Carly Gregg could soon learn her fate as murder trial winds down

2024-09-19 21:20:04

After days of testimony that included security and police body camera video, the trial for a Rankin County teenager accused of fatally shooting her mother is winding down.Carly Gregg, 15, is charged as an adult in the March 19 shooting that killed her mother, Ashley Smylie. Gregg is also accused of shooting her stepfather, Heath Smylie, who survived with a graze wound to his shoulder. Gregg could testify in her defense. Earlier this week, she told Rankin County Circuit Court Judge Dewey Arthur that she wanted to hear the defense testimony before deciding whether she would take the stand.The prosecution called nurse practitioner Olivia Leber on Thursday as a rebuttal witnesses. Leber said she first met with Gregg in January 2024, at which time, Gregg filled out a form and checked “No,” to a question that asked if she was hearing voices.Leber said Gregg was diagnosed with major depressive disorder and adjustment disorder. Gregg had complained of being depressed, which Leber noted wasn’t chronic. Otherwise, Gregg appeared to have normal responses during their appointment.“She denied hallucinations or delusions,” Leber said.In a follow-up appointment on March 12, Leber said Gregg complained of feeling “like a zombie.” Leber told Gregg to taper off the Zoloft she was taking, while starting a new medication, Lexapro. Leber said Gregg never reported hearing voices or lapses in memory.Leber said she met with Gregg three times between January and March. Gregg’s mother was in the room during each appointment.Rebecca Kirk, a licensed professional counselor, met with Gregg in January. Gregg and Ashley Smylie reported that Gregg was having intrusive, disruptive thoughts, was easily angered and was having trouble sleeping. Gregg denied hearing voices.Kirk said she met with Gregg nine times. She said Gregg appeared to be smart and enjoyed school. They talked about “Crime and Punishment,” a novel by Russian author Fyodor Dostoevsky, about a former student who is alienated from society because he feels superior. The character murders a woman and then is wracked with guilt.Kirk noted in their final session that Gregg wasn’t experiencing any suicidal or homicidal tendencies, nor did she report experiencing any side effects from her medication.The defense rested on Wednesday after calling a handful of witnesses, including a psychiatrist who said Gregg was experiencing a mental health crisis at the time of the shooting. Dr. Andrew Clark testified that Gregg doesn’t remember shooting her mother. “She was having mood issues, eating disorder issues, cutting herself, hearing voices and sleeping difficulty all leading up to January 2024,” Clark said. Carly Gregg was 14 years old when the shooting took place at the family’s home in Brandon. Security video from inside the family’s home shows Gregg and her mother returning from Northwest Rankin High School, where Ashley Smylie was a teacher and Gregg was a student. The video shows Gregg walking past the kitchen and then the sound of a scream and three gunshots. Gregg then walks back into the kitchen and seemed to calmly pick up and look at her cellphone.Clark believes that a new medication for depression launched Gregg into a spiral in the days before the shooting. Clark said Gregg’s lows were lower and her highs were higher and the voices, which she hadn’t told anyone about, were getting worse in the days before the shooting. If convicted, Gregg faces 20 years to life in prison. Carly Gregg CasePsychiatrist says Carly Gregg doesn’t remember shooting that killed her motherVideo from inside home shows Carly Gregg and what appears to be the sound of 3 gunshots Jury hears 911 call made by teen murder suspect’s stepfather after he was shot, girl’s mother killedProsecutors: Carly Gregg smoked marijuana the day before shootingTeen murder suspect competent to stand trialCarly Gregg rejects plea dealRankin County teen charged in mother’s shooting death to stand trial in September14-year-old girl charged as adult in shooting that killed mother, injured stepfather