Missing Florida Teen: Miranda Coretti Murder Case After Online Dating App Meeting
In a chilling case unfolding in Florida, 16-year-old Miranda Coretti's disappearance has evolved into a homicide investigation that has shocked the St. Petersburg community. The teen, who was also mother to an 11-month-old daughter, was last seen by her grandmother on February 15, 2025. Living with her grandmother after losing both parents, Miranda was reported missing on February 24 after failing to return home.
The investigation led authorities to 35-year-old Steven Grass and his partner Michelle Bryan, who allegedly lured the teenager through a dating app on Valentine's Day. Police believe Miranda returned to their residence the following day, where a dispute over a supposedly stolen ring escalated to violence. According to investigators, the teen was held against her will, subjected to torture, and ultimately killed between February 20-24. Witness testimony and evidence collection have been crucial in piecing together this tragic case as authorities continue searching a landfill for Miranda's remains.
Key Takeaways
A 16-year-old mother disappeared after meeting a 35-year-old man through a dating app, leading to a homicide investigation with two suspects in custody.
The victim was allegedly held captive for several days, tortured over accusations of theft, and ultimately killed through suffocation.
Authorities are currently searching a landfill for the victim's remains after witnesses reported seeing the body being transported from the suspects' residence.
Case Summary
Incident Report
In February 2025, a 16-year-old girl from Gulfport, Florida became the victim of a heinous crime after meeting an older man through a dating application. The teenager, who was a young mother to an 11-month-old child, was allegedly held captive, tortured, and ultimately killed by a 35-year-old man and his female partner. The suspects are accused of disposing of her remains in a dumpster, leading authorities to conduct an extensive search at a landfill.
Victim Information
The 16-year-old victim was a resident of Gulfport, Florida, born in 2000. She had experienced significant hardship in her young life, having lost both parents and subsequently living with her grandmother. As a teenage mother to an 11-month-old daughter, she relied on her grandmother's assistance with childcare. Law enforcement officials noted that she had previously struggled with mental health issues and substance abuse. Despite occasionally leaving home, she typically returned promptly, which made her extended absence in February particularly concerning.
Critical Information from Official Briefing
Authorities revealed that the victim connected with the 35-year-old male suspect through a dating application on February 14, 2025. After spending Valentine's Day together, she returned to his residence the following day. According to witness statements, the victim remained at the suspect's home from February 15-20, 2025, when a confrontation erupted over allegedly stolen jewelry.
Timeline of events:
February 14: Initial meeting after connecting via dating app
February 15: Victim returns to suspect's home
February 15-20: Victim remains at the residence
February 20-24: Period during which authorities believe the homicide occurred
February 24: Victim reported missing by her grandmother
March 6: Witness provides crucial information to law enforcement
The investigation revealed that the suspects allegedly:
Accused the victim of stealing a ring
Held her against her will for over a week
Subjected her to repeated beatings
Caused her death by suffocation
Transported her body to another location for dismemberment
Disposed of remains in a Hillsborough County dumpster
Investigation Timeline
Initial Report and Police Response
Miranda Coretti, a 16-year-old from Gulfport, Florida, was last seen by her grandmother on February 15, 2025. Her grandmother reported her missing to Gulfport Police on February 24, 2025. According to Commander Mary Faren, law enforcement was familiar with Miranda as she had previously left home temporarily but always returned. Miranda, who was homeschooled, had an 11-month-old daughter and faced challenges including mental health issues and substance abuse.
Witness Statements and Apprehensions
A breakthrough in the case came on March 6, 2025, when a witness contacted authorities with critical information about a potential kidnapping and homicide involving the missing teenager. This tip proved invaluable to investigators building their case. Following this information, police discovered Miranda had connected with 35-year-old Steven Grass through a dating application and visited his residence.
Witnesses reported seeing Miranda at Steven's home with his partner Michelle Bryant between February 15-20, 2025. These same witnesses later observed what appeared to be a body being moved to a vehicle. Their testimonies provided crucial details that led to the arrests of the suspects involved in Miranda's disappearance.
Key Suspects Under Investigation
Steven Grass, 35, allegedly lured Miranda to his residence on February 14, 2025, via a dating app to celebrate Valentine's Day. After he drove her home that evening, she returned to his residence independently the following day. According to police reports, Miranda remained at Steven's home from February 15-20, 2025, when a confrontation occurred.
Investigators believe Steven and his partner Michelle accused Miranda of stealing a ring, which led to her being held against her will and subjected to severe physical abuse. According to arrest documents, the couple tortured Miranda by repeatedly beating her and ultimately caused her death by suffocating her with plastic wrap after forcing a billiard ball into her mouth. The investigation indicates that after her death, the suspects transported her body to a residence in Largo, Florida, where they allegedly dismembered her remains before disposing of them in a dumpster in Hillsborough County.
Background of the Accused
Previous Offenses of the Suspects
Steven Gras, 35, has an extensive history of criminal behavior prior to his involvement in Miranda Coretti's case. His record shows a pattern of concerning behavior that culminated in this tragic incident. Michelle Bray, his partner, also has previous legal troubles including theft charges. Their combined history of substance distribution and substance abuse created a volatile environment. Both suspects were known to law enforcement before the current homicide investigation began.
