Miles Bryant, a former police officer in Georgia, has been found guilty of kidnapping and murdering a teenage girl. He was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole following a jury’s verdict on Wednesday, July 12, according to reports WSB-TV.
Bryant was convicted of multiple charges, including malice murder, felony murder, kidnapping, and filing a false report of a crime. However, he was acquitted of the charge of criminal attempt to commit rape.
The case revolves around the tragic death of 16-year-old Susana Morales, who went missing in July 2022. Her remains were discovered in February 2023, leading to Bryant’s arrest shortly thereafter, as previously reported by PEOPLE.
Before receiving his sentence, Bryant, who formerly served with the Doraville Police Department, addressed the court briefly. “I just want to apologize to everybody, to the victim’s family, that’s it,” he said, according to Fox 5’s report.
Special prosecutor Brandon Delfunt urged the judge to deliver the maximum sentence, describing Bryant as a “monster,” according to WSB.
Susana’s family also spoke in court, expressing their grief and the lasting impact of her death. “All I ever wanted was justice for what happened to her,” Susana’s younger sister said, per Fox 5. “I want to thank you for that.”
Speaking through an interpreter, Susana’s mother, Maria Bran, shared her anguish with the judge. “Every night I can’t sleep without thinking about her,” she said, as reported by Fox 5.
During the trial, the evidence presented included several incriminating internet searches made by Bryant. These searches included queries such as “How long does it take a body to decompose?” and “How are you id by dental records?” reported by 11Alive.
Bryant was identified as a suspect after investigators found his gun near Susana’s body. The details of the searches and the discovery of the weapon played a crucial role in the jury’s decision.
The guilty verdict and subsequent sentencing bring some measure of closure to Susana Morales’s family, who have been seeking justice since her disappearance. The case highlights the severe breach of trust and the devastating impact of such crimes on victims’ families and communities.
