Tuesday, September 17, 2024

The Murder of Ashley Smiley (Updated)

WARNING: GRAPHIC VIOLENCE HEARD IN VIDEO

Update: Stepfather testifies. 

Carly Gregg's murder trial continued today as the prosecution released a video that contained the sounds of the 14 year-old Gregg allegedly killing her mother, Northwest Rankin High School math teacher Ashley Smiley.  



The Smileys has a security camera in the kitchen that provided a full view of the kitchen and a partial view of the den.  The video shows Ashley and Carly arriving home from school.  Carly takes two golden retrievers outside for a few minutes while Ashley walks throughout the house, eventually walking back and forth from what is assumed to be the bedrooms of Carly and Ashley. 

While Ashley is in Carly's room, Carly walks to her mother's room before walking to her own room with her hand behind her back, hiding it from the camera.  Off-camera, there is a shot, a scream, and two more shots.  There are no more screams.  

Carly Gregg calmly walks back into the kitchen, sits down, and immediately, calmly texts someone.  When the dogs got too nosy, she calmly took them outside.  There was no screaming from Carly at any point during the video.  Indeed, she did not say a word but for when she told the dogs to get out.  She moved deliberately and methodically through the house and when she (allegedly) shot her mother to death.  



Heath Smiley Testimony

Gregg's stepfather, Heath Smiley, took the stand today.  He looked down during most of his testimony, speaking in a somber, deliberate voice.  



"The gun went off in my face when the door opened (entering the kitchen from the garage).  Everything went pretty fast from there.... My hand was on the gun after the first shot as I twisted it away from her," testified Heath.  Gregg calmly looked on as her stepfather said the gun was only a foot from his face when she shot him.  

One bullet grazed the trapezius muscle but Smiley said he didn't feel the shot.  Assistant District Attorney Kathryn Newman asked the witness what took place after he was shot.  "She was screaming out of her mind, scared. It was like she had seen a demon. She was terrified and my first thought was there was an intruder somewhere," said Heath.  Gregg had fired three shots at her step-father.  Heath said the gun was a Taurus .357 revolver that held seven rounds.  He had loaded it with .38 special rounds.  Heath testified his wife kept the gun on her side of the bed.  

After taking the gun away from his step-daughter, Heath started checking the house for an intruder.  Gregg kept screaming and ran out the back door.  "It was very evident to me very quickly that something was very, very off with Carly. The way she was screaming, the way she looked," testified Smiley.  Smiley testified during cross-examination he had never seen his step-daughter scream like this before nor was she was terrified as at that moment.  

Heath found his wife laying down on her back in Gregg's bedroom.  A towel covered her face and her hands are folded across her torso.  He immediately called 911 to report the crime.  

A fellow student testified earlier that Gregg had obtained a burner phone.   However, Smiley said the phone was actually an old iPod she used for downloads.  

Heath Smiley smiled at Carly Gregg as he concluded his testimony.  


Motion for Directed Verdict Denied

The prosecution moved for a directed verdict after resting its case.  Judge Arthur denied the motion, ruling "there was a prima facia case for it to go to the grand jury.  


Teen Testimony

Two juvenile witnesses testified this morning.  WLBT reported: 

The first teen says that Carly called her on the day Ashley Smylie was killed. 

When the friend got to Carly’s house, she claims Carly asked her, “Have you ever seen a dead body? My mom is in there.” 

She then testified that Carly told her that she had three more shots waiting for her step-dad, Heath Smylie. 

After Carly allegedly shot Heath, both the friend and Carly ran to a home nearby.

The second juvenile witness testified that Carly contacted him after the shootings, but that Carly asked him for help.




27 comments:

Anonymous said...

I’m a mother, but I also work at mental health institute for children. . I’ve never seen this degree of hate. I’m not judging because I’ve seen so much and I know that children with mental health issues should be given consideration, but I just don’t think that this is the case here.

Anonymous said...

Investigator lied sooooo bad and too bring bible n wow Rankin SO still crooks

Anonymous said...

What happened to the evaluation Dr Webb, one the best psychiatrist in state they said did on her???

Anonymous said...

I am not an attorney so I truly don't know how the insanity plea works. Can someone be calm and not act "crazy" and be considered not in their right minds when the crime occurred? Is there a bar that has to be met? I assume mental testing is done. Anything else?

Anonymous said...

Wow investigator lied RCSO still crooks

Anonymous said...

One other thing - Webb was my kid’s psych (in addition to a psychologist/counselor) and I thought he was great.

Anonymous said...

6:30 and 7:02
Stop coping.

Anonymous said...

KF what was happening when the jury left and Judge made decision? Carly looked at her Grandfather and he mouthed We WON!

Anonymous said...

Wow....Cold Blooded! Zero GAF's!

Anonymous said...

Sad! She knew exactly what she was doing and did it! I don’t believe her step dad’s memory of her screaming and looking like she saw a monster bs! Cold and calculated! Zero remorse! Those Poor dogs!

Anonymous said...

Won what exactly? Nobody won! Sickening

Anonymous said...

Agree!

Kingfish said...

Comment was fine til you started discussing the judge's personal life. Not approving it.

Anonymous said...

Can you even make a coherant sentence?

Anonymous said...

Why are Grandparents allowed to sir close and talk to Carly? I think and pray the jury will see through this BS of insanity and the forensics speak for themselves. Stop blaming RCSO and Judge Dewey! This case with Camp stinks to the high heavens just like Danna Adelson case where Dan Rasbaum tried to pull a Hail Mary and removed himself as council after the family has paid him in Full! Wondering what tomorrow will bring with Camp. Still think plea deal was in Carly’s best interest. I pray for discernment for jury! This is not a job for the faint hearted! Good luck prosecution and praying Carly gets medical help she needs!

