A former Doraville, Georgia police officer is suspected of dumping a 16-year-old Gwinnett County girl’s naked body in the woods, according to court documents obtained by The Atlanta Journal-Constitution.

Miles Bryant, 22, was arrested Monday on one count of concealing the death of another and one count of false report of a crime, Gwinnett police announced. Investigators believe he is linked to the death of Susana Morales, who had been missing since July and was found last week near Dacula.

Bryant’s bond was denied Tuesday during his first court appearance, with the judge citing investigators’ belief that he is a danger to the community.

A warrant application states that Bryant “lives in close proximity to victim and dumped her naked body in the woods.” It also states that there was no known relationship between the two.

Morales, a Meadowcreek High School student, was reported missing the evening of July 26 when she did not return home as expected, Gwinnett police have previously said. She’d been at a friend’s house in the Norcross area and texted her mother letting her know she was walking home, but she never returned.

Her body was found nearly seven months later and more than 20 miles from where she was last seen. Her skeletal remains were found by a passerby near Drowning Creek, not far from Ga. 316, where they had been exposed to the elements for months.

It is not clear when or how she died, as investigators continue working to make that determination.

“I was shocked. I had to process it for a second,” her sister, Jasmine Morales, told Channel 2 Action News about learning of the arrest. “That explains why it took so long for us to have an answer … (but) now we know. We know something. We’re just hoping everything — everything is going to come into light soon. We’re finally going to have the closure and justice that she deserves.”

Bryant, who has since been fired from the Doraville Police Department, remains in the Gwinnett County jail.

“A now former police officer was being served felony arrest warrants by the Gwinnett Police Department in connection with the disappearance and murder of Susana Morales,” Doraville police spokeswoman Emily Heenan said. “Our prayers rest with the family and friends of Susana Morales and everyone else affected by this tragedy.”

Bryant began his career in law enforcement with the Forsyth County Sheriff’s Office in March 2020, according to records kept by Georgia’s Peace Officer Standards and Training Council. He resigned from that position to join Doraville police in May 2021, where he had been employed and in good standing since.

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