RANKIN COUNTY, Miss. (WJTV) – The defense attorneys for the Rankin County teenager accused of killing her mother came under fire by a judge on Monday, August 19 due to a prolonged delay in sending some documents.
Circuit Court Judge Dewey Arthur set strict deadlines for both the defense and the state in the Carly Gregg case.
State prosecutors have until Thursday, August 22 to submit a plea agreement recommendation, and both sides have until Tuesday, August 20 to submit any documents that will be used in their arguments.
This stems from the state providing emails that the judge said Gregg’s attorneys have not adequately responded to their request.
“I don’t think we’re missing anything. I think everything’s already been turned over. We’re just working on the report, and we’re getting that out as quickly as we can,” said Kevin Camp, Gregg’s defense attorney.
During her court appearance on Monday, Gregg was declared competent to stand trial.
A grand jury indicted Gregg on the counts of first-degree murder, attempted murder and tampering with evidence.
The shooting happened just after 5:00 p.m. on Tuesday, March 19 in the 200 block of Ashton Way.
When deputies arrived at the location, they found a man suffering from a gunshot wound to the shoulder. The man told deputies that he arrived home and found his wife, who was identified as 40-year-old Ashley Smylie, deceased from an apparent gunshot wound. He claimed his 14-year-old step-daughter was armed with a pistol.
According to Rankin County Sheriff Bryan Bailey, the victim stated Gregg shot him in the shoulder. The man was able to take the weapon from the teenager, who then ran into the backyard and jumped over a fence.
Bailey said additional deputies responded to the scene, along with the Mississippi Highway Patrol’s (MHP) helicopter. Just after 5:30 p.m., Gregg was located not far from the residence and taken into custody without incident.
During her initial court appearance, Gregg pled not guilty to the charges. Her bond was set at $1 million. She is being held in the Rankin County Adult Detention Center.
Gregg is set to appear in court at the end of the month where her attorney will enter a plea deal or prepare for trial. Her trial is expected to start in September 2024.