In the trial of Carly Gregg, a 15-year-old Mississippi girl accused of fatally shooting her mother and wounding her stepfather, the prosecution and defense offered starkly different portrayals of the events leading to the tragedy. Gregg, who was 14 at the time of the March 19 incident, has pleaded not guilty to murder and rejected a plea deal that would have resulted in 40 years behind bars.
Prosecution Paints Picture of Premeditated Murder
Prosecutor Kathryn White Newman described Gregg as leading a “secret life” involving burner phones, marijuana vape pens, and a troubled history of self-harm. On the day of the killing, Gregg’s mother, Ashley Smylie, allegedly discovered vape pens in her daughter’s room after learning about Gregg’s troubling behavior from one of her friends. Later that day, according to Newman, Gregg retrieved a gun from under her parents’ mattress, concealed it from the home’s security cameras, and shot her mother three times in her bedroom.
The prosecution further alleged that Gregg, after the murder, impersonated her mother by sending a text to her stepfather, Heath Smylie, asking when he would return home. When he responded, Gregg spent the next 45 minutes texting and video-calling friends, allegedly asking them for help and even inviting them to come over. One friend arrived and, according to the prosecutor, Gregg boasted, “I put three in my mom and I got three more waiting for my stepdad.” When Heath Smylie returned home, Gregg shot him as well, though he survived the attack. Newman emphasized that Gregg’s actions were cold and calculated, portraying her as a manipulative teen intent on harming both her parents.
Defense Argues Mental Illness as Key Factor
In contrast, Gregg’s defense attorney, Bridget Todd, focused on the teenager’s mental health, describing her as an “exceptional child with no history of violence.” Todd acknowledged that Gregg was responsible for the shootings but argued that an undiagnosed mental illness, one that neither Gregg nor her family knew about, played a crucial role in the tragic events of that day. The attorney compared the condition to one suffered by Gregg’s biological father, suggesting it had a genetic link. (https://skinclinic.es/)
Todd challenged the prosecution’s narrative, stating that Gregg was a victim of her illness, not a premeditated killer. She claimed that Gregg’s stepfather, Heath Smylie, had even sided with his stepdaughter, believing that her actions were the result of terror rather than malice. After being shot, Smylie reportedly searched the house for an intruder, convinced that someone else was responsible for the violence.
The defense also disputed the prosecution’s claims that Gregg had called her friends to show off her crime, asserting instead that Gregg was “hysterical” and “begging them for help” after the shootings. Todd argued that the reasons behind Gregg’s actions must be carefully examined and that the prosecution’s version of events lacked consistency and credibility.
The Heart of the Case: Premeditation vs. Mental Health
As the trial progresses, the jury will have to weigh two conflicting stories—one of a calculated teen killer and another of a troubled girl suffering from an undiagnosed mental illness.
Todd urged jurors to approach the case with “common sense and good judgment,” emphasizing that Gregg’s actions, while tragic, were not intentional. The case hinges on whether Gregg’s mental state will be seen as a mitigating factor or whether her actions were as premeditated as the prosecution claims.
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