GWINNETT COUNTY, Ga. — Gwinnett County police say they need the public’s help to find out what happened to a 16-year-old whose remains were found in Gwinnett County earlier this week.
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Channel 2′s Gwinnett County Bureau Chief Matt Johnson was in Norcross, where the family of Susana Morales wants to know how she died.
The teen vanished from the area of Singleton Road and Indian Trail in Norcross in July of 2022. Her remains were found near a highway 20 miles from her home earlier this week.
Johnson has been reporting on Morales’ case since she first vanished. Back in August, he spoke to Morales’ sister, Jasmine Morales.
“It’s hard just eating sometimes,” Jasmine Morales said. “Like, I’m eating, what if she’s not eating? You know, it’s just that every single day.”
Johnson spoke to the family Thursday but they asked for privacy.
Morales was a student at Meadowcreek High School and was the second student to be found dead this week.
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Police say the deaths of Morales and 17-year-old Rodrigo Floriano are not related. Floriano is suspected to have died of a drug overdose.
His death is a heartbreaking tragedy for his parents, who Johnson spoke to.
“My heart is broke,” his mother said. “He never come back.”
Floriano’s parents found his body inside an abandoned home in Tucker on Monday.
“I made the report, and I said, I do everything,” his father said. “I find him, my family needs help to find him. we find him.”
The medical examiner’s office has ruled his death an overdose.
Police have charged Floriano’s 17-year-old friend with concealing his death. Police are still investigating how Morales died and if foul play was involved.
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Floriano’s mother said that she hopes parents start looking into the people in their kids’ lives.
“We need to check more,” she said. “Who’s the friends? Who’s the parents?”
Meadowcreek’s principal sent a letter to parents that says, in part,
“Dealing with death is hard, and it can be very challenging for high school-aged children. If you find that your child needs help or wants to talk to someone about this situation, please don’t hesitate to contact the school.”
Both families are now planning funerals.
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