Steven Gress played miniature golf with dismembered teen Miranda Corsette inside his car: cops

A Florida man pleaded guilty to first-degree murder and kidnapping after a missing teenage mother was tortured and dismembered, according to court records.

Steven Gress, 37, previously lived in a duplex in St. Petersburg, Florida, police said.

The victim was identified as 16-year-old Miranda Corsette, authorities said.

Corsette lived with her grandmother in Gulfport, Florida, and was the mother of an 11-month-old baby, according to police.

On February 14, 2025, Corsette met Gress through Grindr and went to his duplex, investigators said.

Corsette returned home after their first meeting, police said. She went back to the St. Petersburg residence on February 15, 2025, according to court documents.

After returning to the duplex, Corsette remained there with Gress and his domestic partner, then-37-year-old Michelle Brandes, authorities said.

Gress later accused Corsette of stealing a ring from the home, according to investigators.

On February 20, 2025, the dispute became violent, police said.

Corsette was beaten and tortured over several days while being held at the residence, authorities said. At least six people either saw Corsette or knew she was being held against her will before she was killed, according to court records.

Gress sent photographs of Corsette nude, bruised and injured to several people, including his mother, investigators said. None of the people who allegedly received the photographs contacted authorities, police said.

Gress admitted beating Corsette while attempting to recover the missing ring, according to court records. He later accused Brandes of causing the teenager’s death, investigators said.

Brandes forced a billiard ball inside a sock into Corsette’s mouth before wrapping plastic around her head, a witness told investigators.

Corsette suffocated from the assault, authorities said.

Corsette was killed sometime between February 20 and February 24, 2025, authorities said.

After Corsette died, her body was transported to another home in Largo, Florida, investigators said.

Evidence showed Corsette’s body was dismembered at the Largo residence, according to authorities.

Gress and Brandes placed Corsette’s remains into garbage bags and loaded them into a vehicle, according to a witness.

Before disposing of the remains, the pair and another woman stopped for food and played miniature golf, a witness told investigators. Corsette’s dismembered body remained inside the vehicle while they played, according to the witness.

The remains were later dumped in a dumpster in Ruskin, Florida, authorities said.

The contents of the dumpster were transported to an incinerator before investigators learned what had happened, preventing authorities from recovering Corsette’s body, police said.

Investigators later found the ring Corsette had allegedly been tortured over inside Gress’ vehicle, police said. Authorities confirmed there was no evidence Corsette ever stole it.

On February 24, 2025, Corsette’s grandmother reported the 16-year-old missing, according to police.

Gress was already in jail after being arrested on March 5, 2025, in an unrelated domestic incident involving Brandes, court records show. On March 6, 2025, a witness contacted authorities and reported having information about a possible kidnapping and homicide, police said.

Investigators subsequently charged Gress with kidnapping and first-degree murder, according to court documents.

Brandes turned herself in on March 8, 2025, and was also charged with first-degree murder, authorities said.

Prosecutors announced they would seek the death penalty against both defendants, court records show.

On July 22, 2026, the 37-year-old defendant interrupted a court hearing and told the judge he wanted to plead guilty, according to court records.

“I’ll take the death penalty; I don’t want to go to trial,” Gress told the court.

When the judge explained that a penalty phase would still be required, Gress said he wanted the judge, rather than a jury, to decide whether he should be executed, court records show.

On August 19, 2026, Gress pleaded guilty to first-degree murder and kidnapping, according to court documents.

Despite pleading guilty, Gress continued claiming Brandes was the person who actually caused Corsette’s death, court records show. He waived his right to have a jury make a sentencing recommendation and again asked the judge to determine whether he should receive the death penalty, court documents state.

Gress is scheduled to begin the penalty phase on November 4, 2026, where the judge will determine whether he is sentenced to life in prison or death, according to court records.

Michelle Brandes, 38, has pleaded not guilty, and her murder case remains pending, court records show.