Ryan Brunn makes first court appearance

Metro Atlanta

Ryan Brunn makes first court appearance

Photos of Ryan Brunn, accused of killing 7-year-old Jorelys Rivera of Canton, first court appearance on Thursday, Dec. 8, 2011 in Cherokee County.

Ryan Brunn accused of killing 7-year-old Jorelys Rivera of Canton made his first court appearance on Thursday.

Brunn wore a bulletproof vest over his orange jail suit.

Brunn sat next to a pair of court-appointed public defenders.

Brunn is accused of gagging, binding, raping, beating and stabbing Jorelys before tossing her body into an industrial trash compactor at the apartment complex where they both lived.

None of Brunn's family members attended the hearing.

The court hearing lasted a few minutes and then Brunn was taken back to jail.

Brunn was arrested on Wednesday. He's being held without bond at jail.

Jorelys Rivera was last seen at the playground at the Canton apartment complex where she lived.

1/8

Ryan Brunn accused of killing 7-year-old Jorelys Rivera of Canton made his first court appearance on Thursday.

Today's Gallery Headlines

Georgia students organize protests against ICE after Minnesota killings

PHOTOS: Snellville's Brookwood High School students rally and march against ICE

Ice storm warning

PHOTOS: Scenes from icy winter storm in Metro Atlanta

As storm inches closer to Georgia, metro Atlanta braces for ice threat

PHOTOS: Georgia readies for incoming ice storm

01202026 day of protests

PHOTOS: Metro Atlanta ICE protest join national effort

More Galleries

World Cup draw party TKTKT

PHOTOS: Fans attend 2026 World Cup draw party in Atlanta

Randy Beck

'No body' homicide cases in Georgia

Stitch rendering 2025

PHOTOS: Renderings of Stitch project over Atlanta's Downtown Connector

People are silhouetted against a huge Pride flag before the start of the Atlanta Pride Parade on Sunday, Oct. 12, 2025. (Ben Gray for the AJC)

Photos: Atlanta Pride Parade 2025