After School Murder: The 14-Year-Old Who Executed Her Mom

On March 19, 2024, 14-year-old Carley Gregg shot and killed her mother, Ashley Smiley, and then shot her stepfather, Heath Smiley, in their home. The incident occurred after Ashley discovered Carley's secret marijuana use, which was revealed via an anonymous email from a friend.

Home security footage captured Carley pacing, letting dogs out, retrieving a .357 Magnum from her parents' bedroom, concealing it, and then walking towards her own bedroom where her mother was. After shots were heard, only Carley emerged. She then texted her stepfather from her mother's phone, asking 'When will you be home, honey?' and later removed interior cameras. Heath Smiley arrived home to a gun pointed at his face, was shot in the shoulder, and found Ashley dead.

The prosecution argued Carley's motive was to prevent her 'secret life' from being exposed. This included a secret boyfriend, iPod, social media accounts, self-harm (cutting), burner phones, and secret weed vape pens.

During opening statements, the prosecution detailed Carley's various hidden activities and argued that the murder was a calculated act to prevent her mother from revealing these secrets, especially after Ashley found vape pens in Carley's room.

The defense did not dispute Carley's actions but argued she was legally insane at the time of the shootings. They presented evidence of her long-standing mental health struggles, including bipolar disorder, self-harm, and auditory hallucinations.

Forensic psychiatrist Dr. Andrew Clark testified that Carley reported feeling depressed, hearing voices, and experiencing derealization since age nine. She had been cutting herself since age 12. Journal entries from the week before the crime described a 'psychotic break' and 'screaming bloodthirstily and ravenously' voices. Carley also reported that new medication (Lexapro) and marijuana use exacerbated her mood swings and hallucinations, leading to a frightening 20-minute episode where she feared losing control of her body.

Despite the insanity defense and arguments about Carley's age and maturity, the jury found her guilty on all three charges: first-degree murder, attempted murder, and tampering with evidence. She was sentenced to two life imprisonments plus 10 years.

The jury deliberated for less than two hours before returning a guilty verdict on all counts. The judge subsequently sentenced Carley to life imprisonment for count one, life imprisonment for count two, and 10 years for count three.

Carley's defense attorneys appealed for a new trial, citing new evidence that emerged after the trial. They argued her biological father's post-trial interview, where he confirmed her childhood auditory hallucinations, supported Dr. Clark's diagnosis and could have led to a different verdict.

The motion for a new trial cited a local TV news interview with Kevin Gregg (Carley's biological father) where he stated his daughter suffered from auditory hallucinations as a child. The defense also raised concerns about Carley's maturity to understand the charges and participate in her defense, noting that Mississippi jurors must be at least 21, much older than Carley.