The name Carly Madison Gregg (commonly referred to as “Carly Gregg”) entered public awareness in early 2024, when the then-14-year-old teen from Brandon, Mississippi, committed a shocking act: the shooting and killing of her mother, Ashley Smylie, followed by the attempted murder of her step-father, Heath Smylie. The subsequent trial, conviction, and life-sentence verdict prompted national attention, raising questions about juvenile crime, mental health, family dynamics, criminal responsibility and the justice system’s treatment of minors.
In this article I will explore in depth: Carly Gregg’s background and family context; the facts of the crime; the trial and conviction; the role of mental-health issues and the defence/ prosecution arguments; the sentencing and its implications; the appeal process; and the broader significance of the case. Throughout the article I aim to provide detailed, clear, and comprehensive coverage in original wording, avoiding short paragraphs where possible and including tables to clarify timelines and key facts.
1. Background and Family Context
To understand what led to the crime, we must consider the context of Carly Gregg’s upbringing, family relationships, and mental-health history.
1.1 Early Life and Family Composition
- Carly Gregg was born on April 23, 2009 in Mississippi. (Some media refer to her age at the time of the crime as 14.)
- Her mother, Ashley Smylie, was a 40-year-old mathematics teacher at Northwest Rankin High School in Brandon, Mississippi. 6abc Philadelphia+3People.com+3https://www.wlbt.com+3
- Carly’s step-father, Heath Smylie, worked as a physical-therapist (or similarly employed) and lived with Ashley and Carly. Wikipedia+2SuperTalk Mississippi Media+2
- Carly’s biological father, Kevin Gregg, was divorced from Ashley and had limited involvement after the divorce. He has publicly spoken about the horror of the crime. https://www.wlbt.com
1.2 Family Relationships & History
- According to media reporting, Carly had a reportedly normal early childhood, but after her parents’ separation (prior to her fourth birthday) she experienced emotional instability: her father said she “had suicidal ideation on record” following the separation. https://www.wlbt.com+1
- Her father admitted to past substance abuse and mental-health issues: “Yes, previously in my life, I did a lot of drugs, yes, and I admit them.” https://www.wlbt.com
- Carly’s mother as a teacher at her school, combined with family dynamics, may have created unusual pressures for the teen.
1.3 Mental-Health and Behavioural Indicators
- Over the months leading up to the crime, Carly reportedly had mood disturbances, was prescribed medication (for depression), had complaints of hearing voices (though not consistently admitted), and had behavioural issues (marijuana use, access to electronic devices, possible self-harm behaviour). People.com+2WAPT+2
- One psychiatrist testified that Carly “didn’t meet Mississippi’s standard for insanity” and that she knew the nature and quality of her actions. WAPT+1
- The defence argued she was in a mental-health crisis and “did not remember the shooting”. People.com+1
2. The Crime – Timeline and Details
The facts of the crime are both chilling and complex. Below is a reconstructed timeline followed by key details of the event.
2.1 Timeline of Events (March 19, 2024)
| Time (approx) | Event |
|---|---|
| Afternoon | Carly and her mother return from school (mother teaching; daughter student) to their home in Brandon, Mississippi. Wikipedia+1 |
| Shortly after | The mother begins searching Carly’s room (apparently prompted by suspicion of drug use / concealed items). According to prosecutors, a friend of Carly had tipped off Ashley about her marijuana use earlier that day. People.com+1 |
| ~4:00 p.m. | Carly enters the parents’ bedroom, retrieves a .357 Magnum handgun from beneath her mother’s mattress. Video evidence shows her concealing the gun behind her back. Wikipedia+1 |
| Shortly thereafter | Three gunshots; the mother (Ashley) is struck and killed. The surveillance video shows Carly walking back to the kitchen, retrieving her phone, acting calmly. People.com+1 |
| After the killing | Carly texts or contacts her step-father (Heath) pretending to be her mother, asking if he is close or similar message. She also invites a friend over to show the body, asking: “Are you squeamish around dead bodies?” according to friend testimony. People.com+1 |
| When Heath arrives | Heath enters home, is shot (graze wound) by Carly (ambush). He wrestles the gun away and calls 911. 6abc Philadelphia |
| Arrest | Carly flees the scene; surveillance captures her fleeing. She is later arrested without incident. SuperTalk Mississippi Media |
2.2 Key Details and Noteworthy Aspects
- The use of the mother’s handgun (.357 Magnum) as the murder weapon. People.com+1
- The apparent premeditation: the retrieval of the weapon, concealment, waiting for step-father’s arrival. Prosecutors labelled the act “evil”. 6abc Philadelphia
- The moment where Carly invites a friend over to view the body suggested chilling behaviour. People.com+1
- The mental-health component: defence argued that Carly did not recall the events; prosecution had witnesses who testified she knew what she was doing. WAPT
2.3 Victims and Impact
- Victim: Ashley Smylie (40, high-school math teacher) – killed by daughter. People.com+1
- Victim: Heath Smylie (step-father) – survived, wounded in face/shoulder, called 911 saying “She killed her mom.” 6abc Philadelphia
- Emotional impact on extended family: Carly’s father Kevin felt shame, embarrassment; the community responded with shock. People.com
3. Trial, Conviction and Sentencing
Having reviewed background and crime facts, we turn to how the justice system responded.
