A Florida couple has been arrested after allegedly luring a teenage girl to their home, torturing and suffocating her over a piece of missing jewelry, then dismembering her body and disposing of the remains in a dumpster.
The suspects, a 35-year-old man and his 37-year-old girlfriend, have been charged with first-degree murder and kidnapping in connection with the death of 16-year-old Miranda Corsette. Authorities say the man met Miranda on a dating app and picked her up on February 14, taking her to his home. After spending the day together, he drove her back to her residence. However, when she returned the following day, she would never leave alive.
Police reported that a dispute arose over missing jewelry on February 20, leading the couple to detain, beat, and torture the teenager for a week. During this time, she was repeatedly assaulted before eventually being suffocated with plastic wrap.
After the killing, the suspects transported her body approximately 15 miles to a residence in Largo, where they allegedly dismembered the remains. They then moved the body parts again, this time disposing of them in a dumpster located about 55 miles away across Tampa Bay. Investigators have located the dumpster, but by the time they did, the remains had already been transported to a landfill. Authorities continue searching for Miranda’s body.
Miranda had been living with her grandmother, who had custody of her following the deaths of both parents. She was reported missing on February 24. According to law enforcement, she was known to be a frequent runaway and had a history of mental health struggles and substance abuse. She was also the mother of an 11-month-old child. Though she had a pattern of returning home, this time was different.
Authorities uncovered the horrific details of the case after a witness came forward with information about a kidnapping and homicide. At that point, police realized they already had one of the suspects in custody on separate charges involving a weapon and drug possession. The second suspect later turned herself in to law enforcement.
During his first court appearance, the male suspect appeared unusually talkative, commenting, “They just said I suffocated,” before being cut off by his public defender, who warned him to remain silent. He also repeatedly questioned the court about the location of his co-defendant, prompting the judge to instruct him to consult with his lawyer.
Both suspects are currently being held without bond as authorities continue their investigation.
