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Former Doraville County police officer Miles Bryant is facing charges of kidnapping and murder, in connection with the death of 16-year-old Susana Morales. And the victim's family wants "Justice for Susana."

The Gwinnett County department is leading the investigation. And in what seems like a bizarre turn of the investigation Bryant was originally only charged with hiding the child's body. 

Morales went missing in July 2022 while walking home. Her phone stopped pinging on her walk home between 10:21 and 10:26 PM. And she never made it home. 

Her remains were discovered in February 2023. They were found roughly 20 miles away from her last known location. During a search of the area, police found a firearm reported missing by Bryant on the night of her disappearance. 

The discovery “directly linked” the then-officer to the crime.

Although the Doraville department initially accused Bryant only of covering up Morales' death, they now believe he was directly responsible. They say they came to this conclusion after monitoring his activities following his dismissal from the force. 

Authorities are considering that Bryant may have also raped Morales before killing her. And it is not reported if DNA testing has been done.

"What we do know is that she died at the hands of Miles Bryant," said Gwinnett County Police Chief James McClure. As of now, there are no other suspects or persons of interest in the ongoing investigation.

Justice for Susana

The Morales family claims they have been stonewalled from the beginning of the investigation. 

On the night she went missing the local police told them that they had to wait 48 hours to report. And when they did report her missing the police insisted Susana was a runaway.

The police investigation started only after her body was found. And sadly, Miles Bryant was a police officer until "just before" he was charged with murder. 

And the police have not allowed them to know what’s going on in Susana’s case.

The Morales family wants Bryant convicted of Susana's death. And they are upset that the police did not initially investigate. And are not transparent with what is going on in the case.

They created a website, Justice 4 Susana to spread awareness of the situation. And to accept donations in Susana's name. 

On their case details page, there is a list of demands written by the family.

This includes 1) a fair and transparent investigation from the Doraville County Police Department, 2) all charges filed against Bryant, 3) his conviction of first-degree murder, and 4) acknowledgment that Title 35 of the Georgia Code was violated when the officers told the family to wait 48 hours before reporting Susana missing.

Additionally, on Change.org the family seeks 2500 signatures to bring more media attention to Susana’s case.

Bryant was previously accused of stalking

21-year-old Elesha Bates accused Bryant of stalking her just weeks before Morales went missing.

Bates said she first met Bryant in the fifth grade. And Bates’ neighbor gave her Ring camera footage of him repeatedly trying to break into her home. The video shows he successfully, got inside at one point.

Bates reported Bryant to his then-employer, the Doraville Police Department. They claim to have conducted an internal investigation. And say they reprimanded Bryant. 

However, the Gwinnett County department says it has no idea why nobody followed up on the woman's claims.

Susana's older sister, Jasmine, continues to ask for additional information online as she and her family cope with recent developments. 

"That's why I did a post for anybody with information to come forward because all that can be used as evidence against him. He is the only one who knows what happened," she said.

The investigation into Morales' death is ongoing, and authorities urge anyone with information to come forward.