A 16-year-old girl in Florida, Miranda Corsette, was allegedly kidnapped, tortured, and murdered by Steven Gress, 35, and his partner, Michelle Brandes, 37. Corsette, reported missing on February 24, met Gress online and stayed with him for nearly a week, during which tensions escalated. After being accused of theft, she was brutally beaten and ultimately suffocated. Gress and Brandes then dismembered her body and discarded it in a dumpster. Both suspects were arrested, with Gress charged with first-degree murder and kidnapping. The investigation is ongoing, and authorities are working to recover her remains.
A 16-year-old girl from Florida was reportedly kidnapped, tortured, and murdered by a man she met online and his accomplice. Authorities arrested 35-year-old Steven Gress and his partner, 37-year-old Michelle Brandes, in relation to the horrifying death of Miranda Corsette.
Miranda, who resided with her grandmother in Gulfport, was last seen on February 24, according to ABC News. Investigators discovered that Gress had lured her via a dating app, with their first face-to-face meeting occurring on February 14. After spending the day at his duplex on 27th Avenue North in St. Petersburg, Ms. Corsette returned home to her grandmother.
The following day, she returned to Gress’ residence and stayed there.
For nearly a week, Ms. Corsette lived with Gress and Brandes until tensions escalated on February 20. The couple accused her of stealing a ring, which prompted a violent altercation.
According to authorities, Ms. Corsette was held against her will for over seven days and subjected to horrific torture. An arrest affidavit revealed that Gress and Brandes repeatedly assaulted her and ultimately suffocated her using a billiard ball and plastic wrap.
Investigators estimate that Ms. Corsette was killed between February 20 and February 24, as reported by NBC News.
After the murder, Gress allegedly moved Ms. Corsette’s body to a residence on Mallory Drive in Largo, where detectives subsequently found evidence of dismemberment. He and Brandes are believed to have transported the remains to Ruskin in Hillsborough County and disposed of them in a dumpster located at 2893 14th Ave, SE.
On March 6, nearly two weeks after Miranda was reported missing, a witness provided police with crucial details about a potential kidnapping and homicide, prompting St. Petersburg police to commence an investigation into Ms. Corsette’s whereabouts and the suspects’ activities.
By this time, Gress was already incarcerated on separate charges. He had been arrested on March 5 for aggravated assault after allegedly brandishing a harpoon at Brandes, as well as facing charges for drug possession, resisting arrest, and possession of methamphetamine and marijuana, the Tampa Bay Times reported.
Following the murder investigation, Gress was formally charged with Ms. Corsette’s kidnapping and first-degree murder. While police actively sought Brandes, she voluntarily surrendered to authorities that Saturday morning. She now faces the same charges as Gress: first-degree murder and kidnapping. The investigation is ongoing, and further charges may arise.
Police are attempting to recover the body, which is believed to be in a landfill.
Steven Gress is currently being held without bail at the Pinellas County Jail. A public defender has been appointed to represent him, and he has pleaded not guilty. Details regarding Michelle Brandes’ court appearances have yet to be disclosed.
Anyone with additional information is encouraged to contact St. Petersburg Police.