At least six people witnessed or knew that a 16-year-old Florida girl was being held against her will and tortured in the week before her murder, but none reported it.
Prosecutors indicted Steven Gress, 35, and Michelle Brandes, 37, on first-degree murder charges last week for the murder if Miranda Corsette. They plan to seek the death penalty.
Police belehve Miranda’s body was destroyed in a Hillsborough County incinerator according to a search warrant obtained by the Tampa Bay Times.
After eating chicken at Popeyes and playing mini golf at Congo River in Clearwater, Gress and Brandes allegedly drove through the Tampa
Bay area looking for places to dispose of the victim’s body, according to a 25-page warrant filed by the St. Petersburg Police Department.
Gress and Brandes found a dumpster near Gress’ grandparents’ home in Ruskin and disposed of Miranda, according to the warrant. Investigators believe the dumpster was taken to a landfill, where its contents—including Miranda’s remains—were incinerated, leaving prosecutors to pursue a conviction without a body.
Tle six witnesses reportedly saw Miranda with the couple or knew about her torture. Neighbors reported that Gress often took in vulnerable women.
Although no additional charges have been filed, Sixth Judicial Circuit State Attorney Bruce Bartlett told the Times that “there’s a pretty good likelihood of more to come.”
Miranda, a mother of a 1-year-old, was known for frequently running away and faced mental health and substance abuse challenges, police said. Detectives believe Gress and Miranda met through a dating app, and he brought her to his home in mid-February. He allegedly spoke to neighbors about her and bragged about inflicting harm.
Shortly after Miranda arrived at Gress’ home, he accused her of stealing his ring, which police say sparked a week of abuse and torture. As the alleged torture continued, Brandes claimed to have found the ring, prompting a roommate to suspect that Brandes had taken it to coerce Gress into abandoning Miranda.
CrimeOnline’s Nancy Grace obtained video footage from a neighbor showing Gress allegedly transporting Miranda’s body to a car.
We have just obtained what we believe to be Steven Gress…..taking her lifeless body to his vehicle and putting it in his trunk,” Grace said during Thursday’s Crime Stories episode.
Grace emphasized the significance of this footage, stating,
“These are just suspects right now, but I’ll tell you what, if NASA can do it, so can the St. Pete PD—blowing this up and lightening it up to get a look at the face on this guy.”
“This is the State’s exhibit number one.”
Along with murder charges, Gress and Brandes have been charged with kidnapping in connection with Corsette’s disappearance.
At the time of his arrest, Gress was already in county jail for a March 5 incident, in which he’s accused of pointing a harpoon at Brandes, along with drug possession.
Check back for updates.
[Feature Photo: Miranda Corsette/Handout]
