A former Georgia police officer charged with murder in the death of 16-year-old Susana Morales turned down the prosecution’s plea agreement before jury selection began Monday.
Miles Bryant, 23, told the court he was prepared to stand trial on murder charges in connection with the girl’s death. He is suspected of kidnapping and killing her while she was walking home from a friend’s house in July 2022, then dumping her naked body in the woods.
Bryant, who was fired from the Doraville Police Department due to claims in this case, resides near where Morales was last seen on Windscape Village Lane in Norcross, Georgia, according to the warrant application.
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In connection with Morales’ death, he has been accused in Gwinnett County with concealing another’s death, as well as murder and kidnapping. He was also charged with submitting a false report of a crime after allegedly falsely reporting that his gun had been taken.
According to police, Bryant falsely stated that his gun had been stolen from his personal vehicle, which he had left open on the same day Morales was reported missing. However, his gun was later located in the same forested location off Drowning Creek Road where Morales’ body was discovered.
Morales’ family first reported her missing in late July 2022, after she failed to return home one night.
In February 2023, authorities were dispatched to the area between Drowning Creek and Barrow County after someone reported seeing what they assumed were human remains in the forest. The Gwinnett Medical Examiners’ Office analyzed the remains and found that the DNA matched Morales’ dental records.
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According to Fox 5 Atlanta, during jury selection on Monday, one possible juror stated that serving on the panel in this case would be tough.
“It’s not like we’re talking about a car accident or someone stealing a watch from a store,” the possible juror explained. “It has long-lasting consequences, and it’s a scary place to be, in one of those chairs.”
If convicted, Bryant risks a life sentence without the possibility of parole.
Bryant’s defenders requested that the judge declare a mistrial after one potential juror stated during open court questioning that she had heard strange things about the defendant, arguing that this influenced potential jurors.
The prosecution, however, assured the judge that the woman’s remarks would have no negative impact on the jury pool. The judge subsequently dismissed all 14 jurors present in court during the woman’s testimony.
Bryant is also facing first-degree burglary charges in Snellville after allegedly stalking and breaking into the house of a former classmate.