Missing Girl, 16, Killed, Dismembered: St. Pete Police

ST. PETERSBURG, FL — A missing 16-year-old Gulfport girl was lured last month to a St. Petersburg home, where she was eventually killed and dismembered, authorities said.

The teen, Miranda Corsette, was lured through a social media app to the 7th Avenue N. home of 35-year-old Steven Gress on Feb. 14, according to a St. Petersburg Police Department news release.

After meeting him that first time, she went home and then returned to his duplex the next day. She was reported missing to the Gulfport Police Department on Feb. 24.

Miranda stayed with Gress and his domestic partner, 37-year-old Michelle Brandes, at the home.

The girl was beaten during a Feb. 20 dispute and then killed sometime between Feb. 20 and 24, police said.

Gress put the teen's body in a car and drove to a house on Mallory Drive in Largo.

Evidence at the Largo home indicates her body was dismembered, driven to Hillsborough County and put in a dumpster at 2893 14th Ave. SE in Ruskin, police said. Detectives found the dumpster and are working to find the body.

Gress, who was already jailed on unrelated charges, is in custody. He was arrested on March 5 for pointing a harpoon at Brandes and for possessing drugs.

He also faces a kidnapping charge in Miranda’s disappearance and more charges are expected, police said.

Investigators are looking for Brandes. Anyone with information is asked to contact police at 727-893-7780 or by texting SPPD and the tip to TIP411.