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ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (WFLA) —There’s more insight into a case involving the death of a 16-year-old and the couple charged with her murder.
The suspected accomplice in the kidnapping, murder, and dismembering of Miranda Corsette turned herself in Saturday morning.
Michelle Ayleen Vega, 37, who went by the name Michelle Brandes, surrendered after her accomplice, Steven Gress, 35, appeared in court asking where she was.
Corsette was beaten and tortured for days inside a duplex, according to investigators.
Investigators say Gress connected with the Gulfport teen on Valentine’s Day on a social media app.
“Through their investigation, detectives learned that 16-year-old Miranda Corsette was lured through a social media app to meet 35-year-old Steven Gress on February 14,” a statement from the St. Petersburg Police Department read.
Police conducted a welfare check before Gress met Corsette.
According to detectives, Corsette was killed sometime between Feb. 20 and Feb. 24.
Corsette was homeschooled and lived with her grandmother before she was reported missing to Gulfport police on Feb. 24.
Detectives said Gress loaded Corsette’s body into a car before driving to a house at Mallory Drive in Largo where evidence suggested she was dismembered.
Her body was then driven to Hillsborough County and placed in a dumpster in Ruskin.
Detectives are still trying to locate Corsette’s remains.
Gress was arrested on March 5 for possession of drugs and pointing a harpoon at Vega.
As of March 6, Gress was charged in the kidnapping and disappearance of Corsette.