Steven Gress, 37, pleaded guilty on Wednesday to kidnapping and first-degree murder in the February 2025 killing of 16-year-old Miranda Corsette. Gress appeared in a Pinellas County courtroom and, with a smile, stated his desire for the death penalty, telling the court he believed it was “the right thing to do” while maintaining he did not directly kill Corsette. He stated, “I did not kill Miranda, but I was involved in certain things that led to her death.”
Gress had previously expressed his wish to plead guilty and requested the death penalty in July, but Judge Philip Federico ordered a competency exam. A court psychologist, Dr. Mark Crawford, testified on Wednesday that Gress was cooperative and able to enter a plea freely and voluntarily, with his decision not influenced by mental illness.
Federico cautioned Gress about the implications of a guilty plea, which could result in life in prison without parole or a death sentence. Gress responded, “Life or death is a lose-lose. I would rather do the lesser time than spend the next 53 years of my life behind bars.”
According to St. Petersburg police, Gress lured Corsette to his apartment on Valentine's Day 2025 using the dating app Grindr. He picked her up from her grandmother's home and took her to his apartment, where his partner, Michelle Brandes, was present. Gress and Brandes are accused of holding Corsette captive for a week, during which they allegedly beat, sexually abused, and tortured her, after Gress accused her of stealing a ring.
Gress' mother reportedly told police that Gress sent her photos of Corsette in deteriorating condition. Authorities stated that Corsette was killed between February 20th and 24th, 2025.
Following his arrest on March 5, Gress told police that Brandes forced a billiard ball into Corsette's throat and wrapped her face in plastic, claiming he was unable to intervene to allow her to breathe. He further stated that he and Brandes transported Corsette's body to Brandes' mother's house in Largo, where Gress dismembered the body with a chainsaw and disposed of the remains in a dumpster. Brandes later admitted to finding the ring in Gress' car. Gress told the court, “She stole my ring; I wanted to get my ring back,” before accepting responsibility.
Gress also suggested that Corsette's death may have been self-inflicted, stating, “I would like to say that I do believe that she killed herself, and I say that because she had the Saran Wrap on her face, but she was free to pull it off her face.”
After entering his guilty plea, Gress waived his right to a jury trial for the penalty phase of the case. A pre-trial hearing for his penalty phase is scheduled for November 4.
Michelle Brandes, Gress' alleged accomplice, turned herself in to police on March 8, 2025. She has pleaded not guilty to kidnapping and murder charges and faces a potential death sentence if convicted. Her pretrial hearing is scheduled for October 22, 2026.