A suburban Atlanta police officer has been accused of kidnapping and murdering a teenager who disappeared in July 2022. Susana Morales, 16, was found naked in a forest. Former Doraville Police Department officer Miles Bryant, 22, faces conspiring to hide his alleged offenses. Morales lived a few miles from Bryant, but the police stated they had no relationship.
Last month, police recovered Morales’ remains in a woodland outside Dacula, an Atlanta suburb. Bryant “is known or suspected of” rape, murder, and other offenses, but authorities have not given a motive. After an ex-classmate, Elesha Bates, accused him of stalking and breaking into her home in a 2019 recording, he was booked on another burglary charge over the weekend. “Lack of leads” closed Bates’ case.
Bryant is charged with murder, kidnapping, hiding Morales’ death, and filing a false report after losing his police credentials. Rape charges have not been filed. Concealment is a felony with a 10-year sentence.
Who found Susana Morales’ body?
After six months, Morales’ body was found. According to the Daily Mail, Gwinnett County police arrived on Hwy. 316 between Drowning Creek and the Barrow County Border after a passerby reported seeing human remains in the woods.
“Detectives and CSI arrived at the scene, and the Gwinnett Medical Examiners’ Office took possession of the remains,” the department said, “investigating the manner and cause of Ms. Morales’ death”. Dental records identified Morales. Morales’ body was located after a bystander called the police to report human remains. Her family saw her walking home on cell phone and video tape. Police suspect she entered a vehicle. “Bryant lived in Norcross, in close proximity to [the] victim, and abandoned her naked body in the woods,” Gwinnett Detective Angela Carter said of his arrest.
Other Miles Bryant charges
Bryant worked as a Forsyth County Prison deputy, in the Army National Guard, and on other security duties. He was accused of hiding a death and falsely reporting a crime.
Authorities stated that he attempted to conceal the victim from 10.20 p.m. on July 26, 2022, to 1.40 a.m. on July 27, 2022. Bryant was accused of “hindering the discovery of whether or not such a victim was illegally slain” at this time. Bryant may have stalked women, police said.
Bryant also fraudulently reported his gun stolen after his car was smashed into. These charges may not relate to Morales’ death. Investigators say Bryant is a community threat and has refused bail.