By Joe Johnson
A police officer who was arrested in connection with the alleged murder of a missing teen, allegedly dumped the teenager's naked body in some woods close to where he lives, according to information made public Tuesday with the release of an arrest warrant application.
The application states that officer Mike’s Bryant lived near where 16 year old Susana Morales was last known to be alive in July and where the teenager's remains were discovered last week.
Morales' family members told police they hadn't seen her since the evening of July 26. That night, detectives said Morales texted her mom at 9:40 p.m. to tell her she was on her way to her home on Santa Anna Drive. Officials confirmed that an app on Morales' cell phone showed that she was walking in that direction on Singleton Road from Windscape Village Lane between 10:07 p.m. and 10:21 p.m., but detectives said they have reason to believe she had actually gotten into a vehicle.
On Monday, Doraville police officer Miles Bryant was arrested in connection with the teen's death, charged with concealing the death of another person.
The Gwinnett County Police Department stated in a news release that Bryant, an officer with the Doraville Police Department, had been charged with concealing the death of another and making a false report of a crime.
During the course of the investigation, detectives developed enough probable cause to arrest him (Bryant) today but the investigation is still ongoing and fairly new," said GCPD spokesman
Morales disappeared on the night of July 26, 2022 after she texted her mother that she was on the way home. Morales’ remains were found on Feb. 6 off Highway 316 near the Barrow County line.
Warrants show the 22-year-old officer lived at an apartment complex off Windscape Village Lane,the same area where police say Morales was last seen.
Police say that Morales’ phone location last showed her on Singleton Lane near Windscape Village between 10:07 p.m. and 10:21 p.m. on July 26. Her house was only half a mile from this location.
Police believe that Morales’ body was dumped in the woods off Highway 316 and Drowning Creek Road, 20 miles from where she disappeared, but close to where the police officer lives.
According to a warrant obtained by GCPD, Bryant “lives in close proximity to victim and dumped her naked body in the woods.”
The warrant claims: “Accused did conceal the death of Susana Morales and hindering the discovery of whether or not such person was unlawfully killed.”
Warrants also show on the day after Morales’ disappearance that Bryant filed a police report claiming his gun was stolen after his car was broken into at his apartment complex.
GCPD Spokesman Hideshi Valle said.