A Florida teenager, Miranda Corsette, was reported missing on February 24, 2025, by her grandmother to the Gulfport Police Department. Nearly two weeks later, St. Petersburg Police received a call from a witness claiming they had information about the teenager’s disappearance and possible murder. The police began their investigation and found that 35-year-old Steven Gress lured Corsette off a dating app to his home in St. Petersburg, Florida. Gress and his live-in girlfriend, 37-year-old Michelle Brandes, have been arrested and are facing first-degree murder charges.
Missing Florida Teenager
Miranda Corsette was a young mother to an 11-month-old who was taking homeschool courses. She lived with her grandmother at the time of her disappearance. She was supposedly doing school when she met Steven Gress online. It was not unusual for her not to return home some days, and she attempted to run away before. When she did not show up at home the day after Valentine’s Day, her grandmother was not concerned. Strangely, she waited over a week before contacting the police to report her missing, but she possibly had some contact with Corsette during those days.
The St. Petersburg Police Department released a statement on Facebook about the initial investigation of the missing teen. Detectives discovered Gress lured Corsette through a social media app, such as a dating site. They first met on Valentine’s Day, and after their initial meeting, she went home. The following day, she returned to his duplex. She stayed in the home with Gress and his partner, Brandes. At first, this seems like a classic catfish story, but there has to be more to it if Corsette felt comfortable enough to leave freely and return the next day.
What Led to The Murder
There was an incident on February 20, 2025, which resulted in Corsette being beaten. The two accused her of stealing jewelry from them. St. Petersburg Chief Anthony Holloway said, “She was beaten and tortured because they could not find this piece of jewelry.” Police have concluded she was killed between then and the 24th, the day she was reported missing.
Gress put Corsette’s body in the back of a car and drove her to a home in Largo, where she was dismembered. Afterward, he drove to Hillsborough County to dump her remains in a dumpster. Evidence confirms these theories, and the police are working diligently to locate her body in the dumpster and nearby landfills. A separate domestic violence case against Gress led the police to the clues. They arrested him this past Wednesday on unrelated charges, including suspicion of drug possession and pointing a harpoon at his girlfriend.
Somehow, the police were able to link him to the missing teen’s disappearance. When they did, they charged him with kidnapping and first-degree murder. They began looking for Brandes, who was at least a witness to the murder, if not an accomplice. She turned herself in on Saturday, March 8, 2025, and was also charged with first-degree murder. It is unknown if they have hired attorneys, and the public defense team has declined to comment on the case.
Final Thoughts
Miranda Corsette was so young and had her whole life ahead of her. She had a baby that relied on her, and two selfish individuals took her away. The alleged jewelry theft will not stick, and the truth will come out sooner or later. The investigation is ongoing, and the police expect the two to face further charges. Chief Holloway said, “This is a horrific crime; we are still investigating it.” All that we can hope now is that her family receives justice for this senseless crime.
