Ex-Cop Accused of Kidnapping and Murdering 16-year-old Girl Heads to Trial

Gwinnett Daily Post Podcast

GDP Script/ Top Stories for June 5th

Publish Date: June 5th

From the Ingles Studio Welcome to the Gwinnett Daily Post Podcast.

Today is Wednesday, June 5th and Happy 52nd Birthday to actor Mark Walhberg.

***06.05.24 – BIRTHDAY – MARK WAHLBERG***

I’m Bruce Jenkins and here are your top stories presented by KIA Mall of Georgia.

1. Ex-Cop Accused of Kidnapping and Murdering 16-year-old Girl Heads to Trial
2. Sex Trafficking Pipeline Runs Through Gwinnett
3. Sex Trafficking Survivors Target Hotels Through Lawsuits

Plus, my conversation with Leah McGrath from Ingles Markets on strawberries.

All of this and more is coming up on the Gwinnett Daily Post podcast, and if you are looking for community news, we encourage you to listen daily and subscribe!

Break 1: MOG

STORY 1: Ex-Cop Accused of Kidnapping and Murdering 16-year-old Girl Heads to Trial

Former Doraville police officer Miles Bryant is on trial for the kidnapping and murder of 16-year-old Susana Morales in July 2022. Morales disappeared while walking home, and her remains were found months later. Bryant is charged with malice and felony murder, kidnapping, attempted rape, and filing a false report. He declined a guilty plea and opted for a jury trial. Jury selection faced issues after a potential juror shared negative information about Bryant. Initial charges against Bryant for concealing Morales' death and filing a false report were upgraded to include kidnapping and murder. The Doraville Police Department fired Bryant following the charges.

STORY 2: HIDDEN VICTIMS: Sex Trafficking Pipeline Runs Through Gwinnett

In October 2019, A.L., a 26-year-old woman, escaped from Earnest Bernard Reed, a self-proclaimed pimp, after being trafficked and abused for over two years. Reed, who went by "Sway Huncho," forced her into sex work, subjected her to beatings, and deprived her of basic needs. She managed to call 911 from a hotel when Reed left her alone, leading to his arrest and subsequent 20-year prison sentence for sex trafficking. Her case highlights the pervasive issue of sex trafficking in Georgia, affecting people in various settings, including hotels and private homes, with a high incidence in areas like Gwinnett County.

STORY 3: Sex Trafficking Survivors Target Hotels Through Lawsuits

Survivors of sex trafficking have been suing hotels for allowing their exploitation. Plaintiffs claim hotels ignored obvious signs of trafficking, like high visitor rates and excessive condom use, and sometimes even provided drug paraphernalia. Lawyers Jonathan Tonge and Pat McDonough, specializing in such cases, aim to make ignoring trafficking unprofitable for hotels. They’ve settled over 50 cases, with 20 ongoing. Legislative changes, like improved "rape shield" laws and a "lookback" period for civil suits, could help survivors. Post-settlement, attorneys like Cheryl Richardson manage survivors' finances to protect them from exploitation and ensure long-term stability.

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We’ll be right back

Break 2: TOM WAGES

STORY 4: HIDDEN VICTIMS: The Way Out: How Sex Trafficking Victims Escape and Survive

A.L., a 31-year-old sex trafficking survivor, was rescued in 2019 from an Atlanta hotel. For over two years, she was exploited and beaten by Earnest Reed, who profited from her suffering. Reed lured her in with a romantic relationship, then controlled her through violence and manipulation. Police rescued her from a Days Inn after she called 911, escaping while Reed was away. Since then, A.L. has rebuilt her life, found employment, and is raising her son. She lives in another state, free from drugs, and is considering studying criminal justice. Her story underscores the ongoing efforts and challenges in combating sex trafficking and supporting survivors.

STORY 5: Former Brookwood Swimmer, SwimAtlanta Coach to Compete on ‘The Bachelorette’

Thomas Nguyen, a 31-year-old from Gwinnett and Brookwood High grad, is one of 25 men competing on the 21st season of "The Bachelorette," starring Jenn Tran. Nguyen, who previously swam professionally for the Vietnamese National Team and reached NCAA Division II finals in college, now works as a retirement advisor. Known as Thomas N. from Tucker on the show, he plans to impress Tran with his Vietnamese cooking skills and romantic gestures. Nguyen hopes to find a love as strong as his parents' and is eager to start a family. The season premieres on July 8 on ABC and Hulu.

We’ll be back in a moment

Break 3: INGLES 9

And now here is my conversation with Leah McGrath from Ingles Markets on Strawberries.

***LEAH MCGRATH INERVIEW***

We’ll have final thoughts after this.

Break 4: INGLES 1

Signoff –

Thanks again for hanging out with us on today’s Gwinnett Daily Post Podcast. If you enjoy these shows, we encourage you to check out our other offerings, like the Cherokee Tribune Ledger Podcast, the Marietta Daily Journal, or the Community Podcast for Rockdale Newton and Morgan Counties. Read more about all our stories and get other great content at www.gwinnettdailypost.com/

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