'Billiard Ball Stuffed' Into Florida Teen's Mouth in Dismemberment Case

This girl was never supposed to be in. this situation. >> Police in Florida believe [music] a. 16-year-old girl met a horrific end at. the hands of convicted felon [music]. Steven Gress and his girlfriend, reportedly suffering a week of torture. and abuse [music] before she was. reportedly killed and dismembered. And. the alleged killer's reasoning? >> I just wanted my ring back. [music]. That's it. Okay. >> Yeah, we got our hands on Gress's. interview with police where he allegedly.

revealed sickening [music]. details about the teen mother's last. days. >> I'm telling her this will be a learning. experience for everybody. >> I want to [music] take you through this. disturbing conversation and look at how. this apparent confession could impact. the ongoing legal cases. Welcome to. [music] Sidebar, presented by Law &. Crime. I'm Jesse Weber. February [music] 2025, police in Florida. receive a report of a missing teen mom. We're talking about 16-year-old Miranda. Corsett. Now, police soon learn that.

Miranda's parents were both deceased, that she had been living with her. grandmother in Gulfport, and that she. had an 11-month-old baby. Apparently. wasn't out of the ordinary for Miranda. to be away for days at a time, but when. her grandmother hadn't seen or heard. from her in more than a week, that's. when she called the police. And as. officers in Gulfport and the surrounding. areas began an investigation, this is. when a witness reportedly came forward. with a tip about what might have. happened to Miranda. And it was that tip.

that led investigators to St. Petersburg. and to these two suspects, Steven Gress. and Michelle Brandis. So, according to a. news release, Miranda apparently met. Gress through a dating app and. apparently spent Valentine's Day with. him. She goes home that night, but then. the following day reportedly returns. So, we're talking February 15th, returns. to his duplex. And that is when she she. never seen again. Police claim she died. sometime between February 20th and.

February 24th after days of abuse. That's the allegation. And when it came. to their prime suspect, Steven Gress, police knew exactly where he was. The jail. He had been arrested for. allegedly pointing a harpoon at his. girlfriend. So then you go to March 7th, 2025, and detectives brought him from. the jail to an interview room to try to. figure out what had happened to Miranda. And from the very beginning, Gress kind. of seemed eager to tell them everything.

Now, I'm going to warn you, okay? Before. we play this interrogation, I got to. warn you. Even though, by the way, he and Brandis. are innocent unless proven guilty, and. despite the horrific details that he's. allegedly relating to the investigators, I got to say, Gress kind of seems. incredibly casual about it all. It is. very disturbing to witness this. >> Hey, no, hold on. Hold on. Before Before. you talk, okay? Before you say anything.

>> [snorts]. >> You know, you went to first appearance, and. did they appoint an attorney to you? >> Uh. I don't care about my attorney, man. I. really don't care about him. >> All right, well, listen. Look, I But I. do. >> I don't care about your legal. >> Because it's it's the law, okay? So, are. you're you're initiating this request to. talk to me as a. even though you have an attorney? >> I don't care about it. I don't care. >> Well, I'm going to I'm going to read you. your rights, okay? Cuz I never read you. your rights when I came in before, cuz I. didn't have any charges on you before. when I talked to you, okay?

So, I'm going to read I'm going to read the. rights to you. We're going to read. through this form before anything else. happens, okay? All right. I got I got. questions I got to get through here. It. may seem mundane to you, but they're. very important to the attorneys, okay? Uh are you under the influence of any. prescription drugs? >> No, sir. >> Any alcohol? >> No, sir. >> Any illegal drugs? >> No, sir. >> What's the last grade you completed in. school? >> Got a GED, but I didn't finish high. school. >> Okay.

Okay. And can you read? >> Yes, sir. >> Can you write? >> Yes, sir. >> Can you hear okay? >> Yes, sir. >> You have the right to remain silent. Do. you understand? >> Yes, sir. >> Anything you say can and will be used. against you in a court of law. Do you. understand? >> Yes, sir. >> You have the right to talk to a lawyer. or have him or her present with you. while you're being questioned. Do you. understand? >> Yes, sir. >> If you cannot afford to hire.

a lawyer, one will be appointed to. represent you. Do you understand? >> Yes, sir. >> You can decide at any time to exercise. these rights and not answer any. questions or make any statements. Do you. understand? >> Yes, sir. >> Okay. Do you understand each of these rights. that I just explained to you? >> Yes, sir. >> And having these rights in mind, do you. wish to talk to us now? >> Yes, sir. >> Okay. >> Hey, real quick. I know it's a 180, but. this is something that affects. everybody. Laundry. Laundry, yeah. Your. laundry shouldn't smell like something.

