Ex-Georgia officer arrested after teen's naked body found dumped in woods, police say

Natalie Neysa Alund, USA TODAY
·2 min read
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An ex-Georgia police officer has been charged in connection to the death of a missing teenager after an arrest warrant alleged he dumped the girl's body in the woods.

Miles Bryant, who worked as an officer for the City of Doraville Police Department, was arrested Monday in connection with the death of 16-year-old Susana Morales, the Gwinnett County Police Department said in a news release.

Doraville, an Atlanta suburb, neighbors Gwinnett County, where police there said the girl's remains were found on Feb. 6.

The 22-year-old Bryant, who is no longer with the department, faces charges including falsely reporting a crime and concealing the death of another person, Gwinnett County jail records show.

He remained incarcerated on Wednesday without bond.

Stock image of a patrol vehicle with the City of Doraville Police Department in Georgia.
Stock image of a patrol vehicle with the City of Doraville Police Department in Georgia.

What we know about the case so far

Gwinnett police said Morales' family told the department the teen disappeared the night of July 26. Her cell phone and video footage showed her walking in the direction of her home, police said, but detectives have reason to believe she may have gotten into a vehicle.

Morales' body was found, police said, after officers received a call from a passerby who said they saw what they believed to be human remains in the woods.

Arrest warrants in the case, revealed the following allegations about Bryant:

  • He lived in Norcross, near the location where Morales' lived and went missing

  • He did not have a known relationship with the woman

  • He dumped Morales' naked body in the woods

  • He previously gave a false report on July 27 that his personal car had been broken into and a gun had been taken from inside

Remains ID'd

The Gwinnett County Medical Examiner's Office identified the human remains as Morales last week, officials said.

Although Doraville city officials reported Bryant was no longer with the department, they did not say whether he was fired or resigned.

"The City of Doraville and its police department "are fully cooperating with the Gwinnett Police Department in its investigation of Mr. Bryant," Doraville police released in a statement on Facebook. "Our prayers rest with the family and friends of Susana Morales and everyone else affected by this tragedy."

Natalie Neysa Alund covers trending news for USA TODAY. Reach her at nalund@usatoday.com and follow her on Twitter @nataliealund.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Ex-Georgia officer Miles Bryant arrested in teen Susana Morales' death