Former Officer Charged With Murder In Norcross Teen's Death

NORCROSS, GA — A former Doraville police officer has been charged on suspicion of felony murder and kidnapping in connection with the killing of 16-year-old Susana Morales, whose remains were found in February — a little over six months after she was reported missing.

Miles Bryant, 22, was originally arrested Feb. 13 in connection with the case and was charged on suspicion of concealing the death of another and false report of a crime.

It's unknown how Morales died and whether she was familiar with Bryant, Gwinnett County Police Chief James D. McClure said Wednesday at a news conference where the charges against Bryant were announced. There's no indication anyone else was involved in the killing and Morales was not shot to death, McClure said.

"What we do know is that she died at the hands of Miles Bryant," he said.

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Morales was reported missing from her Santa Anna Drive home at 9 a.m. on July 27, 2022, McClure said.

Her last known location was a friend's home at Sterling Glen Apartments, where Bryant lived and worked as a security officer, McClure said.

Morales was walking to her house from the friend's home around 10 p.m. on July 26, 2022 and she never made it home.

Police believe she was killed sometime between 10 p.m. and 2 a.m. the next morning, McClure said. She had contact with a person between 10 p.m. and 10:30 p.m., he said.

"By the time she was reported missing, we have every reason to believe that she was deceased," he said.

Her remains were found by a passerby around 6:30 p.m., Feb. 6, in the woods along Highway 316 near Drowning Creek and the Barrow County line.

RELATED: Remains Found In Woods Belong To Missing Norcross Teen: Police

During the investigation, a handgun was found on Feb. 7. McClure said Bryant reported the handgun stolen the day Morales was reported missing, adding that the report was false.

The gun was traced back to Bryant, and he became a person of interest in the case, McClure said. The gun is seemingly a personal weapon, McClure said.

He said the police department has evidence that "directly linked Bryant to this crime."

Warrants for Bryant's arrest were obtained on Feb. 13.

"This is an unspeakable tragedy. This type of crime at the hand of a law-enforcement officer evokes anger, even within the ranks of this agency," McClure said.

"Police officers should always be pillars of trust, and I do believe that the overwhelming majority of the hundreds of thousands of law-enforcement officers in this community are honorable and decent human beings. It's a shame that Miles (Bryant) was able to get in the ranks of law-enforcement, but I am happy with the department's response in terms of bringing him to justice."

RELATED: Former Officer Charged In Teen's Death Previously Accused Of Stalking: Report

Bryant has two prior known interactions with police.

McClure said Bryant was accused of attempting to enter a neighbor's house through the window in 2018. Bryant denied the allegations and the the case was resolved because the neighbor did not want to press charges, McClure said.

Bryant is also being investigated in connection with a December 2022 incident where he tried entering a residence while visiting a friend's home, McClure said.

McClure said police have no information that Bryant harmed anyone else in the way he is being accused of harming Morales.

The case is still being investigated, and police are working with the district attorney's office.

"He’ll have essentially his day in court," McClure said.

Bryant is in the Gwinnett Detention Center.