NORCROSS, Ga. — Two missing teens from the same Gwinnett County high school were found dead hours apart from one another.
Both students attended Meadowcreek High School but police say the two cases are not related.
Human remains found near the Gwinnett-Barrow county line were identified as 16-year-old Susana Morales. She had been missing for more than six months. A passerby found her remains in Dacula along Drowning Creek Road Monday night on Highway 316, according to police.
Another teen, Rodrigo Floriano Mayen, was found dead from an alleged overdose, police said. A 17-year-old is charged with concealing his death and is currently in the Gwinnett County jail.
The family tells 11Alive that he was found at a house on Andover Way in Tucker Monday morning by his parents after they got tips on social media that he was there. They said the teen arrested was his best friend.
Rodrigo Floriano Mayen's mother Francisca Mayen said she doesn't have words to describe what she feels.
"I feel as if my whole world has crumbled around me," she said.
Francisca Mayen said police need to get to the bottom of this.
"Because we did their job which was to find him. I gave police leads. I told them where he was, where they needed to go. I found him," she said.
The two deaths have left a hole in the hearts of many at the Norcross school. Principal Kevin Wood said counselors would be available to speak with any students or staff who need.
"One of the things I value about our school community is it is close, caring, and supportive," Wood said in a letter to parents. "Qualities we need at this time."
He said some first heard about the students' death on the news and on social media.
"This sad news, coupled with the way some learned about it, may raise many emotions, concerns, and questions from our school community, especially from some students."
Police have not released anything about the cause of Morales' death or if they have any suspects in the case.
"Our hearts and thoughts are with family, friends, and loved ones of both students as they cope with this tremendous personal loss," Wood said.