Doraville police officer charged in connection with death of missing 16-year-old Susana Morales

GWINNETT COUNTY, GA—The Gwinnett County Police Department has arrested Miles Bryant, a 22-year-old Doraville police officer, in connection with the death of 16-year-old Susana Morales, who had been missing since July 2022.

Bryant, who is from Norcross, is charged with Concealing the Death of Another and False Report of a Crime in connection with Susana Morales’s death. Bryant is being held at the Gwinnett Detention Center without bond.

“Detectives developed enough probable cause to get an arrest today, but the investigation is still on going,” said Gwinnett County Police spokesperson Officer Hideshi Valle.

Investigators got a break in the case after human remains were located on Monday, Feb. 6, 2023 on Highway 316, between Drowning Creek and the Barrow County Line. The remains were identified as that of Morales, authorities said. 

Police responded to the scene after receiving a call from a passerby stating they saw what they believed to be human remains in the woods. Detectives and CSI responded to the scene, and the Gwinnett Medical Examiners’ office took possession of the remains.

Morales was reported missing last year by her family after she did not return home from walking to visit a friend on July 26, 2022. Morales’s cell phone and video footage showed her walking in the direction of her home, but detectives have reason to believe she may have gotten into a vehicle.

Morales texted her mom at 9:40 p.m. on July 26, saying she was on her way home. At approximately 10 p.m., Morales had not returned home. A location application showed Morales walking on Singleton Road to her home from Windscape Village Lane between 10:07 p.m. and 10:21 p.m. Morales was last seen wearing light blue jeans, a yellow spaghetti-strapped shirt, and white crocs as in the above picture.

Between 10:21 p.m. and 10:26 p.m., Morales’s cell phone indicates that her last known location was at Oak Loch Trace near Steve Reynolds Boulevard.  Morales’s cell phone continued to show being in the area of Oak Loch Trace until the cell phone died or was turned off, investigators said.

The Gwinnett Police Department issued the following statement regarding the Morales case:

“Gwinnett Police stands firm in its pursuit of safety for our community and wants to educate our citizens on questions they may have when reporting a missing person, a missing juvenile, and a runway juvenile.

There have been many different and nonfactual stories in our community and on social media regarding the deaths of Susana Morales (a 16-year-old female from Norcross) and Rodrigo Mayen Floriano (a 17-year-old male from Norcross). Both cases involved the tragic death of a teen from the Norcross area, but otherwise, these cases are not related. Rodrigio’s death was ruled an overdose by the Gwinnett Medical Examiners Office, and at this time, Susana’s cause of death is unknown.

Our detectives have continuously worked on Susana Morales’s case since we received it. We have kept in constant contact with Susana’s family and told them what was happening in the case. On the day Susana was reported missing, our officers conducted a canvass at several locations where people said she might be but did not find any leads.

Over the course of last summer and fall, detectives collected phone data, interviewed multiple people who may have had information, and spoke to officials at her school and the school resource officer. In addition, detectives disseminated Susana’s photos and description to all law enforcement agencies in the southeastern United States. As a result, we responded to multiple legitimate and hoax sightings, but none were determined to be Susana. Additionally, our detectives debunked multiple false ransom hoaxes from unscrupulous individuals attempting to get money from Susana’s family.

At times, there were no leads in the case. At those times, we requested the public’s help in providing information via our social media and local media. CrimeStoppers offered a reward for information about Susana at our request.

The tragic discovery of Susana’s remains this week was not the outcome anyone wanted in this case. Finding out what happened is one of our top priorities. Because this is an active case, we cannot always release the exact details of the work we are doing, but that work is ongoing and will continue until this case is resolved.

Our detectives have continuously worked on Susana Morales’s case since we received it. We have kept in constant contact with Susana’s family and told them what was happening in the case. On the day Susana was reported missing, our officers conducted a canvass at several locations where people said she might be but did not find any leads.

Over the course of last summer and fall, detectives collected phone data, interviewed multiple people who may have had information, and spoke to officials at her school and the school resource officer. In addition, detectives disseminated Susana’s photos and description to all law enforcement agencies in the southeastern United States. As a result, we responded to multiple legitimate and hoax sightings, but none were determined to be Susana. Additionally, our detectives debunked multiple false ransom hoaxes from unscrupulous individuals attempting to get money from Susana’s family.

At times, there were no leads in the case. At those times, we requested the public’s help in providing information via our social media and local media. CrimeStoppers offered a reward for information about Susana at our request.

The tragic discovery of Susana’s remains this week was not the outcome anyone wanted in this case. Finding out what happened is one of our top priorities. Because this is an active case, we cannot always release the exact details of the work we are doing, but that work is ongoing and will continue until this case is resolved.” 

Gwinnett Police detectives are continuing to investigatie Morales’ manner and cause of death. Anyone who has any information to share in this cases hould contact GCPD detectives at 770-513-5300. To remain anonymous, tipsters should contact Crime Stoppers Greater Atlanta at 404-577-TIPS (8477) or visit www.stopcrimeATL.com.