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laundrysauce.com with promo code. sidebar. And after you purchase, they're. going to ask you where you heard about. them. Please support our show. Tell them. we sent you. It's time to make laundry. day the best day of the week. >> So, the detectives make sure that he. knows his Miranda rights, but then Gress. launches right into it and he's kind of. insistent that his involvement in this. whole situation is minimal. >> This wasn't ever supposed to happen. Never was supposed to happen. >> What wasn't supposed to happen?

>> This girl. was never supposed to be in this. situation. This girl was never supposed to be in. this. So, I met her off the Grindr app, which. is like a gay hookup site. And I don't know what a 16-year-old girl. is doing on a adult hookup site. I guess. it's irrelevant. She told me she was 20 at first. and then later came out afterwards that. she was 16, which really had no It didn't mean. anything to me. Her age meant nothing. There's one thing that she did to me and. that was just one thing I was trying to. resolve. She stole a gold ring of mine.

What about overdoses? That must be. Michelle's way of trying to cover her. part up in something cuz there there was. no overdose in any There was nothing. like that was involved. So, I did pick the girl up. the date of my sir This is This is all. this is very recently within within the. last month. Okay, so I picked the girl up for a a. hookup on the Grindr app. Her name was Randa on there. >> Do you know what what when about that. might have been? >> I mean, everything's on the cell phone. If you can pull up cell phone. information, like everything you want is.

on the cell phone. It's on the phone. >> On your cell phone? >> On my cell phone. You can find it all. Yes, sir. >> Okay, well, hold on a second. So, her. name was Randa? >> Her name was Miranda. But she went by her profile name was. Randa. >> R A N D A. >> Right. >> Okay. And that's on Grindr. >> Right. >> Okay. And this will be able to see this. on your phone? >> Yes, sir. >> What's the passcode for your phone? >> It's just a Z. Do a Z. >> Okay. It's a scroll pattern. >> Yeah, but that phone that phone is no. longer here. I spazzed out after what. happened. You know what I'm saying? I'll.

I'll take you through the whole thing of. what happened. You can just see it all. >> Let's go. So, so you met Randa on the. Grindr app. >> Right. >> Okay. But, you don't know what day that. was, though. >> Uh. it was. I want to say it was a Sunday. >> It was a So, it was a Sunday that this. happened. >> And then I seen her the day 2 days prior. to that I seen her for the first time. I. picked her up and we went home, hung. out, I dropped her back off, was fine. Nothing Nothing No No issues. 2 days.

pass by, she hits me up and says, "Do. you want to hang out?" Okay, cool. I. picked her up. This is where the issue. starts. >> Where'd you pick her up at? >> I picked her up in front of not in front. of her grandma's house, but I didn't. know exactly which house was her. grandmother's house. I just knew that. you know that you put a GPA You put an. address in GPS, it it like before you. get to the actual spot, it'll let you. arrive to your destination, but you're. you're like another house or two away. from it. That's how it was. >> So, where So, where was that at? >> In Gulfport. Um. >> Do you know what the address was? >> It's I don't remember what the address. was. I know it was off of.

58th 58th Street in Gulfport. There's a. There's a school there. >> Yeah. >> There's a school in the area. >> Big high school? >> Yeah, elementary. >> What kind of school is it? Just a school. or what? >> It's elementary. I love it. >> Yeah. All right. >> So, I picked her up from from there. I'm. sure you're going to see my car. coming to a stop somewhere near her her. house. And whenever she came to my car, it was always at an angle, so I know I. didn't stop right in front of the. grandmother's house, but I stopped in. front of in in the area for her to get. up. So, I picked her up, we went back. home.

