Defense attorney Carly Madison Gregg expects first witness in murder trial

Defense attorneys for a teenager accused of murdering her mother wrapped up their arguments Wednesday afternoon after medical records, school documents, diary entries and a sketchbook from the teen showed a history of mental illness that the defense said led to an outburst of violence.

Carly Madison Gregg, 15, is accused of murdering her 40-year-old mother, Ashley Smylie, and attempting to murder her 39-year-old stepfather, Heath Smylie, at the family's Brandon home in the 200 block of Ashton Way on March 19. Gregg was 14 at the time of the crimes.

Defense attorneys Bridget Todd and Kevin Camp presented evidence in court on the third day of the trial on Wednesday that showed Gregg was an “exceptional student” with a history of mental health problems.

The prosecution concluded its presentation of evidence late Tuesday.

Outside the presence of a jury, Rankin County District Court Judge Arthur Dewey decided Tuesday to allow the defense to present an expert witness to testify about Gregg's mental state at the time of the March shootings.

Dr. Andrew Clark, a child and adolescent psychiatrist from Cambridge, MA, was called as an expert witness. Clark testified about factors that may have contributed to Gregg committing the alleged crimes.

“Dr. Clark, based on your experience, expertise and assessment of Carly, do you believe that at the time of the incident on March 19th, Carly was capable of understanding the nature of her behavior and recognizing the difference between right and wrong?” asked defense attorney Bridget Todd.

“I don’t think so,” Clark said.

According to Clark, Gregg's medical records indicate a long-standing struggle with depression and anxiety, while most of her school records show a pattern of good attendance and academic excellence. However, Clark said Gregg's journal entries and a sketchbook revealed an interest in “dark themes,” suggesting potential aggression and instability.

Clark read a diary entry in the courtroom from March 12, a week before the incident:

“I think I had a psychotic episode earlier. The whole thing is pretty silly. I actually talked to one of the voices in my head. Well, I didn't hear it until this morning, but I'm not doing that until then. My friend and I were practically screaming bloodthirsty and starving. Thank God a physical confrontation wasn't possible. I sound crazy,” Clark read.

Clark stated that there was also a sketchbook with an unknown page number that was written in green ink and appeared to have a different handwriting. Clark said the writing included statements such as “I don't think I can do this much longer” and “Please help me,” which Gregg Clark said she had “no idea about.”

“Just a sweet little girl”:Stepfather testifies in trial of Carly Gregg, who is accused of murdering her mother

“It shows that she was worried about her mental health,” Clark said, referring to the sketchbook.

Clark said over the past year, Gregg has developed “common teenage behavior,” such as sneaking out of the house and staying up late to text friends after curfew on a disposable cell phone. Clark said six weeks before Gregg's arrest, she began smoking marijuana about two to four times a week. Clark said Gregg told him the marijuana helped her with her anxiety and sleep problems.

“Carly had a pretty difficult childhood,” Clark said.

During his testimony, Clark revealed that Gregg had a sister who died when she was 4 years old. At around age 6 or 7, Gregg began hearing voices and having intrusive thoughts – a symptom of post-traumatic stress disorder. Clark said as Gregg got older, she developed symptoms of depression. When Gregg was 11 or 12, she began self-harming by making superficial cuts to her thigh. Clark said this was not an attempt to kill herself, but to “cope” with her depression and anxiety. Clark said Gregg's parents learned about the self-harm in December 2023.

During Clark's testimony, he said Gregg told her parents she was depressed. When Ashley heard this, she took Gregg to a pediatrician and therapists who prescribed him medication. Clark said the medication didn't seem to have much of an effect, so the dosage was increased, but still within reasonable limits. Clark testified Gregg then complained of numbness or “faintness.”

Clark said all of these factors, including the divorce of Gregg's biological parents when she was four or five, contributed to her mental health problems.

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“She had a close, albeit complicated, relationship with her mother and a close, loving relationship with her stepfather and a more problematic relationship with her biological father,” Clark said.

Clark said that over time, Gregg experienced “deeper lows and higher highs” as her medication was switched to Lexapro. Gregg allegedly told Clark that the voices were getting “worse.”

On March 19, Gregg woke up “grumpy and irritable,” according to Clark. She claimed she was unable to concentrate during class at Northwest Rankin High School, where Ashely was a math teacher.

At the end of the school day, Ashley informed Gregg that she knew about the marijuana. Earlier testimony indicated that a schoolmate of Gregg's had told Ashley about the drugs.

Clark said after Gregg came home, she remembered going to the backyard to let her dogs out, but after that, she “lost her memory of it.”

“Her memory came back when she was standing on the side of the road after crawling out of a drainpipe, wet, and the police officer came by and took her away,” Clark said.

Under cross-examination, prosecutor Michael Smith pointed out how “convenient” it was that Gregg could remember what happened before school, during school and when she was arrested, but could not remember the period of time during which Gregg allegedly murdered her mother.

“Are you suggesting, as we sit here, that on March 19, when Carly shot her mother, to use your words, she did not recognize the difference between good and evil?” Smith asked.

“Yes,” said Clark.

“Do you think she didn't know the difference between good and evil when she hid the gun behind her back?” Smith asked.

“In my opinion, she didn't understand the difference between right and wrong at that time,” Clark said.

“…When she peeked out from behind the kitchen wall after she went to get the gun, I assume you think she didn't know the difference between good and evil then either?” Smith asked.

“That’s my opinion, yes,” Clark said.

“When she took the camera off the wall and hid it in the refrigerator, do you think she was unaware of the difference between right and wrong?” Smith asked.

“Right,” said Clark.

“When she invited BW over and said she had shoved three down her mother's throat and then her stepfather was coming home soon and she was getting three more, would you say she didn't know the difference between right and wrong?” Smith said.

“Right,” said Clark.

“And when she finally ran out of the house, she didn't know the difference between right and wrong?” Smith asked.

Defense attorney Carly Madison Gregg expects first witness in murder trial

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