A missing Florida teen was brutally tortured and dismembered after she met up with a man more than twice her age for Valentine’s Day.
Miranda Corsette, 16, is said to have met 35-year-old Steven Gress on a dating app, and the two got together to celebrate Valentine’s Day on February 15, St. Petersburg Police Chief Anthony Holloway announced at a news conference on Friday.
Gress picked Corsette up from her Gulfport home and took her to his house, spending the day together before Gress took her back home that evening, Holloway said, according to Fox 13.
But the next day, authorities say the teen returned to Gress’ home on her own.
By February 24, Corsette’s grandmother – who took care of and homeschooled the teen after her parents died – reported her missing.
‘We are very familiar with Miranda,’ Commander Mary Farrand, the acting police chief for the city of Gulfport said.
The commander said the the teen is also the mother of an 11-month-old baby.
‘She is a frequent runaway and she has a history of mental health issues as well as drug abuse,’ she said.
‘The grandmother is her primary caregiver at this time. She said she normally comes home, so she doesn’t report her missing every time she leaves. She just didn’t come back in a timely manner this time.’
