Steven Gress is charged with kidnapping and first-degree murder in the death of Miranda Corsette.
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — The man accused of dismembering and murdering a St. Pete teen has been found competent to stand trial.
A judge made the decision on Wednesday during Steven Gress’ court appearance in Pinellas County. A pretrial hearing for Gress was set for Wednesday, Jan. 14, 2026.
A motion was also granted to unseal his juvenile records.
Who is Steven Gress?
St. Petersburg police say 35-year-old Gress met 16-year-old Miranda Corsette on social media, primarily using the Grindr app, before she went missing in February.
In early March, a witness came forward to police with information about a possible kidnapping and homicide involving a missing teen, leading authorities to find Gress as a suspect.
St. Pete Police Chief Anthony Holloway said that on Feb. 14, Gress went to Corsette’s home, picked her up and took her to his duplex on 27th Avenue North.
After the first meeting, police say he took Corsette back to her home. However, she returned to his home the next day.
Through tips and further investigation, detectives learned there was “some type of dispute over some missing jewelry” at the house on Feb. 20, according to Holloway.
Holloway added that from Feb. 20-24, Corsette was “beaten, tortured because they could not find this piece of jewelry.” As a result, detectives believe that she was killed during that time frame.
Gress — along with his “domestic partner,” Michelle Brandes — put the 16-year-old’s body in the car and drove her to a house on Mallory Drive in Largo, according to police.
Largo detectives were able to find evidence that Miranda was “dismembered” at that location. Then the couple drove her down to Ruskin, where they dumped her body into a dumpster, according to Holloway.
On March 13, police confirmed the trash from the dumpster where Miranda’s body was discarded was taken to the Falkenberg Transfer Center and then to the incinerator.
Gress was already in custody for “pointing a harpoon gun” at Brandes and for possession of drugs. In this incident, he is charged with kidnapping and first-degree murder.
Brandes turned herself in to police and is also charged with first-degree murder.
Police previously confirmed that Miranda had an 11-month-old baby, although no other information was provided.
Previous 10 Tampa Bay News reporting contributed to this article.