We're chilling. I bought her I bought. her some food. She's real picky eater, I. guess, so I bought her a smoothie from. uh. And uh my ring, which is in property. right now, was given back to me by. Michelle. This. Michelle, do you know where Michelle is? You need to pick Michelle up You pick. Michelle up. >> Okay. >> The Michelle that Gress is referring to. is likely his girlfriend domestic. partner, now co-defendant Michelle. Brandis. She would be arrested the day. after this interview, that's according. to a police news release. Reportedly,

she turns herself in. By the way, Gress. also mentions another woman in this, Pam. This is his apparent roommate on. their side of the duplex. So, when you. hear that name, you have a better idea. about who we're talking about. And Gress. seems to claim that everything was going. great until he lost his ring. And. apparently, he became convinced that it. was Miranda who had taken it. >> So, my ring comes up missing. And. >> On the same day you picked her up? >> Same day I picked her up. It was just us. two in the room. Pam was in the other. room. She Pam's got her own room in. there.

>> Us two, who? You and Miranda? You and. Miranda. >> But only two in the room? >> Which room? >> The living room of the uh. >> I mean, my bedroom. >> In the of the house? >> The downstairs apartment? >> Yes. >> That 27. >> Yes, sir. >> 08 27 that. >> Yes, sir. >> Okay. >> Yes, sir. So, uh in the process of me ordering. food for her, my ring comes up missing. It was a little bit too big for my. pinky, so it could slide off if if if. whatever it could just slide off. And I. know I remember when uh when I went to. get off off the bed, I supported my. weight on the bed to go get the doors. for the food and and I that's when my. ring slid off it. My ring slid off on.

the bed. >> Right. >> So, as I'm eating my food, I'm realizing. my ring's not on my finger. So, I'm like. I go I search the whole immediate area, my ring's not there. I She stole Miranda. stole my ring. Miranda's Miranda stole my ring. So, I'm telling him, man, like look, there's nobody else here. I know, you. know, it's nice it's a nice ring. You. might want it, but it's not yours. Just. give it back. Everything was bravado at. this point in time. It was like I'm I'm. just I'm telling her and I'm hoping that. I'm able to just scare her into giving. me my ring back. So, I called up Michelle to help me to.

see if Michelle would help me get the. ring back from her. Like they have a. a female to female connection or. something that anything I could use to. try to get her to give me my ring back. So all this was text messages as well. So I. text Michelle on Facebook messenger and. like hey man, will you. this girl over here stole my ring, will. you please help me get my ring back? So she agrees and comes over, you know, she comes over there and stuff and the. first thing she does when she gets there. was looks for my ring in the house. And I'm cool with that because I just. want my ring back.

So as soon as I get my ring back the. sooner that this she can just be done. So she. she finds my ring and she doesn't tell. me she finds my ring. And how I know. that is because she gave me my ring back. after it's all this is said and done. And Pam was there when she found my ring. in my car. My ring was never in my car. Never was in my car. She never went to. outside to to put it in my car. Michelle found my ring that she stole. >> That's right. Seemingly according to. Grass, after this entire unhinged. scenario played out, the alleged.

beating, the killing, the dismemberment, he realized that Brandis had his ring. the whole time. Which is. unthinkable. It is unthinkable if that's. true, it would essentially mean if these. allegations are true that Brandis. witnessed and took part in all of this, even though she could have stopped it. from happening. That's the allegation. And then you go back to the. interrogation. Grass explains to the. detectives why this ring is so important. to him. >> Like pleading with her, telling her man. like I mean this stuff is important to.

me. I just got out of prison for doing. 13 years. I've just started having my. own stuff for myself. This stuff means. something to me, man. I just started. having my own. It means something to me. I was not. willing to take a loss on my ring when. she stole it and you can go give it back. to me. And I'm telling her like. please let's let's use this as a as a. learning experience. Let's do our. phones. Yes. >> So she's wearing clothes, you patted her. down, you couldn't find the ring? >> I I even bought a metal detector. >> Where where do you think she was hiding. it? >> I thought she either swallowed it or put. it up inside of her or she had it hidden.

somewhere else. >> Okay. >> I knew she had it and she was she was. disrespecting me and mocking me the. whole time. Miranda is to me Miranda is. Yeah, like I just couldn't I couldn't. fathom why would you steal somebody's. >> What was she doing to mock you? >> She's She did like this. She said she. got it from her grandma. And she said. she'd be like I'd be like man, please. please give me my ring, please man, please. She'd be like. She'd just do like this to me. Like. this. She'd do like this. She'd do like. this. She'd do like this. She'd do like. this. >> You mean like she might have been. shaking in fear? >> No.

