MS vs. Carly Gregg: Murder trial for deadly daughter

BRANDON, Mississippi (Court TV) – A young girl was sentenced to life in prison without parole after a jury found her guilty of murdering her mother, shooting her stepfather and inviting a friend to see the bodies.

Carly Gregg cried as the verdict was read in court on September 20, 2024. (Court TV)

Carly Gregg, now 15, was 14 when she was charged with murder, attempted murder and tampering with evidence for shooting her mother, Ashley Smylie, and stepfather, Heath Smylie.

The jury took about two hours to find her guilty on all counts. The judge immediately began to announce the verdict. The jury took less than an hour to announce its decision and sentence Gregg to life in prison. She was sentenced to life in prison for murder and attempted murder, and ten years for tampering with evidence.

Prosecutors said Gregg shot and killed her mother in the neck on March 19, 2024. At a preliminary hearing, a detective testified that video from the house showed Gregg playing with her dogs after the shooting.

Gregg then allegedly texted her friend, identified in court documents as BW, saying she had an emergency and needed her to come over. BW told police that when she got there, Gregg asked her if she had ever seen a dead body before. When she said no, Gregg showed her Ashley's body. Gregg allegedly told BW to wait outside because her stepfather would be home soon.

When Heath arrived, BW heard three gunshots before Gregg ran out of the house. Heath told officers he was able to wrestle the gun from his stepdaughter. Gregg was arrested about a half mile away.

Gregg rejected a plea deal offered by prosecutors that would have given her 40 years in prison. She was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole.

Gregg's defense argued at her trial that she was insane and hired an expert to testify that she suffered from a serious, undiagnosed mental illness. At her preliminary hearing, her attorneys described her as an “exceptional student” who had skipped fourth grade and had no history of violence.

DAILY TEST UPDATES

DAY 5 – 20.9.24

• The defense and the prosecution made their closing arguments.
• The jury reached a verdict.
• Carly Gregg was sentenced to life imprisonment without parole.

DAY 4 – 19.9.24

• During the state's countersuit, the jury heard testimony from psychiatric experts who had treated Gregg.
• Forensic psychiatrist Dr. Jason C. Pickett contradicted the defense's argument that she was insane when she shot her mother and stepfather.
• Gregg's therapist testified that the teenager appeared emotionally stable during her last session the day before her mother was shot.
• REGARD: Carly Gregg's claims about her mental health are being questioned

DAY 3 – 18.9.24

• Psychiatrist Dr. Andrew Clark testified to Gregg's mental state at the time of the crime and her resulting criminal responsibility under Mississippi law.
• A 16-year-old friend of the defendant testified that Gregg told them she heard voices in her head

DAY 2 – 17.9.24

• A 16-year-old friend of the defendant testified that Gregg asked her to come over on March 19 because she needed help.
  • The witness said Gregg asked her if she had ever seen a dead body before showing her Ashley Smylie's body.
  • The witness said Gregg was carrying a gun and admitted to shooting her mother three times.
• Gregg's stepfather, Heath Smylie, testified that he found his wife's body.
• The prosecutors have completed their main arguments.

DAY 1 – 16.9.24

• Prosecutors said Carly Gregg led a “secret life” before murdering her mother and attempting to kill her stepfather.
• Defense attorney Bridget Todd said Carly Gregg suffered from an undiagnosed mental illness and never had any desire to hurt her mother or stepfather.
• Heath Smylie, Gregg's stepfather, screamed hysterically while calling 911 and reported that his stepdaughter had shot him and his wife.
• During the testimony of Rankin County Sheriff's Deputy Hunter Lewis, the jury saw the first 20 minutes of footage from Lewis' body-worn camera when he arrived at the crime scene.
• The final witness of the day was a 16-year-old classmate and friend of Gregg's who had been concerned about Gregg's well-being in the days leading up to the fatal double shooting.
  • The teenager described Gregg as a “genius.”
  • The teenager testified that Gregg would hurt or cut herself when she was in trouble at home.