The Des Moines police department hard at work on a golf course (Zach Boyden-Holmes/The Register).
Far too many people overlook the dangerousness associated with the sport of golf. Whether a crime happened on a golf course, while driving a golf cart, or while using golf equipment like clubs, the common denominator is golf. We have provided compelling evidence in past articles here and here that golf is the most dangerous sport, and we will continue to prove that today with these three stories.
Please be warned that we will be discussing crimes today that include violence, so please click away and read other lighter articles here at The Forkball if that is not of interest to you.
The First is the Worst
Typically we don’t rate crimes because they are rarely ever victimless, and severity can be subjective. However, in one of the most harrowing cases we have ever covered to date—this crime is truly the worst of this article. Golf and cue sports both make their way into this story. Brace yourselves.
We learned about true evil in April of this year. The death penalty is on the table for the couple that perpetrated the crime we will be discussing, showing just how heinous the state of Florida considers the offenses against Steven Gress and Michelle Brandes.
That Tragic Day
On February 14th, 2025, Gress met up with 16-year-old Miranda Corsette on a date after connecting on an app. The red flags flow in quickly with alarming frequency in this story. Besides the inherent vulnerability that comes with being a child, Miranda had other factors like both of her parents being deceased, a history of mental illness, a propensity for running away, and substance abuse issues that made her a target for the most despicable in our world. Ms. Corsette was also a single mother to a one-year-old baby, which is tough at any age and life circumstance.
Gress would return Miranda home on Valentine’s Day but would take her on another “date” the following day that she would never come back from. We have missing pieces in the timeline, but we do know that shortly after arriving at the home where Gress lived with a roommate and his girlfriend, Michelle Brandes, the abuse would begin.
The Spiral
Ms. Corsette was accused of “stealing” a ring that incited a week of horrific abuse. Not even finding the “missing” ring would change Miranda’s circumstances. Gress allegedly sent lewd photos of Corsette to three people, including his mother, of her worsening condition. He also allegedly told neighbors that he had the young teen and that he was hurting her. It’s unclear why no one reported Gress’s behaviors, and the police believe there may be additional arrests in the future beyond the couple from Hades.
The roommate of Gress and Brandes told police that on February 23rd, Miranda’s suffering came to an end. A billiard ball was used to gag Corsette, kept in place with plastic wrapped around her head. She was unable to breathe and succumbed to the abuse.
Allegedly, neighbors claimed that Gress had a habit of bringing vulnerable women into the home. The roommate also said he had a history of abuse and would buy animals off of Craigslist and throw them off bridges for the fun of it. There were many warning signs that Gress was an extremely dangerous man who had no conscience. If you see something, say something.
Miranda’s grandmother did report her missing 10 days after she was kidnapped. She was used to her granddaughter frequently running away, as was the local police force. It took time for the grandmother and the police to become concerned because this was a frequent occurrence. And no one would expect that Miranda would fall victim to such evil.
A Beginning of a Resolution
Thankfully, a witness did call in to the police on March 6th, reporting a homicide and kidnapping. Gress was not hard to find—he was already in custody after pointing a harpoon at Brandes with drugs on his person. Brandes turned herself in on March 8th. Gress has appeared in court and seemed rather glib. He was speaking out of turn to the judge and was asking for Brandes’s whereabouts. We wouldn’t expect much else from someone so heinous.
How does golf fit into this entire story? While Corsette was in pieces in the trunk, deceased, Gress felt like it was time to celebrate his birthday with Brandes. They started off with some fried chicken at Popeyes and finished off his birthday fun with a round of mini-golf at Congo River in Clearwater, Florida. After their golf itch was scratched, the couple worked on disposing of Corsette in a dumpster or dumpsters.
Brandes and Gress drove around the greater Tampa Bay area before deciding to put all of Miranda’s remains in a dumpster near the home of a relative in Rustin, Florida. Unfortunately, Ms. Corsette’s remains were brought to a landfill and incinerated before the police could find her. After golf, chicken, and the most morbid car ride ever, the happy couple returned home before they were later apprehended. Our hearts are with Ms. Corsette’s family and loved ones. May Brandes and Gress be punished to the full extent of the law.
Golf Can Be Explosive
In Des Moines, Iowa, in July of 2025, things got hairy at the Waveland Golf Course. 41-year-old Michael James Valento found himself in hot water after allegedly placing two pipe bombs on the course. Investigators believe that the initial pipe bomb was detonated on July 3rd. No one appears to have witnessed this besides perhaps Valento himself. The second device was located on July 10th by golfers in an area that was not frequented by people often. The course was shut down for the rest of the day.
Shortly thereafter, the Des Moines PD Bomb Squad arrived at the golf course and found that the pipe bomb was alive, and it took them over an hour to render the device safe. Valento was apprehended in the early hours of July 11th near his home and is currently in custody. He is facing five charges, four of which are felonies. Thank goodness for the eagle-eyed golfers.
Golf Cart DUIs
Golf carts are one of the most dangerous pieces of equipment in the sport. DUIs are incredibly dangerous, including when you’re driving a golf cart. We are heading back to Florida in the Port St. Lucie area, where Mrs. Cynthia Mackin is facing a golf-cart-related DUI charge and may be facing more in the future.
Mackin was behind the wheel earlier this summer with her husband, Daniel, playing a few rounds at the Astor Creek Golf & Country Club. The couple was driving from one section of the golf course to another when Cynthia allegedly crashed into something. Daniel was standing on the back of the cart during the crash. Upon impact he allegedly fell off the back of the cart and hit his head on the cement.
Mr. Mackin passed away at the hospital later that day due to his injuries. Mrs. Mackin was apprehended after her blood alcohol content was found to be 0.09 at the scene of the crash. Another gentleman in his 30s was also arrested at the scene as he attempted to obstruct the investigation by yelling at the cops and telling Cynthia to not cooperate. It’s unclear what the young man’s relationship was with the couple. Further details leading up to the crash are being pursued by law enforcement. Don’t drink and drive, folks!
Final Thoughts
In conclusion, we learned some very important things in this article. Golf is the most dangerous sport. Also, if you see something or hear something worrying from your strange neighbor, say something. It could save a life. Be aware of your surroundings, even at a golf course. You just might find a pipe bomb and have it deactivated before it can hurt anyone. Last but not least, do not drink and drive. Even a golf cart.