>> Cuz that's what you look like when you. do that to me. >> Right. But she But she. >> When I think of a 16-year-old girl. shaking like that, that's fear. Michelle. >> Michelle would be whispering to her and. I'd be like, "Why are you guys. whispering? What are you trying to hide. from me? What is Why would you possibly. be whispering amongst yourselves to not. want to be heard by me?" There's. something that they had going on. >> And Michelle also has the girl's iPhone. >> The girl had a iPhone. And I told. Michelle, I said, "Hey man, go hide this.

underneath a trash can at a gas station. somewhere just so it doesn't In case. somebody came looking for it, it it. wouldn't lead her to my house. And it. and it would prevent me from getting my. ring back. That's my my fault. This is. my greed for my ring, okay?". Another important information is. I've seen Miranda on Valentine's Day. That's the That's the. will be able to give you a date. The. first time I seen Miranda was on. Valentine's Day. Michelle was upset that I chose Miranda. over her on Valentine's Day. So I think. that's where her motive came from. So.

that her spite for Miranda came from. this. And. So they're having secret conversations. I don't know what they're saying. Um. she took her ring. She said she threw it. in a gutter. She said she threw it in the gutter. down the street. I asked her afterwards. if she was able to take us to the. gutter. Michelle. Michelle, I believe I believe that she. did not throw it in the gutter though. I. believe that she kept her eye on it. because Michelle has a She has a a long. history of stealing.

>> Okay. >> She's not able. >> We're getting off of. >> All right. >> We're We're kind of running out of time. Let's listen. So So let's talk about Let's talk about. Miranda. And you thought that she was. mocking you by shaking. >> It wasn't just shaking that she would be. doing. She would also be saying stuff to. me. >> Like what? >> Like she would be saying. uh. She was saying she never seen it. And. then she said, "Oh, I know it's outside for a fact it's over. here outside." And then she'd say that. she hadn't seen it again. And then she'd. say, "Oh, wait. I remember. It's in the.

kitchen over here." And then she'd say. it was in the bathroom over there. And. then she told me it was behind the. behind the mirror over here. She led me. through this. Like I don't know why. I don't know why. somebody in this position would would. disrespect. >> How How else did you search her? >> I searched with a metal detector. telling you the truth, my man. I'm telling you the truth. >> All right. >> I was I was dedicated to get my ring. back. I just. I called the St. Pete Police Department.

and I said, "Hey, man. This girl has my. ring, man. She stole my ring, man. Can. you guys please come assist me to get my. ring back?" They told me that I I was in. no position. I was not legally allowed. to search her. And the police was not. going to come over there and search her. And all I could do was file a police. report. So she was going. >> Wait. Wait. Wait. Wait. Wait. A police. officer came to your house and told you. >> the police department and that's what. the operator dispatch told me. >> When did you call the police? >> Uh. a day or two or three after I already. had it. I called the St. Pete Police. Department. >> Yeah. >> So they somebody said. >> And a dispatcher told you. >> They told me I told her that my my metal.

detector is going off in her in her. private area. And that I think the girl. had my ring up her privates. And could. somebody please come out here to to help. retrieve my ring. Is what I told them. And the lady told me that I had no legal. right to search her. >> You don't. >> I I just. I'm just I'm just being honest. >> But I mean I'm surprised that we would. tell you something like that without I. mean that's just Okay, let's keep going. Okay. >> And Gress also claims that Miranda, the. 16-year-old seemingly trapped in this.

nightmare scenario if these allegations. are true, was taunting him. >> She was scared of Michelle. She was. scared of Michelle. >> I don't know, dude. She's scared of me, too. She's scared of me. How can she not be scared of you? >> That's right. She's 90 lbs. That's what you. >> But but she's still taunting me. >> Was she really? >> Yes, sir. >> Are you sure you weren't just imagining. that because What was she saying to. >> talking to She's telling me that she. doesn't care. I said I had rent coming. up. I had rent I had 1 week left to get. my rent up. She said she doesn't care. I.

