Who is Carly Gregg and why did she get life in prison?

A Mississippi court found Carly Gregg, the teenager who stood accused of murdering her mother, Ashely Smylie, 40, and attempting to end the life of her stepfather, Heath Smylie. 39, guilty. Gregg, currently 15 years old, was found guilty on all fifteen counts and was sentenced to life in prison, a punishment not often dolled out to minors.

The court was shown a video of the deadly shooting, which took place in the family’s home on March 19. Gregg, who was fourteen at the time of the murder, is said to have shown little remorse for her actions, which is partly what prompted the severe sentence. After killing her mother, she waited for her stepfather to arrive at the family home. Heath Smylie testified that he heard shots ring out before he was able to open the door completely but was able to secure the firearm from the teenager.

The defense highlighted a history of mental health issues

The defense, knowing that much of the scene was captured on film, did not deny that their client had killed Smylie, instead trying to show that Gregg had serious emotional and mental health issues. The defense attempted an insanity plea, citing a history of self-harm and that before the shooting, she had begun to hear voices. However, Gregg’s conduct after the shooting, which included inviting a friend over and sending them a text that read, “Are you squeamish around dead bodies?” efforts to tamper with evidence and lack of remorse led the court to dismiss the defense’s argument.

One of the witnesses in the case was Rebecca Kirk, a counselor who had treated Gregg in the weeks before the shooting. Kirk testified late last week and spoke to Gregg’s demeanor and character based on their nine sessions. As a student, Kirk described Gregg as ‘gifted’ and said that those around her had noted her intelligence, which was something “she was proud of.” However, these gifts came with a darker side in the form of isolation. “Sometimes when you’re so gifted and different from others, you might feel lonely and a little bit more isolated,” said Kirk during her testimony.

Another expert, Dr. Andrew Clark, who evaluated Gregg, explained that parts of her past could have contributed to her behavior and mental health issues, including the death of her sister at age four.

The tragic case is a reminder of the importance of taking mental health issues in teenagers seriously, as perhaps a more significant intervention could have prevented the death of Ashely Smylie. Smylie was a high school math teacher. It is also important to consider that if Gregg lived in a different state, precisely one of the twenty-seven that does not allow courts to sentence minors to life in prison, her life would have a very different trajectory. More broadly, the United States is one of a handful of countries that allow minors to receive life sentences.