Suspect Questioning and Physical Evidence
During questioning, both suspects provided contradictory statements about Miranda's whereabouts between February 15-24, 2025. Physical evidence recovered from Steven's residence included signs of restraint and violence. The investigation uncovered witnesses who observed Miranda at the suspects' home and later saw her body being transferred to a vehicle. Forensic teams found evidence at Michelle's mother's home in Largo indicating dismemberment occurred there. Cell phone records placed both suspects at the dumpster location in Hillsborough County where they allegedly disposed of Miranda's remains. Police recovered plastic wrap and other items consistent with the reported method of suffocation from the suspects' residence.
Crime Investigation
Events Leading to Miranda's Disappearance
Miranda Coretti, a 16-year-old mother from Gulfport, Florida, initially connected with 35-year-old Steve Grass through a dating application. Their first interaction occurred on February 14, 2025, when Grass picked her up to spend Valentine's Day together before returning her home. The following day, February 15, Miranda traveled to Grass's residence independently. This was the last day her grandmother saw her.
Miranda lived with her grandmother, who helped care for her 11-month-old daughter. Both of Miranda's parents were deceased, and she reportedly struggled with mental health issues and substance abuse. Although she had a history of temporarily leaving home, she typically returned promptly, which led her grandmother to file a missing person report on February 24 when Miranda failed to return.
Witnesses later confirmed seeing Miranda at Grass's home between February 15-20, 2025, where she was in the company of both Grass and his partner, Michelle Bray.
Alleged Murder and Disposal
The investigation revealed that on February 20, a dispute erupted when Grass and Bray accused Miranda of stealing a ring. This accusation escalated into violence, with the couple allegedly:
Holding Miranda against her will
Subjecting her to repeated beatings
Torturing her to extract information about the supposedly stolen item
According to the arrest affidavit, the torture culminated in them forcing a billiard ball into Miranda's mouth and wrapping her face with plastic wrap, causing her to suffocate. Investigators believe Miranda's death occurred between February 20-24, 2025.
After the murder, witnesses reported seeing Miranda's body being placed in a vehicle. The investigation determined that Grass and Bray transported her remains to a house on Mallery Drive in Largo, Florida—the residence of Bray's mother. Evidence collected at this location indicated that Miranda's body had been dismembered there.
The couple then allegedly transported the remains to a dumpster located on 14th Avenue Southeast in Hillsborough County. Law enforcement has identified the dumpster and initiated a search for Miranda's remains in a landfill, though recovery efforts remain ongoing.
Public Involvement
The investigation into Miranda Coretti's disappearance has critically relied on community assistance. One witness stepped forward on March 6, 2025, providing essential information about a potential kidnapping and homicide involving the missing teenager. This tip came after authorities had already begun investigating the disappearance of the 16-year-old mother.
Law enforcement officials have emphasized the importance of public cooperation in this case. They are actively seeking additional witnesses who may have information about Miranda's whereabouts between February 15-24, 2025, particularly anyone who saw her with Steven Gras or Michelle Bry.
The St. Petersburg Police Department has established multiple channels for the public to submit information:
Phone hotline: Available 24/7 for immediate tips
Online tip submission: For those who prefer to provide information electronically
Anonymous reporting options: For witnesses concerned about their safety
Authorities acknowledge that some witnesses may have delayed reporting what they knew due to fear or uncertainty. However, they emphasize that all information, regardless of when it's provided, can prove valuable to the investigation.
Police are particularly interested in speaking with anyone who may have observed suspicious activity near the dumpster in Hillsboro County or the residence on Mallerie Drive in Largo. Community awareness has been heightened through missing person flyers and local media coverage.
The search for Miranda's remains continues in a landfill, with investigators following the evidence trail provided by witness statements. The timeline established through public assistance has been crucial in reconstructing the events leading to her disappearance.
Court Actions
This section details the ongoing legal proceedings against two individuals charged in the death of a missing teenager.
Criminal Charges Filed
Two suspects face serious allegations in connection with the disappearance and death of a 16-year-old mother from Gulfport. Steven Grass, 35, and his partner Michelle Bryant have been arrested and charged with murder after allegedly luring the teen through a dating application. The victim, who had an 11-month-old daughter, was initially reported missing by her grandmother on February 24, 2025, after not returning home since February 15. Authorities believe the teenager was held against her will for approximately a week before being killed. The charges include kidnapping, torture, and murder, with the prosecution citing witness statements that place the victim at the suspects' residence during the timeframe in question.
Search for Remains in Waste Disposal Site
Police have launched an extensive search operation at a local landfill to locate the victim's remains. According to investigators, the suspects allegedly transported the teenager's body to a secondary location in Largo, Florida, where dismemberment occurred. The remains were then reportedly disposed of in a dumpster located in Hillsborough County. Despite the challenging conditions, authorities remain committed to recovering physical evidence to strengthen their case. The search effort has been complicated by the time elapsed between the suspected disposal and the beginning of the recovery operation. Law enforcement officials continue to request public assistance, as witness information has proven crucial in the investigation thus far.
