Defense Carly Madison Gregg expects first witness in murder trial

The defense attorneys representing a teenage girl accused of killing her mom rested their case Wednesday afternoon after medical records, school records, journal entries and a sketchbook pertaining to the teen depicted a history of mental illness, which the defense believes led to a violent outburst.

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, on March 19 at the family’s Brandon home in the 200 block of Ashton Way. Gregg was 14 at the time of the offenses.

Defense Attorneys Bridget Todd and Kevin Camp presented evidence in court in day three of the trial Wednesday showing Gregg was an “exceptional student” with a history of mental health concerns.

The prosecution rested its case late in the day Tuesday.

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

Dr. Andrew Clark, a child and adolescent psychiatrist based in Cambridge, MA, was identified as the expert witness. Clark testified to what factors may have contributed to Gregg committing the alleged crimes. Clark said he diagnosed Gregg with Bipolar II disorder.

“Dr. Clark, based on your experience, expertise and evaluation of Carly, do you believe that Carly was able to understand the nature of her conduct and appreciate the difference between right and wrong at the time this incident occurred on March 19?” Defense Attorney Bridget Todd asked.

“I don’t think so,” Clark said.

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

Clark read aloud in the courtroom a journal entry written on March 12, a week before the incident:

“I think I had a psychotic break earlier. The whole ordeal is quite silly. I actually spoke with one of the voices in my head. Well, I didn’t hear them until earlier today, but I only do then. My particular friend and I were practically screaming bloodthirstily and ravenously. Thank God — physical confrontation was not possible. I sound crazy,” Clark read.

Clark stated there was also a sketchbook on an undisclosed page number written in green ink and appeared to be in a different handwriting. Clark said the writing included statements such as, “I don’t think I’ll make it any longer” and “please help me,” which Gregg told Clark she had “no idea” of.

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

Clark said in the last year, Gregg developed what he deemed “common teenage behaviors,” such as sneaking out of the house and staying up past curfew on a burner phone to text friends. Clark said six weeks before Gregg’s arrest, she began smoking marijuana around two-to-four times a week. Clark said Gregg expressed to him that the marijuana helped with her anxiety and sleeping problems.

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

During Clark’s testimony he revealed that at the age of 4, Gregg had a sister who died. Around the ages of 6 or 7, Gregg started hearing voices and having intrusive thoughts — one symptom of post-traumatic stress disorder. Clark said as Gregg grew older, she developed symptoms of depression. When Gregg was 11 or 12, she began self-harming herself by making superficial cuts in her thigh. Clark said that was not in effort to kill herself but to “cope” with her depression and anxiety. Clark said Gregg’s parents learned of the self-harm in December 2023.

During Clark’s testimony, he said Gregg told her parents that she was depressed. Upon that news, Ashley took Gregg to a pediatrician and therapist, who prescribed Gregg some medication. Clark said the medication didn’t appear to have much of an effect, so the dosage was increased but still within a responsible range. Clark testified Gregg then complained of feeling numb or “flat.”

Clark said all of those factors, including Gregg’s biological parents divorcing when she was 4 or 5, contributed to the struggle with her mental health.

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

Clark said over time, Gregg began having “lower, lows and higher, highs” when her medications were switched to Lexapro. Gregg allegedly told Clark the voices were “getting worse.”

On March 19, Clark said Gregg woke up “grumpy and irritable.” She claimed she couldn’t focus during class at Northwest Rankin High School. Ashely was a math teacher at the school.

At the end of the school day, Ashley informed Gregg that she knew about the marijuana. It was previously revealed in testimony that a schoolmate of Gregg told Ashely about the drugs.

Clark said after Gregg made it home, she recalled going in the backyard to let her dogs out but afterward “her memory went blank.”

“Her memory came back as she was standing by the side of the road, having crawled out of a drainage pipe wet, and the police officer came by and picked her up,” Clark said.

On cross, prosecutor Michael Smith noted how “convenient” it was that Gregg could recall what happened before school, during school and when she was arrested, but couldn’t recall the hour timespan of when Gregg allegedly murdered her mother.

“In your opinion, as we sit here today, that on March 19 whenever Carly shot her mom that she did not — in your words — appreciate the difference between right and wrong?” Smith asked.

“Yes,” Clark said.

“It is your opinion that she didn’t appreciate the difference between right and wrong whenever she hid the gun behind her back?” Smith asked.

“It is my opinion that she did not appreciate the difference between right and wrong at that point in time,” Clark said.

“…When she peeks around the kitchen wall after going to retrieve the gun, I assume it is your opinion that she didn’t appreciate the difference between right and wrong at that point in time too?” Smith asked.

“That is my opinion, yes,” Clark said.

“Whenever she removed the camera from the wall and hid it in the fridge, it is your opinion that she didn’t appreciate the difference between right and wrong?” Smith asked.

“Correct,” Clark said.

“When she invited over B.W. and said that she put three in her mom, and then her stepdad would be home shortly and she had three more, would you say that she didn’t know the difference between right and wrong?” Smith said.

“Correct,” Clark said.

“And when she ran from the house after it was all done, she didn’t know the difference between right and wrong?” Smith asked.

“Correct,” Clark said.

Gregg faces charges for murder, attempted murder and tampering with evidence. If convicted, Gregg faces 20 years to a potential life sentence in prison.

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