MS vs. Carly Gregg: Murder trial for deadly daughter

BRANDON, Mississippi (Court TV) – A young girl is on trial accused of murdering her mother, shooting her stepfather and inviting a friend to look at the bodies.

Carly Gregg, now 15, was 14 when she was charged with murder, attempted murder and tampering with evidence for shooting her mother, Ashley Smylie, and stepfather, Heath Smylie.

Prosecutors say Gregg shot and killed her mother in the neck on March 19, 2024. At a preliminary hearing, a detective testified that video from the house showed Gregg playing with her dogs after the shooting.

Gregg then allegedly texted her friend, identified in court documents as BW, saying she had an emergency and needed her to come over. BW told police that when she got there, Gregg asked her if she had ever seen a dead body before. When she said no, Gregg showed her Ashley's body. Gregg allegedly told BW to wait outside because her stepfather would be home soon.

When Heath arrived, BW heard three gunshots before Gregg ran out of the house. Heath told officers he was able to wrestle the gun from his stepdaughter. Gregg was arrested about a half mile away.

Gregg rejected a plea deal offered by prosecutors that would have given her 40 years in prison. She faces life for the murder charge and 30 to life for the other charges.

Gregg's defense is expected to plead insanity at her trial and will hire an expert to testify on her behalf. At her preliminary hearing, her attorneys described her as an “exceptional student” who had skipped fourth grade and had no history of violence.