A Florida couple is facing serious charges after allegedly murdering 16-year-old Miranda Corsette. According to a lawsuit filed by her estate, the couple met Corsette on Grindr, a dating app, where she had signed up despite being underage. The tragic events unfolded in February 2025, leading to a brutal murder that involved suffocating the young girl with a billiard ball before dismembering her body. The lawsuit claims that Grindr’s lack of proper age verification played a role in the teen’s tragic death, as it allowed predators like the accused to meet vulnerable individuals on the platform.
The Alleged Crime and How It Happened
Miranda Corsette, identified in the lawsuit as M.C., met 35-year-old Steven Gress on Grindr’s “twink” category. Gress, along with his 37-year-old girlfriend Michelle Brandes, allegedly picked up Corsette and brought her to their home. What followed was a horrifying week of abuse. Gress and Brandes are accused of torturing the teen, culminating in the suffocation of Corsette with a billiard ball and plastic wrap. After killing her, the couple reportedly drove to multiple locations to dispose of her remains, eventually dumping her body in a dumpster, where it was later incinerated.
The app Grindr is being sued for nine counts, including negligence, wrongful death, and emotional distress, for allegedly failing to verify the age of its users, which the plaintiffs argue led to the meeting between Corsette and the accused. According to the lawsuit, Grindr’s failure to implement more secure age verification systems allowed a predator to target a minor, ultimately leading to her death.
The Role of Grindr in the Tragedy
The lawsuit against Grindr accuses the app of being “reckless and careless” for relying on self-reported age information instead of implementing stronger verification methods, such as biometric age checks or facial recognition technology. Grindr’s design and marketing strategies, according to the plaintiffs, created a “dangerous platform” that attracted sexual predators targeting minors. In particular, the “twink tribe” category was allegedly used to lure young-looking individuals who could be minors.
The lawsuit points out that other dating apps have implemented more secure age verification systems, making it easier to prevent minors from accessing platforms meant for adults. Grindr’s failure to do so is argued to have directly contributed to the victim’s death.
The Couple’s Actions Following the Murder
After allegedly killing Corsette, Gress and Brandes went about their day as if nothing had happened. According to reports, the couple ate at Popeyes and played mini golf at Congo River before finally deciding to dispose of the teenager’s body. They drove 15 miles to a home in Largo, where police believe they dismembered Corsette’s remains. The couple then transported the remains to a dumpster, which was eventually taken to a landfill, leaving prosecutors to try and convict them without a body.
Investigation and Legal Consequences
Miranda Corsette’s grandmother, who had custody of her, reported her missing after Corsette failed to return home on February 24, 2025. The investigation led police to Gress, who had been previously arrested for unrelated charges. It wasn’t until a witness contacted police with information about the homicide that Gress’s involvement in the crime was uncovered. Brandes later turned herself in after the authorities connected her to the murder.
Gress and Brandes have both been charged with first-degree murder and are currently being held without bond. Prosecutors are seeking the death penalty for the couple. The case continues to unfold as pretrial hearings are scheduled for July 8, 2025.
The tragic death of Miranda Corsette raises serious concerns about the safety of minors on dating platforms. The lawsuit against Grindr sheds light on the potential dangers posed by apps that fail to properly verify user ages, allowing vulnerable individuals to be targeted by predators. As the case progresses, it serves as a stark reminder of the need for stronger safeguards on online platforms, particularly those catering to the LGBTQ+ community, to protect minors from exploitation and harm.
