Carly Gregg, a 15-year-old from Brandon, Mississippi, has been found guilty of murdering her mother, Ashley Smylie, and attempting to kill her stepfather, Heath Smylie.
The verdict was delivered by a Rankin County jury on September 20, 2024, after a week-long trial that captivated the community and drew national attention.
15-Year-Old Carly Gregg Was Found Guilty of Murdering Her Mother
On March 19, 2023, Carly, then 14, fatally shot her 40-year-old mother with a .357 Magnum revolver inside their family home. Prosecutors presented home security footage showing Carly retrieving the gun and shooting her mother three times.
Footage shows moment Carly Gregg shot and kiIIed her own mother.
Carly’s trial is this week. Carly is a girl who identifies as nonbinary.
Carly was reportedly on SSRI medications and had a history of mental illness and cutting herself.pic.twitter.com/O76f46e6BA
— Libs of TikTok (@libsoftiktok) September 19, 2024
Afterward, she attempted to kill her stepfather by shooting at him when he arrived home, but he survived the attack.
During the trial, Carly was seen crying and reacting with great sadness, which has surprised social media audiences for better and for worse.
#BREAKING: After 1 hour and 57 minutes of deliberation, the jury found 15-year-old #CarlyGregg GUILTY on all counts.
Now, they will decide if she’s sentenced to life in prison with or without parole.#CourtTV What do YOU think?
WATCH LIVE – https://t.co/cz4ixlCwQp pic.twitter.com/k3CQEYR0Wd— Court TV (@CourtTV) September 20, 2024
The prosecution argued that Carly’s actions were premeditated and deliberate. They described her demeanor as “cool, calm, collected, and callous,” emphasizing that she knew exactly what she was doing.
The defense, however, painted a different picture, claiming that Carly was experiencing a severe mental health crisis at the time of the incident. They presented evidence of her struggles with depression, self-harm, and auditory hallucinations.
The jury found Carly Gregg guilty on all charges, including first-degree murder, attempted murder, and tampering with evidence.
She was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole. The case has sparked discussions about juvenile justice, mental health, and the appropriate punishment for young offenders.
