16-Year-Old Girl Tortured & Dismembered After Couple She Met On Dating App Accused Her Of Stealing: Police

[Warning: Potentially Triggering Content]

A Florida couple is facing murder charges after cops say they met a 16-year-old through a dating app, tortured and murdered her, and dismembered her body.

On Friday, the St. Petersburg Police Department shared a press release on Facebook confirming the remains investigators had found in a dumpster in the city were those of a 16-year-old girl named Miranda Corsette (above, middle) who had been missing since February 24.

Cops claim 35-year-old Steven Gress (pictured above in his mugshot, left) and his partner, 37-year-old Michelle Brandes (above, right) were responsible for the young girl’s death. Per investigators, Gress met Miranda on an unnamed dating app and lured her to meet him at his home in St. Petersburg back on Valentine’s Day, and then once again the next day.

Cops say Miranda had been living with her 11-month old baby and her grandmother in Gulfport, Florida. More than a week later, after she didn’t come home, the grandmother reported the teen missing. Cops began to search for her, and about two weeks after the incident, that’s when they were tipped off to her death.

As for why Miranda’s grandmother didn’t report the 16-year-old missing sooner, cops in Gulfport said at a press conference they were “very familiar” with Miranda — with Commander Mary Farrand telling local media outlets the girl was “a frequent runaway” who “has a history of mental health issues as well as drug abuse.” Commander Farrand added that the teen had left many times:

“The grandmother is her primary caregiver at this time. She said she normally comes home, so she doesn’t report her missing every time she leaves. She just didn’t come back in a timely manner this time.”

According to police, what Miranda went through in the final days of her life was absolutely sickening.

Beginning on February 20, police say the teen got into a dispute with Gress and Brandes over a piece of missing jewelry. The couple accused Corsette of stealing it. When the 16-year-old denied it, they beat and tortured her over the missing jewelry FOR DAYS, according to cops. St. Petersburg Police Chief Anthony Holloway said at the press conference:

“So from the 20th through the 24th, she was beaten and tortured because they could not find this piece of jewelry.”

Miranda was killed at some point on the 24th, cops believe. Detectives claim Gress then put her body into a car and brought it to another house — purportedly belonging to Brandes’ mother — in the nearby city of Largo. Physical evidence at that home indicated Corsette was dismembered on the premises, according to police. From there, Gress allegedly drove the girl’s remains into nearby Hillsborough County and tossed them into a dumpster.

Cops were first alerted to Miranda’s plight after a tip from a witness came in last week. Less than 48 hours later, Brandes turned herself in. At the time, Gress was already in custody on a series of unrelated charges — including drug possession allegations and a claim that he pointed a harpoon (!!!) at an unidentified domestic partner.

Now, both Gress and Brandes are facing first-degree murder charges. Cops have charged Gress with kidnapping, too. Chief Holloway said he anticipates more charges coming as the investigation continues, as well, before adding: