15 Year Old Teenager Carly Gregg Sentenced to Life in Prison for Killing Mother in Mississippi

In a shocking case that has drawn widespread attention, 15-year-old Carly Madison Gregg was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole for the murder of her mother, Ashley Smylie, and the attempted murder of her stepfather, Heath Smylie.

The disturbing crime, which took place in Rankin County, Mississippi, also involved Carly Gregg inviting a friend over to view the body of her mother shortly after the killing.

A Tragic Incident

In March 2024, Carly Gregg entered her mother’s bedroom and fatally shot her. After the shooting, Carly Gregg sent a text message to her stepfather, Heath Smylie, asking him to return home. When he arrived, she attempted to kill him as well, shooting him and grazing his shoulder. Despite his injuries, Smylie survived the attack.

Prosecutors presented surveillance footage during the trial that showed Carly Gregg entering her mother’s room with a gun hidden behind her back. The chilling video captured the sound of gunshots and her mother’s screams. Afterward, Carly Gregg hid the surveillance footage and attempted to cover up her crime.

What makes the case even more unsettling is that after the murder, Carly Gregg texted a friend and invited them over to see her mother’s body. The friend, referred to in court as B.W. due to being a minor, testified that Gregg asked, “Are you squeamish around dead bodies?” before showing her friend the grisly scene.

Carly Gregg's Trial and Sentencing

The trial lasted several days and culminated in Carly Gregg’s sentencing on Friday, September 20, 2024. The jury deliberated for two hours to reach a verdict and spent a third hour deciding the sentence. Carly Gregg was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole for the murder of her mother, with an additional 10-year sentence for tampering with evidence. The sentences will be served concurrently.

Throughout the trial, the prosecution emphasized Carly Gregg’s lack of remorse for her actions. Assistant District Attorney Kathryn Newman told the court, “She knew what she did. She has shown zero remorse.” Newman argued that the life sentence was appropriate given the severity of the crime and Gregg’s apparent indifference.

Despite the harsh sentence, defense attorney Kevin Camp urged the jury to consider the impact that such a sentence would have on the family. He argued that Carly Gregg had been only 14 years old at the time of the shooting and was experiencing a mental health crisis. He asked the jury for leniency, but the court ultimately decided on life imprisonment.

Mental Health Concerns

A major point of contention throughout the trial was the question of Carly Gregg’s mental health. Her defense team argued that she was not in her right mind at the time of the murder, citing a history of depression, anxiety, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Dr. Andrew Clark, a child psychologist, testified that Carly Gregg’s mental health had deteriorated significantly following the death of her sister when she was just four years old. He further explained that Carly Gregg had engaged in self-harm and appeared to be suffering from symptoms consistent with PTSD.

Dr. Clark presented the court with a journal entry written by Carly Gregg on March 12, 2024, just a week before the murder, in which she described experiencing a “psychotic break” and claimed she had spoken with one of the voices in her head. The defense argued that Gregg’s mental state at the time of the shooting was severely compromised and that she should be considered legally insane.

Despite the defense’s claims, the prosecution presented evidence suggesting that Gregg was fully aware of the nature of her actions. Forensic psychiatrist Dr. Jason Pickett testified that Carly Gregg did not meet Mississippi’s legal standard for insanity. He referenced a text message from February 2024, in which Carly Gregg told a friend, “You don’t understand how (expletive) psycho I was that day, I almost murdered my parents.” Pickett concluded that Gregg understood the wrongfulness of her actions at the time of the crime and should be held fully accountable.

Witnesses for the prosecution also testified that Carly Gregg had not reported hearing voices or experiencing hallucinations during mental health check-ups as recently as January 2024, just two months before the murder.

Carly Gregg’s Stepfather Survived a Horrific Attack 

In the days following the murder, Carly Gregg’s stepfather, Heath Smylie, who survived the attack, described his stepdaughter as a “sweet little girl” who seemed to be in a state of mental distress during the shooting. Smylie testified that when he returned home after receiving Gregg’s text message, he found her in a highly agitated state. “She was screaming out of her mind, scared,” Smylie told the court. “It was like she had seen a demon or something.”

Smylie expressed his belief that Carly Gregg did not recognize him when she shot him. “I still to this day don’t even think she recognized me,” he said. “Something was off.”

Despite the horrific nature of the crime, Smylie and Gregg have maintained contact while she has been in jail. Smylie testified that they speak frequently through text messages and video calls, and he believes their relationship has remained intact. “I think we’re good,” he said in court. “We talk just about every day now.”

Life Sentence and Appeal Plans

Carly Gregg’s life sentence is set to run concurrently with her 10-year sentence for evidence tampering. Despite the jury’s decision, Carly Gregg’s defense team has already indicated plans to appeal the verdict. Defense attorney Kevin Camp continues to argue that the life sentence is too severe for someone of Carly Gregg’s age, especially given her mental health struggles.

The prosecution, however, stands by the jury’s decision. Bubba Bramlett, the district attorney for Rankin and Madison counties, spoke after the verdict, saying, “Carly Gregg is evil. That’s not easy to say, but sometimes evil comes in young packages, small packages – and this is one of those cases.” He acknowledged the tragedy of the situation but emphasized that prison is where Gregg belongs.

Carly Madison Gregg’s case has brought attention to the complex intersection of mental health, youth, and criminal responsibility. While her defense team argued that she was suffering from a mental health crisis, the court ultimately found that she was aware of her actions and their consequences. As her defense team prepares for an appeal, the case continues to raise difficult questions about justice, punishment, and the role of mental health in violent crime.