A police officer was arrested Monday and charged with concealing the death of another and false report of a crime in connection with the death of a 16-year-old girl.
He was identified as 22-year-old Miles Bryant, a Doraville Police Department officer, in a news release the Gwinnett County Government in Georgia provided to Audacy Wednesday.
A statement released this week from Doraville, Ga., said that the “officer was being served felony arrest warrants by the Gwinnett Police Department in connection with the disappearance and murder of Susana Morales.”
Last month, the Gwinnett Police Department asked for the public’s help to find Morales, who had been missing since July of last year. Crime Stoppers Greater Atlanta also offered a $2,000 reward for information leading to her safe return.
According to authorities, Morales left her home in Norcorss, Ga., at around 6 p.m. July 26.
“Morales had her cell phone with her, but her family had not spoken to her since leaving her home,” said law enforcement. “Morales’s last known location was in Oak Loch Trace.”
Although cell phone and video footage showed Morales walking in the direction of her home on Santa Anna Drive, detectives investigating the case believed she got into a vehicle.
She reportedly texted her mother at 9:40 p.m. July 26 to say she was on her way home, but by 10 p.m., she had still not arrived. A location application appeared to show Morales walking on Singleton Road to her home from Windscape Village Lane between 10:07 p.m. and 10:21 p.m. Between 10:21 p.m. and 10:26 p.m. Morales’ location appeared to be Oak Loch Trace. Her cell phone continued to show her in that area until it died or was turned off.
After calls for help with the investigation in January, the Gwinnett Police received a call from a passerby on Hwy 316 between Drowning Creek and the Barrow County Line a little after 6:30 p.m. Feb. 6.
This passerby said they “saw what they believed to be human remains in the woods,” and both detectives and crime scene investigators responded to the scene. Ultimately, the Gwinnett Medical Examiners’ office took possession of the remains.
As of Feb. 8, the remains had been identified as Morales’s. A Gwinnett Police Department investigation into her death continues.
This Tuesday, authorities said that Bryant was being at held Gwinnett Detention Center without bond after being arrested in connection to Morales’ death. Gwinnett County Government said also that Bryant is employed as a police officer with the Doraville Police Department.
“The City of Doraville and its Police Department are fully cooperating with the Gwinnett Police Department in its investigation of Mr. Bryant,” said a statement from the municipality. “Our prayers rest with the family and friends of Susana Morales and everyone else affected by this tragedy.”
Anyone with information that may pertain to the case is asked to contact GCPD detectives at 770- 513-5300. Tipsters who wish to remain anonymous can contact Crime Stoppers Greater Atlanta at 404- 577-TIPS (8477) or visit www.stopcrimeATL.com.
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