The trial is now underway in Rankin County for Carly Madison Gregg, a 15-year-old accused of shooting and killing her mother as well as attempting to kill her stepfather back in March.
Gregg is charged with the murder of her mother, Ashley Smylie, and the attempted murder of her stepfather, Heath Smylie. She was indicted as an adult by a grand jury in May after allegedly committing the crimes as a 14-year-old. After rejecting the prosecution’s plea deal of 40 years behind bars in August, she could face up to two life sentences in prison.
A high-profile case, the teenager’s alleged actions have made national headlines and captured the undivided attention of crime junkies all over.
What happened?
On March 19, Gregg was arrested for allegedly shooting and killing her mother, Ashley Smylie, inside their Brandon home after Ashley reportedly removed some items from Gregg’s room. Ashley was a teacher at Northwest Rankin Middle School.
According to the prosecution, Gregg then invited her friend over. While awaiting her unidentified friend’s arrival, the teenager reportedly played with her dogs and sang to them — all while her mother was lying dead inside the home. Once the friend made it to the home, Gregg asked her if she had ever seen a dead body before. The friend, who was driven to the home by her father, left the scene and notified police of what she had witnessed.
Information presented in court by prosecutors up to this point asserts Gregg used her mother’s phone to see when her stepfather, Heath Smylie, would be coming home. When Gregg’s stepfather arrived at the home from work, approximately 45 minutes after Ashley was killed, the teenager is said to have shot him in the shoulder before he wrestled the gun away.
The then-14-year-old fled and was later captured in a field near the family’s home. Heath recounted to law enforcement that Gregg gave off the appearance that she had seen a demonic figure whenever she attempted to take his life. After being drug tested, Gregg was found to have marijuana in her system on March 19 when she was in the custody of police. She admitted to smoking marijuana one day before the fatal incident.
Gregg was charged with first-degree murder, attempted murder, and tampering with evidence. She has since been housed at the Rankin County Adult Detention Center, although her attorneys have unsuccessfully argued she should be moved to a youth facility.
Her representation has also vouched that a switch in medications before the shooting and other mental health conditions are a rationale for her alleged actions that deadly day, though the lawyers later tried to appeal to prevent a mental evaluation from being performed on the teenager. The Mississippi Supreme Court denied the appeal.
Instead, it was determined by Dr. Amanda Gugliano, the director of forensic evaluation at the Mississippi State Hospital, that Gregg is competent to stand trial.
Gregg’s legal team has also been the subject of controversy throughout the hearing process. Early on, the attorneys representing the teenager were scolded by Judge Dewey Arthur for not submitting Gregg’s available medical and criminal history records to the Mississippi State Hospital within a specifically allotted period of time.
Additionally, the lawyers have been accused of purposefully withholding materials required to be presented in discovery, most importantly a witness list. The team had until August 20 to provide all materials necessary for discovery. On September 10, it was discovered that the defense had only provided “minimal information” to the prosecution.
Judge Arthur asserted that the defense was attempting to “surprise” the prosecution at trial while simultaneously shutting down any attempt of that happening. After expressing frustration with Gregg’s legal team, the judge ruled that one of the defense’s witnesses would not take the stand at trial due to the abundance of infractions. He also placed limitations on the nature of the witnesses’ potential testimonies.
Efforts to have Gregg’s case moved to youth court were also derailed by the judge. Further, the prosecution has made it clear that they will contend against Gregg’s insanity plea by pointing to her voluntary drug usage ahead of the alleged murder and attempted murder as evidence of willful misconduct.
Leading up to the trial, Gregg has been dressed in schoolgirl outfits speculated as a tactful attempt by defense attorneys to preserve a sense of innocence around the teenager in their pursuit to put together an insanity case that could entice a jury.
What’s next?
Gregg, who is being tried as an adult, is having her case presented this week. The trial is anticipated to be a multi-day affair. Peculiarly, Heath Smylie is listed as one of the defense’s witnesses and it is rumored that he may testify in his step-daughter’s defense, though that has not yet been confirmed.
On Monday after jury selection, jurors heard a 911 call from Heath, detailing the moment he was reportedly shot by Gregg. Prosecutors said the jury will hear more about a “secret life” the teenager had, which they hope will dismantle the defense’s case. However, the defense is expected to use a journal Ashley Smylie had to contend against allegations made about Gregg. The contents of the journal have not been made available at this time.
Gregg’s trial can be watched here.
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