A Florida sicko laughed in courtroom Wednesday as he pleaded responsible to luring a 16-year-old lady to his residence then killing and dismembering her physique — and is looking for the demise penalty for himself.
Steven Gress, 37, appeared smiling in a Pinellas County courtroom Wednesday morning and adjusted his plea to responsible on costs of kidnapping and first-degree homicide within the February 2025 killing of Miranda Corsette, the Tampa Bay Occasions reported.
Gress advised the courtroom he felt it was “the appropriate factor to do,” however maintained he didn’t truly kill Corsette.
“I didn’t kill Miranda, however I used to be concerned in sure issues that led to her demise,” he mentioned.
Gress had beforehand appeared earlier than the courtroom in July, the place he advised Decide Philip Federico he wished to enter a responsible plea and requested the demise penalty, in keeping with the outlet.
Nevertheless, Federico ordered a competency examination earlier than he would settle for the plea.
Courtroom psychologist Dr. Mark Crawford advised the choose Wednesday that Gress was “very open, very respectful, very cooperative” through the analysis and believed “he can freely and voluntarily enter a plea.”
“His resolution isn’t contaminated by any psychological sickness,” Crawford mentioned.
Federico then known as Gress to strategy the bench to verify he was absolutely conscious {that a} responsible plea will land him both life in jail with out parole or a demise sentence.
“I need you to grasp the importance of what we’re speaking about as we undergo this course of,” Federico mentioned.
“Sure, sir,” Gress replied.
He then supplied a chilling rationalization for his plea.
“Life or demise is a lose-lose,” Gress mentioned, then chuckled. “I’d relatively do the lesser time than spend the subsequent 53 years of my life behind bars.”
Gress lured Corsette to his residence by the courting app Grindr on Valentine’s Day 2025, in keeping with St. Petersburg police.
Gress picked the 16-year-old up from her grandmother’s residence in Gulfport and introduced her to his condominium in St. Petersburg — the place his accomplice, Michelle Brandes, was ready.
Gress and Brandes then beat, sexually abused and tortured Corsette for per week after he accused her of stealing a hoop from the condominium.
“This little bitch stole my ring and gained’t give it again, so I’ve been beating her ass,” he advised one neighbor who noticed Corsette at his residence, in keeping with an affidavit obtained by the outlet.
Gress’ mom later advised police he had despatched her pictures of the lady — nude, bruised and in more and more worse situation.
Officers mentioned that Corsette was killed between February twentieth and twenty fourth.
After his arrest on March 5, Gress advised police that Brandes pressured a billiard ball into Miranda’s throat and wrapped her face in plastic.
He claimed he couldn’t get to her in time to poke holes within the plastic so she may breathe, in keeping with the affidavit.
The pair then drove Miranda’s physique to Brandes’ mom’s home in Largo, the place Gress dismembered her with a chainsaw earlier than stuffing her stays in trash baggage and dumping them in a dumpster, police mentioned.
Brandes later admitted that she discovered the ring Corsette was accused of stealing in Gress’ automobile, in keeping with the affidavit.
“She stole my ring; I wished to get my ring again,” Gress advised the courtroom on Wednesday earlier than accepting “duty” and pleading responsible.
“I wish to say that I do consider that she killed herself, and I say that as a result of she had the Saran Wrap on her face, however she was free to tug it off her face,” Gress mentioned, in keeping with the Tampa Bay Occasions.
After getting into his responsible plea, Gress waived his proper to a jury trial for the penalty part of the case.
A pre-trial listening to for his penalty part is ready for Nov. 4.
Brandes turned herself over to police on March 8, 2025. She has entered a not responsible plea to kidnapping and homicide costs and faces a possible demise sentence if convicted.
A pretrial listening to for Brandes is scheduled for Oct. 22, 2026.
