In a chilling case that shocked the community, Carly Gregg, who was only 14 years old at the time of the crime, has been sentenced to life in prison for the brutal murder of her mother and the attempted murder of her stepfather.
The tragic events unfolded on March 19 inside the family’s home in Brandon, Mississippi. Armed with a .357 Magnum, Gregg fatally shot her mother, 40-year-old Ashley Smylie, a beloved math teacher at Northwest Rankin High School. After killing her mother, prosecutors say Gregg planned an ambush for her stepfather, Heath Smylie, 39, intending to shoot him when he returned home. Though she fled the scene, Carly was apprehended shortly after near the house.
Carly Gregg’s Murder Trial and Verdict
On September 20, after deliberating in a Rankin County courtroom, jurors found Carly Gregg guilty of first-degree murder, attempted murder, and tampering with evidence. She was visibly emotional as the life sentence was read.
While the defense acknowledged that Carly had shot her mother, they argued that the teenager was suffering from a severe mental health crisis. Her attorneys presented evidence of long-standing depression, self-harm, and troubling hallucinations, suggesting she was not fully aware of her actions. Dr. Andrew Clark, a child psychologist, testified that Gregg had complained of hearing voices and that her mental state had deteriorated in the weeks leading up to the shooting. On the day of the incident, he said she was described as “grumpy and irritable” at school, showing signs of emotional distress.
The Horrific Details of Carly Gregg’s Crime
According to prosecutors, Carly Gregg executed a meticulously planned attack. After returning home from school with her mother, she retrieved the gun from her parents’ bedroom. With the firearm hidden behind her back, she confronted Ashley in her room and shot her three times. Gregg then called a friend over and, shockingly, greeted them at the door with the unsettling question: “Are you squeamish around dead bodies?” She then led her friend into her bedroom, where her mother lay lifeless on the floor.
Mental Health or Premeditation?
Despite the defense’s claim that Carly Gregg’s mental health issues contributed to her actions, prosecutors remained firm that the teen knew exactly what she was doing. “She knew the difference between right and wrong,” said State Attorney Michael Smith, during closing arguments. He urged the jury to find her guilty on all charges, emphasizing that the crime was premeditated.
The haunting case of Carly Gregg continues to stir public debate about the intersection of youth, mental illness, and violent crime. Now sentenced to life in prison, her story serves as a dark reminder of how tragically things can unfold behind closed doors.