ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — A teenage girl who had been reported missing out of St. Petersburg was killed by a man who “lured” her through social media, according to police.
At a press conference on Friday, St. Pete Police Chief Anthony Holloway said a witness came forward with information about a possible kidnapping and homicide involving a missing teen.
During their investigation, detectives reportedly learned that 16-year-old Miranda Corsette was contacted by Steven Gress, 35, on social media. Holloway said on Feb. 14, Gress went to Miranda’s home, picked her up and then took her to his duplex located on 27th Avenue North.
After the first meeting, police say he took Miranda back to her home. However, she returned to his home the next day.
Through tips and further investigation, detectives learned there was “some type of dispute over some missing jewelry” at the house on Feb. 20, according to Holloway.
Holloway added that from Feb. 20-24, Miranda was “beaten, tortured because they could not find this piece of jewelry.” As a result, detectives believe that Miranda was killed during that time frame.
Gress — along with his “domestic partner,” Michelle Brandes — put the 16-year-old’s body in the car and drove her to a house on Mallory Drive in Largo, according to police.
Largo detectives were able to find evidence that Miranda was “dismembered” at that location. Then the couple drove her down to Ruskin where they dumped her body into a dumpster, according to Holloway.
At the press conference, Holloway said Miranda’s body is “possibly in a landfill” in Hillsborough County, and detectives are working to find her body.
Gress’s landlord, David Horton, says Gress was a menace for months at the duplex he rented, shooting holes into walls with a BB gun, and when police entered the apartment, animal feces was on the ground, furniture was torn apart, and sex dolls were inside.
“There was some really loud explosion or something thathappened in there early in February,” he says. “That’s when I had had it with him and I said, ‘that’sit. You’re going to have to get out.’ And he didn’t move out so I started an eviction after that.”
Horton credits the tenant in the unit upstairs with recording video of Gress threatening Brandes with a harpoon gun on Wednesday, leading to his arrest.
“I believe if it wasn’t for her, he may have gotten away withit a little longer,” he says. “He may have gotten away with it indefinitely.”
“All the parents out there — please, please, I’m begging you — please make sure you know what your kids are doing on social media,” Holloway said. “To the kids also, if someone is contacting you and are not a family member, please let your family know.”
Police confirmed Friday evening that Corsette had an 11-month-old baby.
Police say Gress was already in custody for “pointing a harpoon at his domestic partner” and for possession of drugs. He is still in Pinellas County Jail.
At first, Gress was being charged with kidnapping in the disappearance of Miranda. But, as of Friday evening, he is also now charged with first-degree murder in Miranda’s death.
On Saturday, the St. Petersburg Police Department confirmed that Brandes turned herself in. She is also charged with first-degree murder. That same morning, Gress faced a judge for his first appearance, where he was ordered to be held without bond and assigned a public defender.
