BRANDON, Miss. (Court TV) — A young girl is on trial accused of murdering her mother, shooting her stepfather and inviting a friend to view the bodies.

Carly Gregg stands and addresses the judge in court on September 18, 2024. (Court TV)

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

Prosecutors say Gregg shot her mother in the neck, killing her on March 19, 2024. During a preliminary hearing, a detective testified that video footage from inside the home 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 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 was about to come home.

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

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

Gregg’s defense is expected to argue insanity at her trial, and she has brought in an expert to testify on her behalf. During her preliminary hearing, her attorneys described her as an “exceptional student” who had skipped the fourth grade and had no prior history of violence.

DAILY TRIAL UPDATES

DAY 2 – 18/09/24

• A 16-year-old friend of the suspect testified that on March 19, Gregg asked her to come over because she needed help.
  • The witness stated that Gregg asked her if she had ever seen a dead body before he showed her Ashley Smylie’s body.
  • The witness stated that Gregg was carrying a gun and admitted to shooting her mother three times.
• Gregg’s stepfather, Heath Smylie, testified that he found his wife’s body.
• The prosecutors have taken their case under advisement.

DAY 1 – 17/9/24

• Prosecutors say Carly Gregg led a “secret life” before killing her mother and attempting to kill her stepfather.
• Defense attorney Bridget Todd said Carly Gregg suffered from an undiagnosed mental illness and that she never felt the need to hurt her mother or stepfather.
• Heath Smylie, Gregg’s stepfather, screamed hysterically as he called 911 to report that his stepdaughter had shot him and his wife.
• During the testimony of Rankin County Sheriff’s Deputy Hunter Lewis, the jury saw the first 20 minutes of Lewis’ bodycam footage when he arrived at the scene.
• The day’s final witness was a 16-year-old male classmate and friend of Gregg, who had been concerned about Gregg’s well-being in the days leading up to the fatal double shooting.
  • The teenager described Gregg as a “genius.”
  • The teen testified that Gregg would injure/cut herself when she was in trouble at home.