3.1 Trial Proceedings
- Carly Gregg was tried as an adult in the Circuit Court of Rankin County, Mississippi. 6abc Philadelphia+1
- The trial lasted five days. The jury deliberated just two hours before returning guilty verdicts on all charges: first-degree murder (mother), attempted murder (step-father), tampering with evidence. People.com+1
- Mental-health testimony: Multiple experts testified. One forensic psychiatrist, Dr. Jason Picket, opined that Carly did not meet Mississippi’s legal standard for insanity. WAPT
- Defence strategy: Argued Carly was in a mental-health crisis, was prescribed medication (Zoloft, Lexapro), hearing voices, dissociating, maybe didn’t remember the events. People.com+1
- Prosecution strategy: Showed surveillance video, texts, phone logs, friend testimony. Argued Carly’s behaviour was purposeful, knew right from wrong. 6abc Philadelphia+1
3.2 Conviction and Sentencing
- On September 20, 2024, Carly Gregg was found guilty on all counts. People.com+1
- Sentence: Two life sentences without possibility of parole (for the murder and attempted murder) + an additional 10 years for tampering with evidence. WAPT+1
- The judge ruled the sentences to be served concurrently. WAPT
- The jury deliberated for about two hours before the verdict. 6abc Philadelphia
3.3 Reactions and Key Quotes
- The prosecutor described the defendant as “evil” in court: “Carly Gregg is evil and that’s not easy to say, but the truth of the matter is that sometimes evil comes in young packages.” 6abc Philadelphia
- Carly’s father, Kevin Gregg, said: “That girl knew right from wrong… That girl is not insane. That was a very dumb defence if you asked me.” https://www.wlbt.com+1
4. Mental-Health Considerations & Legal Implications
The interplay of adolescent mental health, criminal responsibility, and the justice system is central to understanding the significance of this case.
4.1 Adolescent Brain, Mental Health & Responsibility
Adolescence is a period of brain development, emotional volatility and identity formation. While most teens never commit violent crime, when they do, the interplay of mental-health issues can complicate responsibility. In Carly Gregg’s case:
- She reported hearing voices, though these were contested in terms of credibility. WAPT
- She had been treated for depression and adjustment disorder; her mother reportedly present during appointments. WAPT
- There was testimony that her mood swings, medications, and background formed a “mental-health crisis.” People.com
- However, the prosecution’s psychiatrist concluded she did not meet the legal test for insanity (i.e., she knew right from wrong and the quality of her act). WAPT
4.2 Legal Standards: Insanity Defence and Juvenile Trials as Adults
- In Mississippi, the standard for legal insanity requires that at the time of the act the defendant did not know the nature and quality of the act or that it was wrong. Carly’s evaluation did not meet that standard. WAPT
- Trying a 14-year-old as an adult raises constitutional, moral, and public-policy questions: Should minors be tried as adults? What role does brain immaturity play?
- The defence argued her age and mental state should reduce her culpability; the prosecution argued her actions were calculated.
4.3 Implications & Broader Issues
- The severity of the sentence (life without parole) for a juvenile raises debate about juvenile justice, rights of the child, possibility of rehabilitation.
- Use of video surveillance, digital evidence (texts/friend invites) shows how modern adolescent crime cases involve technology and behaviour patterns.
- Mental-health treatment and risk-management in families: Could earlier intervention have prevented escalation? The mother was a teacher and apparently aware of her daughter’s issues—yet tragedy occurred.
- Community and familial fall-out: The father’s admission of substance history, the divorce, the teen’s possessions (vapes, devices) suggest complex home dynamics.