said, "You don't care if I'm going to be. going on the streets like You don't care. about like my my like my house, everything that I have going for me. You. don't care that this is going to be lost. cuz I'm over here focusing on you trying. to get my ring back?". >> Yeah. >> And she would tell me no. She doesn't. care. And then she do like this to me. She'd do like this. It's not a shake. It's It's a It's a taunt. She would. taunt you like this. >> I don't know what that is to me. >> she got that from her grandma. >> It doesn't taunt me. I don't understand. that. >> Because she's not giving Because she's. not giving me my ring back. It's a. taunt. You know what I'm saying? >> So you think that this 16-year-old girl.

who. 16 is taunting you. I I just don't get. it. But okay, well, let's keep going. ahead. So then Michelle. already over there. >> Michelle had Michelle was already over. there for for the whole time. I called. Michelle immediately. >> Okay. >> So Michelle was then over there. >> Where was Pam? >> In her room. Pam's aware what's going. on, too. Pam's Pam if anything Pam's. guilty because Pam could have reported. this before it got to this point. What. if this was being going on? Pam Pam's a sweetheart. Pam does not. deserve to be in any trouble for this.

She doesn't. >> Got it. >> It's unfortunate for Pam. >> Okay. All right. >> Yeah, I I I'm going to say this again. Gress seems to be remarkably calm as he. explains to the investigators that yes, he allegedly beat and assaulted Miranda. multiple times, but he also helped tend. to her wounds. >> Any injury that I caused her, I'm going. to CVS and I'm buying her medication for. her. >> And what kind of medication? >> Whatever she needs. Some sore throat. medication, some. >> Why would she have a sore throat? >> Some Some ibuprofen. >> Why would.

Did you stick something down her throat? >> No. >> Why would she need sore throat. medication then from you to whatever. injuries you caused? >> Man, I just told you. I just told you. some files. Like I'm being 100 with you, man. I'm. not trying to deflect blame on anybody. else. I'm not trying to pin anything on. anybody else. I own up to what what I. what I did. I own up to what I did. I'm not trying. to defend or deflect on anybody else. >> All right. >> Michelle has Michelle has more of this. than I do. I'm not letting anything bad. enough happen to the girl that I can't.

just let her go home after a couple days. healing up. I just wanted my ring back, dude. I just wanted my ring back. That's. it. Okay? Michelle's got some other going on. Nothing's happened to the girl to where. she can't heal up in a couple days and. go home. That's on me. I'm making sure of it. You. know what I'm saying? But the girl has. She said she had. uh some kind of a disease where she. bruised really easy. And she was really thin. She was. delicate. So, with that in mind, like. I'm making sure I don't do anything to. the girl that's going to make sure that.

she can't give me my shit back and she. can't just go home in a couple days. after healing up. That was That was my. goal. Was to do whatever till she gave. me my shit back, let her heal up, go. home. I'm telling her, "This will be a. learning experience for everybody. You. shouldn't be going inside of people's. house you don't know stealing their. shit, man." That's what [clears throat]. That's my whole thing was. That was my. whole thing. Michelle, it was more her her. spite for not taking her out on. Valentine's Day. As petty as it sounds, man. That's That's That's what I bring.

from it. So, Michelle. Michelle had my ring the whole time. Gave She said she found it in my car. after the fact. >> So, there are parts of this. interrogation that were muted by. authorities before they sent it to us. This is likely to protect certain. aspects of their investigation. Very. common. We see this many times. But, while Gress explains what, {quote} after. the fact, means, the audio drops out. But, here's what an affidavit filed. against Gress says, and I think this. might be the connective tissue here. {quote} The defendant and co-defendant.

held the victim against her will for. over 7 days and tortured her by. repeatedly beating the victim and. eventually stuffing a billiard ball into. her mouth and wrapping her face with. plastic wrap, causing her to suffocate. >> Give her CPR, blowing her nose, blowing. her mouth, holding her nose, even like. all this like I'm doing everything I. possibly can. This girl was not supposed. to die, man. She was not supposed to die. >> But, she did. >> She did. I can't possibly move forward. without this without my ring. Like, I.

