arrest this week.
The department’s statement went on to add:
“The City of Doraville and the Police Department have cooperated fully with the Gwinnett Police Department in the investigation of Mr. Bryant. Our prayers go out to the family and friends of Susana Morales and everyone affected by this tragedy.
Here’s more on this shocking case, and the ongoing investigation into Bryant as police pursue the possibility of more charges, from Atlanta News First (below):
wow
You can view the Morales family’s GoFundMe page here.
We send our condolences to Morales’ family, friends, and loved ones during this unimaginable time.
[Image via Atlanta News First/YouTube/Gwinnett County Sheriff’s Office/GoFundMe]