5. Appeal Process & Current Status
5.1 Grounds for Appeal
Carly Gregg’s legal team has pursued various motions and appeals. Key points:
- A motion to supplement the appellate record, arguing trial court orders relating to mental evaluations (and interlocutory appeals) were missing. https://www.wlbt.com
- Argument that her speedy trial (indicted two months after incident, trial in six months) deprived her of adequate preparation. WAPT+1
- Challenge to the constitutionality of life without parole for a juvenile. WAPT
5.2 Recent Developments
- On April 15, 2025, a new attorney, James Murphy, was appointed to represent Carly in the appeal. Clarion Ledger+1
- On May 13, 2025, a motion to supplement the record was denied because the record had not yet been delivered to the Mississippi Supreme Court. https://www.wlbt.com
- The timing of when the high court will hear the appeal remains uncertain. https://www.wlbt.com
5.3 Potential Outcomes
- If the case is remanded, Carly could be granted a new trial or a resentencing.
- If the appeal fails, she will continue to serve life without parole under current judgment.
- The case may influence future juvenile sentencing jurisprudence in Mississippi and beyond (especially concerning life without parole for minors).
6. The Case’s Broader Significance
6.1 Juvenile Life Sentences and Retribution vs. Rehabilitation
This case highlights tensions between justice systems’ desire to punish heinous crimes and the recognition of adolescents as a distinct development category with capacity for change. Questions include:
- Does a 14-year-old fully appreciate the consequences of her actions?
- Should juveniles ever receive life without parole?
- How much weight should mental-health crises carry in sentencing?
6.2 Family Dynamics, Access to Weapons and School-Home Context
- Carly’s mother was a teacher; the crime took place in the home after school hours.
- Access to a loaded handgun in the parents’ bedroom raises safety issues.
- The teen’s use of marijuana, burner phones and device concealment point to underlying behavioural issues often seen but not always addressed in families.
6.3 Role of Technology and Evidence in Modern Trials
Surveillance video of the garage/house, phone records, texts to friends (“Are you squeamish around dead bodies?”), friend accounts all contributed to the prosecution’s case. This underscores how adolescent crime is increasingly documented and traceable.
6.4 Community Reaction and Media Coverage
The media portrayed the case as “teen kills mom, invites friend to see body,” which generated sensational attention. The father’s public statements, the school-teacher victim, and the bizarre elements (friend invitation, concealment) all fed public fascination and horror.
7. Summary and Key Takeaways
- Carly Gregg, at age 14/15, committed the murder of her mother and attempted murder of her step-father in March 2024 in Brandon, Mississippi.
- The act involved planning, the retrieval of a gun, and post-shooting behaviour that raised serious questions about intent.
- Despite her youth and mental-health concerns, the court found her competent, guilty on all counts, and sentenced to life without parole plus 10 years.
- Her defence highlighted mental-health issues and adolescent vulnerability; the prosecution emphasised premeditation and knowledge of wrongdoing.
- The appeal process is ongoing, raising questions about juvenile justice, mental-health, and eligibility for life sentences.
- The wider significance spans juvenile sentencing jurisprudence, family/weapon safety dynamics, and how modern trials use digital evidence.
Conclusion
The tragic case of Carly Gregg is one that challenges our assumptions about youth violence, mental health, legal responsibility and the capacity for change. While the facts are stark and the sentence severe, the underlying questions it raises — about how we respond to young offenders, how mental-health issues factor into crime, and how families and communities can intervene earlier — remain pressing. Whether Carly Gregg’s appeal will yield reconsideration of the verdict or sentence, the case will likely remain a reference point in discussions of juvenile justice for years to come.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. How old was Carly Gregg at the time of the crime?
She was 14 years old when the shooting occurred (March 2024). She was 15 years old at the time of her sentencing. People.com+1
2. What was Carly Gregg’s sentence?
She received two life sentences without the possibility of parole (for murder and attempted murder) plus an additional 10 years for tampering with evidence. WAPT+1
3. Did the court accept a mental-insanity defence?
No. Multiple mental-health experts testified that she did not meet the legal standard for insanity in Mississippi—specifically that she knew the nature and quality of her actions and that they were wrong. WAPT+1
4. What is the status of her appeal?
Her appeal is in process. A new attorney has been appointed (April 2025). Motions to supplement the record were filed but denied as incomplete (May 2025). The date for a Supreme Court review is not yet set. https://www.wlbt.com+1
5. Why is this case considered significant?
Because it touches on the intersection of juvenile crime, mental-health, life sentences without parole for minors, family dynamics, modern evidence (video/Text), and public perception of violent adolescent behaviour.