just could not take a L on my ring like. that. I just couldn't. >> So, according to what Gress allegedly. told the detectives, both his mom and. Brandice's mom knew about Miranda and. that she was dead. He says he, Brandice, and Pam went to stay at Brandice's. mother's house for several days after. Miranda died. He claimed she was out of. town in Puerto Rico at the time, so they. had the house to themselves. However, according to a warrant, Pam would. apparently later state that Brandice's. mother was home along with a home health.

aid. Again, let me just be clear about. something. We don't know if this is. true. This is coming from Gress that. these two women knew about this, okay? Just want to make that clear. But, that home in Largo is reportedly. where Gress, according to authorities, cut up Miranda's body with a saw. 16 years old. The affidavit against him. reads, {quote} The defendant and. co-defendant then dismembered the body. of the victim and discarded the victim. in a dumpster in Ruskin, Florida. By the. way, Miranda's remains have never been. found. Now, while one of the detectives. leaves the room to check some details.

about the shed where Gress allegedly. said he found the saw, the other. investigator steers the interview in. this new unexpected direction. >> Is it true you used to take animals to. the skyway? >> Yes. >> What'd you do with them? >> I would I would kill them. >> Do you feel a need to kill them? >> No. >> Why did you do it then? >> I was stressed out. >> Does killing them give you stress. relief? >> Stress out Pam and Michelle.

Repeatedly would do. They would be short on their rent. They. would threaten where I where I slept at. They would. They just would. constantly bicker and mobile. nothing. to me all the time. Like I was I was the. enemy to them. >> So you would kill an animal. >> I would kill an animal so I would not. It helped me to relieve my my stress and. my anger so I would not hurt them.

>> Where would you get the animals from. Craigslist? People give away give away animals on. Craigslist. Any kind of animal? >> Pretty much. You could do anything. Like a guinea. pig, a rabbit, dog, cat. >> And what do you do? You throw them off. the skyway when you're done with them? >> is another one of Michelle's. things. >> They I never would take it to the. skyway. >> I would take it to the skyway. I would. take it If you go to my house and do a. uh what's the. uh the the the the agent that they.

>> used to uncover the blood traces of. blood? >> Yeah. >> If you put that in my house, the entire. house might glow. >> Cuz you had that many animals in that. house, is that. And then what do you do with the carcass. of the animals you dumped? >> So the skyway thing is another one of. Michelle's. >> going to say is killing animals like. that been something you've always done. or what is it? >> It just It just recently started. From like from living with Pam. Pam. Pam's a a all the. >> How many animals do you think you. killed? It's hard to say. It's hard to say, man. A lot.

Yeah. I see it seems like I'm a bad guy right. now, man. Like. it seems like I'm a bad guy. >> I'm. I'm not. >> I'm not a bad guy like that. Like I just. been shot and pushed. >> for me to judge you, okay? But I'm I'm trying to understand your. mind a little bit and so. >> So, my mind is this. I did I did 11. years in prison. >> at a young age. >> Yeah. I got out and I was faced with. many adversities. And I I like things.

would just keep happening to me. Like. small things just keep happening to me. Things keep happening. Keep happening. Keep [snorts] happening. I could never. catch a break without something. sticking me in my rib cage. And my And my my frustration and my. anger would always be at a point where. I'm always frustrated. You know what I'm saying? Like I was. always frustrated. >> Yeah. >> And now this just This is what Living. with Pam and Pam never having rent.

Pam always complaining. it's just living with that. had had me festering. Had me festering. You know what I'm saying? Like I'm. always on edge. >> It kind of makes you wonder, right about. Grasser's mental fitness, his mental. state. We know that hurting animals is a. major red flag for things like. psychopathy. We've seen it in other. cases before. And in fact, last year a. judge had ordered Grasser to undergo a. mental competency evaluation to make. sure that he understood the charges. against him and that he was able to. assist in his own defense. He was found.

competent in November. And in fact, in. another court filing, this was. interesting, the defense had filed a. motion requesting that any mention of. animal cruelty be excluded from the. trial and the penalty phase because the. argument would be that it's arguably too. prejudicial for the jury to hear. The. judge hasn't returned an answer yet. according to the the but we're going to. continue to follow the case and see. where it goes on that. Now, the. detectives bring the questioning back. around to Miranda's supposed murder, right? And they have a question for.

