RANKIN COUNTY, Miss. (WJTV) – An appeal has been filed on behalf of the Rankin County teenager who was convicted of killing her mother.

On September 9, 2025, the Mississippi Supreme Court received the brief in the appeal of Carly Gregg.

Gregg was convicted of killing her mother, Ashley Smylie, on September 20, 2024. She was sentenced to life in prison for first-degree murder and attempted murder. She was also sentenced to 10 years in prison for tampering with evidence.

According to the brief, the defense said Gregg was deprived of a fair trial. They said the trial court committed a “reversible error” by giving sentencing instructions that were improper under the Mississippi code. They said her life sentence without parole is unconstitutional and that the prosecutor made “improper and highly prejudicial comments” during the closing arguments relating to parole eligibility.

The defense is asking for Gregg’s conviction and sentence(s) to be reversed and rendered, reversed and remanded for a new trial or remanded for resentencing within the guidelines.

The fatal shooting happened just after 5:00 p.m. on March 19, 2024, in the 200 block of Ashton Way.

When deputies arrived at the location, they found Heath Smylie suffering from a gunshot wound to the shoulder. He told deputies that he arrived home and found his wife deceased from an apparent gunshot wound. He claimed his step-daughter, who was then 14, was armed with a pistol.

According to Rankin County Sheriff Bryan Bailey, Heath Smylie stated Gregg shot him in the shoulder. He was able to take the weapon from Gregg, 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.

Gregg is in the custody of the Mississippi Department of Corrections (MDOC) and is being held at the Youthful Offender Facility.