Authorities say the Florida couple allegedly lured, tortured and murdered their teenage mother.
Miranda Corsett (16-year-old mother of an 11-month-old baby) is said to have met 35-year-old Steve Gress on a dating app. After that, I went to a residence in St. Petersburg on Valentine's Day.
Gress and Brandy slammed the victim over seven days, repeatedly against her will, and eventually suffocating her by stuffing a ball of billiards into her mouth and wrapping her face in plastic wrap.
Corsett is said to have returned to his grandmother's house in Gulfport the next day, but soon returned to Gres' house that day. Police said the corsett stayed there for days with Gres and his domestic partner, 37-year-old Michelle Brandes.
On February 24th, Corsett's grandmother reported missing to the Gulfport Police Station. Corsett's parents died, and corsett was homeschooled and lived with his grandmother, said Anthony Holloway, the Chief of Police of St. Petersburg. Press conference.
“We're very knowledgeable about Miranda.” I said Commander Mary Farland, who is also Gulfport's deputy police chief. “She is frequently out of control and has a history of mental health issues as well as drug abuse. Her grandmother is her main caregiver at this point.”
Farland didn't report her corset missing for several days, and her grandmother said her granddaughter “usually going home,” and her grandmother “didn't report her missing every time she left.
On March 6, witnesses contacted police with tips on the missing teenager's lure and possible murder, and detectives determined that the corset was the missing teenager with tips mentioned.
On February 20, Brandes and Gres accused her teenage mother of stealing the ring, according to an arrest affidavit.
Chief Holloway said the couple beat the corset and tortured them.
Tampa Bay TimesCiting the affidavit, Gres and Brande reported, “for over seven days, they repeatedly violated the victim, ending up packing a billiard ball into their mouth, wrapped in plastic wrap, and suffocated her and tortured her.”
St. Petersburg Police Station has a look at corsets statement“Between February 20th and February 24th, she was killed.”
Police said Gress put the corset body in his car and drove it to a nearby Largo home. The detective found evidence that the corset had fallen apart there.
Chief Holloway I said Brandes' mother owns the Lago home.
Police said Gres and Brande drove about 50 miles to throw their bodies in Ruskin's trash can.
The detective finds the trash can, but has yet to find the body of the teenage girl. On Friday, police said they believe her body is likely to be in the reclaimed land.
Gres had already been jailed for unrelated charges when the charges about the corset were revealed.
On March 6, Gres was arrested, resisted aggravated attack, arrested and charged with possession of methamphetamine and marijuana, records show. Police said Gres pointed out har to Brandes.
In the case of a missing teenager, Gress was charged with first-degree murder and lure.
Gres was being held at the Pinellas County Jail without bail.
Court records show that an assistant's public defense counsel was appointed to represent him and entered an innocent petition on his behalf.
Brand relied on police on Saturday morning. She is charged with first-degree murder in connection with Corset's death.
“This is still a very aggressive investigation and more charges are expected,” the St. Petersburg Police Station said.
Anyone with information about this incident is encouraged to contact the St. Petersburg Police Station at 727-893-7780.
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