Gress. Why did he allegedly send photos. of what he'd done. to other people? >> What was the purpose of that? >> I I'm just curious. The purpose was to. get sympathy for me. So, if they I was. trying to get them to buy me another. ring, and then everything would just be. good. I just wanted a ring. I didn't. want to take a loss on the ring. >> Your whole thing was I want my ring. back. >> As a matter what it was. >> Not no matter what, but I was going to. go through I was going to go through. and at least make an effort to try to. get my. >> And why was that so sentimental to you? >> Because I just I It's I never had my.

whole life. I never had anything. I went to prison. when I was 16 years old, and I got out. when I was 27. So, like I'm just starting to learn to. to to live my life and have and have. things of my own. And I don't think it's. right for somebody to be able to come. into your house and steal from you and. be able to walk out of there with your. >> Sort of like you went to prison for. >> That was for for for for burglaries and. burglaries and stuff that I did. >> Going into somebody's house and taking. >> That's another thing that I told her, too. I'm like. >> You didn't kill them. >> I didn't kill her. >> Okay, well, you. >> I didn't.

>> You did So, you. you you contributed to a person's death. for doing what you got caught doing when. you were 16. >> She was never supposed to die. Ever. Ever. >> Dude, I I. >> She never was supposed to pass, man. She. wasn't even supposed to come close to. it. If anything, I got to say I was telling. her the whole time, man. Like there's. nothing that she can't heal up from. after a couple days and go home was my. intention. And all the time I'm trying. to get other people to just replace it. for me, so I could just be be done with. it.

That was my intention for sending them. the pictures. My mom. >> So, you wanted someone you wanted a. family member of yours and or friends to. see what you were doing to this girl so. that they could buy you the ring. >> And then we could end. >> And then as long as you You your ring, you could have to her So, that was like. a cry out for you to stop hurting this. woman. >> Yes, sir. >> That was your way of. >> That was your way of I'm trying every. avenue of possible can try to resolve. it. Everybody's good.

If she If she If she If she's willing to. go through this length to get to to keep. my ring. then she went through that length to. keep my ring and as long as I got. another one back then cool. >> She just wanted your ring. >> Yeah, right. I fully accept what's to. come for this. Okay. I just want to see everybody that. [clears throat] else was that was. involved get theirs as well. I mean this girl was never supposed to. die. Ever. She was never supposed to. die. Ever. >> Let's take a break for a minute.

Do you want to say anything? >> No. >> Bring Watson in. We'll be right back to you. >> So left alone, Gress puts his head down. on the table. But investigators are back. a couple minutes later to collect a. buckle swap. But he wants to make sure. the police are going after the real bad. guy in all this, right? The person he. claims is responsible for all this. Brandis. >> I just don't know what she's going to. tell you guys, man. >> She's a liar. Yeah. >> She's got me on a. aggravated assault charge right now. The camera proves The camera can prove.

that. >> that didn't occur. >> I never tried to put her in the silver. car or anything that she said. So that. would at least help me prove that she's. she's a liar. You know what I'm saying? So whatever she's trying to Whatever. she's trying to say. >> As I mentioned, Brandis was arrested. March 8th, the day after this interview, this interrogation, after she turned. herself in. Both Brandis and Gress. they're charged with first-degree. murder. Gress faces an additional charge. of kidnapping. And despite what he told. investigators, Gress entered a not. guilty plea, as did Brandis. Again,

despite what you just heard, despite. these horrific allegations, they are. both innocent unless proven guilty. Just. got to keep that in mind. But the stakes. couldn't be higher because prosecutors. are seeking the death penalty for both. of them. Both remain locked up in the. Pinellas County Jail. Gress is due back. in court in July. Brandis is scheduled. for her next hearing in August. [music]. We've been on top of this case. We will. continue to be on top of this case. It's. all we have for you right now here on. Sidebar, everybody. Thank you so much.

for joining us. And as always, please subscribe on YouTube, Apple. Podcasts, Spotify, wherever you should. get your podcast. You can also check us. out on NBC's Peacock as well if you want. to follow me, @NickX, [music] Instagram, my NewsNation show Jesse Weber Live, Monday through Friday, 11:00 p.m. Eastern. See you next time, everybody.