The suspects, Steven Gress, 35, and Michelle Brandes, 37, now face first-degree murder charges.
Here’s what we know so far.
Miranda Corsette met Steven Gress through a dating app on February 14, 2025.
After their first meeting, she went home, but returned to his house the next day, as reported by CBS News.
Criminal investigators believe she stayed with Gress and his partner, Michelle Brandes, at their home from Feb 14 - Feb 20, when things took a disturbing turn.
Her grandmother reported her missing on February 24, 2025, but unknown to her Miranda had already died.
The Horrific Crime
According to police reports, the crime started on February 20, when the couple accused Miranda of stealing a ring in their home.
They repeatedly tortured the 16-year-old believing she had stolen the jewelry from them, according to PEOPLE.
The brutal beatings continued daily for four long days.
"From the 20th through the 24th, she was beaten and tortured because they could not find this piece of jewelry." – St. Petersburg Police Chief Anthony Holloway
On that final day, criminal investigators say Gress and Brandes took the violence to another level.
They forced a billiard ball (pool ball) into Miranda's mouth, and then completely covered her head with multiple layers of plastic wrap.
This stopped her from breathing, causing her to suffocate to death inside their home.
After killing Miranda, Gress moved her body to another house located in Largo, Florida, where he dismembered her, as reported by PEOPLE
According to police reports, crime scene technicians later found blood and tools that may have been used in the dismemberment.
After he cut her up, Gress then loaded Miranda's remains into his vehicle and drove them to Hillsborough County.
There, he dumped them in a large commercial dumpster behind a shopping plaza.
Police later recovered Miranda's remains in this dumpster on March 7 after getting tips about the crime.
Who Was Miranda Corsette?
Miranda Corsette lived with her grandmother in Gulfport, Mississippi.
Both of Miranda's parents had passed away, so her grandmother was her main caregiver.
She was homeschooled and also had an 11-month-old baby before her murder.
Police records show she sometimes ran away from home and had some personal struggles, but her family says she always came back.
But when she failed to return home this time, her grandmother reported her missing knowing that there might be a problem.
Her grandmother says she was a good girl who didn't deserve what happened.
The family is now left to care for Miranda's child while dealing with their loss.
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| Michelle Brandes |
A Troubled Home
The home where Miranda was killed had a history of problems, as reported by Fox13news
Police had been called there seven times this year alone - for fights, domestic violence, and welfare checks.
The landlord, David Horton, said his other tenants were worried about the couple for some time.
They had called him with complaints even before Miranda ever came to the house.
"My tenant upstairs called me one day," Horton told reporters.
"She told me, 'There's something bad going on down there.' But when police came, they didn't find anything wrong at the time."
Just days after Miranda disappeared, police arrested Gress in his home.
This was after he threatened his partner with a harpoon during a domestic dispute.
Neighbors reported hearing loud arguments from the home during those days but didn't realize what was happening.
"We knew they caused problems, but nobody thought it would go this far," the landlord said.
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| Steven Gress |
Justice For Miranda Corsette
Steven Gress and Michelle Brandes are now in jail, charged with Miranda's murder.
Gress was already in custody after he was arrested on March 5, 2025, for an unrelated domestic violence incident.
Brandes turned herself in on March 8 after police identified her as a suspect in the crime.
Both face first-degree murder charges with Gress facing an additional kidnapping charge.
The police chief called this "one of the most horrific cases" they've seen.
Detectives continue building their case as more evidence comes to light.
Prosecutors say they're working to make sure Miranda gets justice.
Miranda's family hopes the courts will hold her killers fully responsible for what they did.
Got a tip about a crime? Please contact Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS immediately.
You can also see how to report a crime anonymously online if you wish to remain anonymous.
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