A Florida couple has been arrested and charged with the kidnapping, murder, and dismemberment of a 16-year-old girl who was reported missing last month, according to St. Petersburg police. Miranda Corsette, a teenager who lived with her grandmother and was the mother of an 11-month-old baby, was allegedly lured through a social media app by 35-year-old Steven Gress before being killed and discarded in a dumpster.
Corsette was first reported missing on February 24 by her grandmother, who told authorities the teen had a history of running away but always returned home. “She just didn’t come back in a timely manner this time,” said Gulfport Acting Police Chief Mary Farrand during a press conference.
More: Drug Addict Stabs Girlfriend to Death, Claims “I’m a King, Can’t Live Without My Queen”
More: Wisconsin Family Pleads for Help in Search for Missing 13-Year-Old Girl
Police revealed that Corsette met Gress through an online dating app and visited his home on February 14. She returned the following day and stayed with Gress and his domestic partner, 37-year-old Michelle Brandes. Investigators believe Corsette was killed between February 20 and 24 after an argument erupted over missing jewelry, per Fox 13 News.
“From the 20th through the 24th, she was beaten and tortured because they could not find this piece of jewelry,” said St. Petersburg Police Chief Anthony Holloway. After her death, Gress allegedly transported Corsette’s body to a home in Largo, Florida, owned by Brandes’ mother, where she was dismembered. Her remains were then driven to Hillsborough County and placed in a dumpster.
More: North Carolina Mom Under Investigation After 3-Year-Old Fatally Shoots 5-Year-Old Daughter
More: Woman Found Dead in Idyllic French Village After Months of Chilling Threats
Authorities received a tip about Corsette’s disappearance and death on March 7. Brandes turned herself in on Saturday and faces a first-degree murder charge. Gress, who was arrested on March 5 for unrelated charges, has also been charged with first-degree murder and kidnapping.
“This is a horrific crime,” Holloway said. “We want to ensure that we bring justice to Miranda.” Detectives are continuing to search for Corsette’s remains in the dumpster. The case has shocked the community, highlighting the dangers of online predators and the vulnerability of runaway teens.
For You:
- Ben Affleck reportedly Eyes High Profile Romance with Angelina Jolie after JLo Split
- 3-Year-Old Girl Dies Hours After Being Sent Home for ‘Rash
- Omar Stirs Controversy with Profane Response to Reporter on Deportation Case
- ‘That Man Loves Me So Much’: Meghan Markle Calls Prince Harry Her ‘Super Mario Hero’ in Tearful Tribute to Their Dream Life
- George Clooney’s Wife Drawn Into ICC Clash as Trump Officials Tighten Travel Rules