Former Doraville officer loses bid for new murder trial
Former Doraville Police Officer Miles Bryant, accused in the murder of 16-year-old Susana Morales in July 2022, sits in a Gwinnett County courtroom listening to testimony on June 7, 2024. (FOX 5)
GWINNETT COUNTY, Ga. - A Gwinnett County judge on Monday denied a request for a new trial from the former Doraville police officer convicted in the 2022 disappearance and murder of 16-year-old Susana Morales.
What we know:
An order from the Gwinnett County Superior Court states that Miles Bryant's request for a retrial was denied following a review of the record and arguments heard in February.
Bryant was convicted in June 2024 of malice murder, felony murder, kidnapping, and making a false report of a crime in connection with the death of Morales.
He was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole, plus an additional 12 months.
Susana Morales (Supplied)
What we don't know:
While Bryant has been convicted, an official cause of death for Morales remains undetermined.
Medical examiner Carol Terry, M.D., previously testified that the condition of the 16-year-old's remains prevented a definitive ruling on how she died.
It also remains unclear if Bryant intends to file further appeals following this latest court order.
Dig deeper:
Initially, family members reported Morales hadn't been seen since July 26, 2022.
The night of her disappearance, Morales never returned home after visiting a friend at the Sterling Glen Apartments, where Bryant also lived at the time.
Bryant was working as a courtesy officer at the apartment complex the night Morales went missing.
Loved ones testified how they received Life360 alerts indicating a possible car crash the night Morales disappeared, followed by a sudden change in direction at high speed.
At first, investigators considered Morales a runaway.
Her remains were later found in Dacula in February 2023 along Drowning Creek Road near Highway 316, about 20 miles from where she was last seen six months earlier.
RELATED:
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- Susana Morales' mom cries on the stand during testimony
- Officer who looked for Susana Morales gives emotional testimony
- Mother, ex-girlfriend, cellmate called to testify in murder trial
- Gun found nearby Susana Morales' remains introduced as evidence
- Jury to deliberate in case of 16-year-old Susana Morales
- Body found in Gwinnett County identified as missing 16-year-old
The Source: Information in this report comes from Gwinnett County Superior Court records and prior FOX 5 reporting.