Carly Gregg, a 15-year-old from Rankin County, is nearing a verdict in her murder trial following her alleged role in the shooting death of her mother, Ashley Smylie. The incident took place on March 19, during which Gregg is accused of fatally injuring her mother and wounding her stepfather, Heath Smylie, who survived with a minor injury.
Throughout the trial, various testimonies were presented, including footage from security cameras and police body cameras. On Thursday, psychiatrist Dr. Jason Pickett testified after conducting a four-hour interview with Gregg in the presence of her attorney. He stated in his report that he believes she did not meet the criteria for insanity under Mississippi law at the time of the shooting and understood her actions.
Nurse practitioner Olivia Leber also provided testimony, sharing that her first meeting with Gregg was in January 2024. Leber noted that during that appointment, Gregg indicated she was not experiencing hallucinations and was diagnosed with major depressive disorder. Leber mentioned that Gregg expressed feelings of depression but did not report any severe mental health issues or auditory hallucinations during their sessions.
Rebecca Kirk, a licensed professional counselor, who worked with Gregg earlier in the year, shared that the teenager displayed signs of intrusive thoughts and difficulties with anger and sleep but denied hearing voices. Her sessions included discussions about literature, highlighting that Gregg was intellectually engaged.
In a later evaluation by Dr. Amanda Gugliano from the Mississippi State Hospital, Gregg mentioned hearing a male voice since childhood but stated that it was not commanding and she could ignore it. The evaluation aimed to assess whether Gregg was fit to stand trial, with Gugliano explaining the unusual nature of a child hearing voices.
Testimony from psychiatrist Dr. Andrew Clark suggested that Gregg was undergoing a mental health crisis at the time of the shooting and did not recall the incident. Clark attributed recent medication changes as a potential trigger for her emotional turmoil leading up to the event.
Carly Gregg, who was 14 at the time of the shooting, could face a sentence ranging from 20 years to life in prison if convicted.