A police officer in Georgia was arrested on suspicion that he moved the naked body of a missing teenage girl into the woods after she died, and then allegedly lied to authorities about it.
Miles Bryant, 22, of Norcross, has been charged with concealing the death of another and false report of a crime in connection with the death of 16-year-old Susana Morales, whose remains were found more than six months after she was reported missing, according to a Feb. 13press releasefrom the Gwinnett County Sheriff’s Office.
Bryant, who until his arrest was an officer with the Doraville Police Department, is being held at the Gwinnett Detention Center without bond, authorities said. It is not immediately clear if he has entered a plea or retained an attorney to speak on his behalf.
Investigators also suspect Bryant of rape and murder, but have not charged him with those offenses,Fox 5 Atlanta reports, also citing the arrest warrant. Bryant and Morales have no known connection or relationship, according to authorities.
Miles Bryant.Gwinnett County Sheriff’s Office
The data shows her phone last pinged near Oak Loch Trace, where it remained until the phone died or was turned off, according to the sheriff’s office.
The remains were taken to the Gwinnett Medical Examiner’s office, and positively identified as those of Morales, whose cause and manner of death remain under investigation.
Her family has launched aGoFundMe campaignto cover funeral costs. Her sister, Jasmine Morales, said she’s happy someone was arrested in connection with the case.
Susana Morales.GoFundMe
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Doraville police said they learned of Bryant’s arrest on Feb. 13, and referred to him as a “now former police officer.”
Anyone with information on the case is asked to contact GCPD detectives at 770-513-5300. To remain anonymous, tipsters should contact Crime Stoppers Greater Atlanta at 404-577-TIPS (8477) or visitwww.stopcrimeATL.com.
source: people.com
