The trial of Carly Gregg, a 15-year-old from Rankin County accused of murdering her mother and injuring her stepfather, is approaching its conclusion. The incident occurred on March 19, resulting in the death of her mother, Ashley Smylie, and injuring her stepfather, Heath Smylie, who sustained a graze wound to his shoulder. Gregg is being tried as an adult.
Over several days, testimony included security footage and police body camera recordings. Earlier in the proceedings, Gregg indicated to Rankin County Circuit Court Judge Dewey Arthur that she might testify in her defense after reviewing the defense’s testimony.
On Thursday, nurse practitioner Olivia Leber was called as a rebuttal witness by the prosecution. She recounted her meetings with Gregg in January 2024, where Gregg denied hearing voices and was diagnosed with major depressive disorder and adjustment disorder. Although she mentioned feeling depressed, Leber found her responses during the assessment to be normal. In a follow-up appointment shortly before the shooting, Gregg described feeling “like a zombie” and had been advised to adjust her medication. Leber noted that Gregg did not report any hallucinations or memory gaps during their sessions.
Licensed professional counselor Rebecca Kirk also testified that during her sessions with Gregg, she appeared intelligent and participated in discussions, including one about Fyodor Dostoevsky’s “Crime and Punishment,” focusing on themes of guilt. Kirk noted that Gregg did not exhibit suicidal or homicidal tendencies by the end of their counseling.
The defense concluded its case on Wednesday after calling several witnesses, including psychiatrist Dr. Andrew Clark, who testified that Gregg was undergoing a mental health crisis at the time of the shooting. He stated that she had no recollection of the incident and had been experiencing serious mood and psychological issues leading up to it. Clark suggested that changes in her medication for depression may have exacerbated her condition.
Carly Gregg was 14 at the time of the shooting, which was captured on security cameras showing her and her mother arriving home from school. The footage includes the sounds of a scream followed by gunshots, after which Gregg is seen returning to the kitchen seemingly unfazed. If found guilty, she could face a prison sentence ranging from 20 years to life.