Missing 16-year-old girl killed, ‘dismembered’ after meeting man on social media, police say
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (WWSB/Gray News) - A missing 16-year-old girl from Florida was killed and dismembered after meeting a man on social media, according to authorities.
On Thursday, March 6th, a witness contacted police and said they had information about a possible kidnapping and homicide involving a missing teen.
Detectives learned that 16-year-old Miranda Corsette was lured through a social media app to meet 35-year-old Steven Gress on Valentine’s Day.
After meeting him, she went home and then the next day she returned to his home.
Miranda remained with Gress and his girlfriend, 37-year-old Michelle Brandes at the home.
Police said on Feb. 20, a dispute occurred and she was beaten. Authorities believe sometime between Feb 20. and Feb.24, she was killed.
Gress then allegedly put her body in a car and drove to a house, police said.
Evidence at the home indicates that her body was dismembered, driven to another county and placed in a dumpster.
Detectives located the dumpster and are working to find the body.
Gress is in custody, where he was already in jail on unrelated charges.
Police arrested him on March 5th for pointing a harpoon at his girlfriend and for possessing drugs.
He also faces a kidnapping charge in the disappearance of Miranda.
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