A Florida man accused of dismembering a teenage girl is demanding access to dating app evidence as he and his girlfriend face capital murder charges. The case has drawn significant attention due to its gruesome details and the circumstances surrounding the alleged crime.
Steven Gres, 35, and his girlfriend Michelle Brandis reportedly lured 16-year-old Miranda Corset through the dating app Grindr. On February 14, 2023, Valentine’s Day, Miranda entered Gres’s home in St. Petersburg, Florida, and never returned. After spending the day with Gres, she reportedly returned home to her grandmother but was back at Gres’s residence the following day, where she was allegedly held captive for nearly a week and subjected to horrific abuse.
Authorities believe Miranda was killed between February 20 and 24. Her grandmother reported her missing, raising concerns due to Miranda’s history of running away. However, this time was different. Investigators later determined that Miranda was killed in Gres’s home and then transported to a residence in nearby Largo. There, Gres and Brandis allegedly dismembered her body and disposed of the remains in a dumpster, which are believed to have been incinerated.
The couple was arrested after a witness came forward with information linking them to the crime. Gres was already in custody for unrelated charges when Brandis turned herself in a few days later. Both now face the possibility of the death penalty.
Recent court developments have highlighted the defense’s efforts to obtain critical evidence. Gres’s attorneys filed a motion seeking access to communications between him and Miranda on Grindr, arguing that these messages are essential for preparing their case. They claim that the prosecution has not properly turned over this evidence, which they believe could be pivotal in establishing the dynamics of Miranda’s arrival at Gres’s home and whether she was coerced.
The prosecution has indicated it will pursue the death penalty against both Gres and Brandis, with a trial expected to delve deep into the harrowing details of Miranda’s final days. Legal experts note that the brutality of the alleged crime could sway a jury’s decision. Under Florida law, a jury must now only reach a majority decision—eight out of twelve jurors—to recommend capital punishment, a change enacted following the Parkland school shooting case.
As the case unfolds, Gres has been deemed competent to stand trial, following a court-approved mental health evaluation. His defense team has also sought to unseal juvenile records that may provide mitigating factors regarding his mental health history, potentially influencing the outcome during the penalty phase if he is convicted.
Meanwhile, Brandis’s legal team is actively preparing for her defense, having filed motions to secure funding for an investigator and scheduling depositions of witnesses. The complexity of the case continues to grow as both defendants may point fingers at each other during the trial, creating a narrative that could confuse jurors.
The tragic story of Miranda Corset has raised questions about community responsibility, as reports suggest that several individuals were aware of the abuse taking place but failed to intervene. This aspect of the case has sparked outrage and highlighted the moral obligations of bystanders in situations of known abuse.
As investigators continue to piece together the events that led to this horrific crime, the community and the nation watch closely, awaiting justice for Miranda Corset. Both Gres and Brandis remain incarcerated without bond as their legal battles loom, with their next court appearances scheduled in the coming months.
