A Georgia police officer has been fired and arrested in connection with covering up the death of missing 16-year-old Susana Morales, whose body was found last week.
Morales in Norcross, Georgia, was last seen on July 26th.
Gwinnett County Police said Morales texted her mother at 9:40 p.m. the night she disappeared, telling her she was on her way home. Cell phone data and video footage showed she was walking towards her home, but detectives believe she may have gotten into her car.
Cell phone data showed her last whereabouts was the Oak Lok Trace until the cell phone was turned off, officials said.
Her body was found on February 6th.
Gwinnett County Police said a passerby reportedly saw what appeared to be human bones in the woods near Highway 316 between Downing Creek and the Barrow county line. The body was later identified as Morales.
Days after the body was found, police announced they had arrested Miles Bryant, 22, a police officer in the Atlanta suburb of Doraville.
Bryant has been charged with covering up the death of another person and falsely reporting a crime in relation to Morales’ death, police said in a news release Monday.
Authorities have not released details of Morales’ death and are still investigating.
However, a Gwinnett County Police spokesperson said, “We cannot believe there was any relationship between Susana and Miles.”
Bryant was fired from the Doraville Police Department on Monday after city officials learned of the charges in Gwinnett County, a city spokesman said. He has been employed by the Doraville Police since May 2021.
“The City of Doraville and its police force are cooperating fully with the Gwinnett Police investigation into Mr. Bryant. Our thoughts and prayers go out to the family and friends of Susana Morales and all those affected by this tragedy.” ‘, a statement from the city said.
Bryant is being held without bail in Gwinnett Detention Center.
He appeared in court on Tuesday. NBC affiliate WXIA Atlanta reported that Bryant remained silent as the judge read out the charges and did not bring up a lawyer.
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