ABC’s 20/20 presents Tracking Susana on Friday, May 8, 2026, at 9/8c, with John Quiñones reporting on the disappearance and murder of 16-year-old Susana Morales. The two-hour special examines how a teenager’s walk home in Gwinnett County, Georgia, became a months-long search for answers.
The episode focuses on Susana’s family, the digital clues that shaped the case, and the investigation that led to former Doraville police officer Miles Bryant. It also follows the court case that ended with Bryant’s conviction for murder, kidnapping, and filing a false report.
Contents
- Susana Morales’ Final Night
- A Family-Led Search For Answers
- The Discovery Of Susana’s Remains
- The Arrest Of Miles Bryant
- Evidence And The Role Of Technology
- Trial, Conviction, And Sentence
- The Motion For A New Trial
- New Trial Denied And Appeal Filed
- Why The Case Drew Public Attention
- More “Tracking Susana”
- More Feature Articles
Susana Morales’ Final Night
Susana Morales was 16 years old when she disappeared on July 26, 2022. She had been visiting a friend at the Sterling Glen Apartments in Norcross, Georgia, and began walking home that night.
Her family later checked a phone tracking app and saw something that raised alarm. Susana’s route appeared to change from a walking path to movement consistent with being inside a vehicle. Her phone then registered a crash alert, but authorities found no crash scene and no sign of Susana.
A Family-Led Search For Answers
Susana’s family refused to accept uncertainty. Her loved ones retraced her final known steps, searched nearby areas, and looked for surveillance footage that might show where she went after leaving her friend’s home.
The 20/20 special follows that search and the emotional strain on her mother and family. For months, they lived with unanswered questions while pushing for more attention on the case.
The Discovery Of Susana’s Remains
On February 6, 2023, more than six months after Susana vanished, a passerby reported seeing what appeared to be human remains in the woods along Highway 316 near Drowning Creek Road in Dacula. Gwinnett County police and crime scene investigators responded to the area.
The remains were later identified as Susana Morales. Her discovery changed the case from a missing person investigation into a homicide investigation. It also renewed scrutiny of how the case had been handled after police had first considered her a possible runaway.
The Arrest Of Miles Bryant
Miles Bryant, a former Doraville police officer, became the central suspect. He lived at the same apartment complex where Susana had been visiting a friend before she disappeared.
Investigators connected Bryant to the case through evidence that included location data and other investigative findings. He was charged in connection with Susana’s kidnapping and murder in February 2023.
Evidence And The Role Of Technology
Technology became a major part of the case. Susana’s family had used the Life360 app to follow her location, and that data helped show the unusual movement of her phone after she left her friend’s home.
At trial, prosecutors used location evidence as part of their case against Bryant. The app data also became a key issue in later legal arguments, with Bryant’s post-trial attorneys challenging how the evidence was handled during the original trial.
Trial, Conviction, And Sentence
In June 2024, a Gwinnett County jury found Bryant guilty of malice murder, felony murder, kidnapping, and misdemeanor false report of a crime. Jurors deliberated for about six hours before returning guilty verdicts on the major counts.
Bryant was sentenced in July 2024 to life in prison without the possibility of parole, plus 12 months. The verdict gave Susana’s family a measure of justice after nearly two years of grief, searching, and court proceedings.
The Motion For A New Trial
After his conviction, Bryant’s legal team filed a motion for a new trial. The defense argued that his trial counsel had been ineffective and claimed that some testimony and evidence should have been challenged.
At a February 2026 hearing, Bryant’s former trial attorney testified about issues raised in the motion, including Life360 evidence, testimony from a jailhouse informant, and medical examiner testimony about suspected homicidal violence. The judge delayed a decision while the state prepared its response.
New Trial Denied And Appeal Filed
In April 2026, court records showed that Bryant’s request for a new trial had been denied. The court’s order left his conviction and sentence in place.
Court records also indicated that Bryant filed a notice of appeal to the Georgia Supreme Court. That means the legal process has not ended, but as of the 20/20 broadcast, Bryant remains convicted and sentenced to life in prison without parole.
Why The Case Drew Public Attention
Susana’s case drew outrage because of her age, the length of time she was missing, and the fact that the convicted killer had worked as a police officer. Her family also raised concerns that her disappearance did not receive the urgency it deserved at the beginning.
Tracking Susana examines both the personal loss and the larger questions surrounding missing teen cases, law enforcement response, and the use of digital evidence. At its center is Susana Morales, a teenager whose family fought to find the truth after her final walk home.
More “Tracking Susana”
More Feature Articles