Anonymous said...

Generally poor and/or absent parenting created a psychopath. End of story. Buckle up people, this example will become a routine occurrence in the not too distant future....

Anonymous said...

why is her friend not being arrested for knowing she was going to shoot her stepfather too and doing nothing?

Anonymous said...

For 6:17: Hate from which direction and by whom? Does your training and experience tell you that this girl's situation was just like that of the Menendez brothers...she resented the current and approaching parental control and was willing to do anything to escape that.

This 'made for television trial' should be renamed "Fatal Rebellion".

Anonymous said...

6:44, that will come in after the defense claims insanity and they bring him on as rebuttal witness. The state is probably not going to address the insanity defense until the defense side actually claims it first. I would expect Dr. Webb would come at that time.

Also, to another commentator, Mississippi law on insanity defense is pretty narrow. Just my opinion, but the sitting down and texting, covering mother with towel, letting dogs out, waiting on step-father to get home, are all contrary to the what Mississippi would consider to be temporary insanity. Again, just my educated, yet experienced opinion.

Anonymous said...

@ 6:30 - What lies? Be specific. What possible reason would there be for an investigating detective to lie?

Anonymous said...

It's probably true that she ran screaming like she had just seen a monster. Might be because she had just passed a mirror in the hallway.

Anonymous said...

Are you going to cover it Wednesday?

Anonymous said...

According to testimony in the court the defendant was a heavy pot smoker. There is a link between heavy pot use and psychosis. We will see more and more of this type of thing as laws are relaxed for this “harmless drug”.
https://www.cbsnews.com/news/marijuana-psychosis-smoking-strong-pot-daily-increases-risk-of-psychosis-study-finds/

Anonymous said...

As I understand it, the friend didn't know anything beforehand. After going there and seeing what had happened, the friend told his/her parent and they went to the police.

Anonymous said...

I was in college and then a young adult, when, in the eastern part of the country as well as other more metropolitan areas, pot replaced cocktails at parties. Of all the people I saw smoke pot for several years, only ONE became a " head"...short for pothead and none who got into more potent drugs. More later became alcoholics. The ONE was always a bit off and tended to do everything excessively.

The truth is that not all children come into the world "normal". Some are born with serious behavior disorders. Some don't develop as they should in the womb. A few seem to very easily and quickly become an alcoholic. Some friends seem to tolerate rather a lot of alcohol and never slur their words or become unsteady or have any discernable change in behavior while others can have one drink and become obnoxious.
It's always risky to make judgements based solely on averages. Half of us are above average and half of us are below average. Few of us fall right smack dab in the middle.
I would also remind that for years, all dosages for medications are based on the patient being male. And, as one very brilliant Johns Hopkins physician said, " There are no side effects. There are just effects...some good ,some bad". And, the primary reason is that the drug tests are only as good as the universal sample of humans tested.

Anonymous said...

Rot in HELL Carly👹

Anonymous said...

6:46 - Because in Mississippi, and most other states, one does not have a duty to report a crime (planned or accomplished).


Recent Comments

Search Jackson Jambalaya

Subscribe to JJ's Youtube channel

Archives

Trollfest '09

Trollfest '07 was such a success that Jackson Jambalaya will once again host Trollfest '09. Catch this great event which will leave NE Jackson & Fondren in flames. Othor Cain and his band, The Black Power Structure headline the night while Sonjay Poontang returns for an encore performance. Former Frank Melton bodyguard Marcus Wright makes his premier appearance at Trollfest singing "I'm a Sweet Transvestite" from "The Rocky Horror Picture Show." Kamikaze will sing his new hit, “How I sold out to da Man.” Robbie Bell again performs: “Mamas, don't let your babies grow up to be Bells” and “Any friend of Ed Peters is a friend of mine”. After the show, Ms. Bell will autograph copies of her mug shot photos. In a salute to “Dancing with the Stars”, Ms. Bell and Hinds County District Attorney Robert Smith will dance the Wango Tango.

Wrestling returns, except this time it will be a Battle Royal with Othor Cain, Ben Allen, Kim Wade, Haley Fisackerly, Alan Lange, and “Big Cat” Donna Ladd all in the ring at the same time. The Battle Royal will be in a steel cage, no time limit, no referee, and the losers must leave town. Marshand Crisler will be the honorary referee (as it gives him a title without actually having to do anything).


Meet KIM Waaaaaade at the Entergy Tent. For five pesos, Kim will sell you a chance to win a deed to a crack house on Ridgeway Street stuffed in the Howard Industries pinata. Don't worry if the pinata is beaten to shreds, as Mr. Wade has Jose, Emmanuel, and Carlos, all illegal immigrants, available as replacements for the it. Upon leaving the Entergy tent, fig leaves will be available in case Entergy literally takes everything you have as part of its Trollfest ticket price adjustment charge.

Donna Ladd of The Jackson Free Press will give several classes on learning how to write. Smearing, writing without factchecking, and reporting only one side of a story will be covered. A donation to pay their taxes will be accepted and she will be signing copies of their former federal tax liens. Ms. Ladd will give a dramatic reading of her two award-winning essays (They received The Jackson Free Press "Best Of" awards.) "Why everything is always about me" and "Why I cover murders better than anyone else in Jackson".

In the spirit of helping those who are less fortunate, Trollfest '09 adopts a cause for which a portion of the proceeds and donations will be donated: Keeping Frank Melton in his home. The “Keep Frank Melton From Being Homeless” booth will sell chances for five dollars to pin the tail on the jackass. John Reeves has graciously volunteered to be the jackass for this honorable excursion into saving Frank's ass. What's an ass between two friends after all? If Mr. Reeves is unable to um, perform, Speaker Billy McCoy has also volunteered as when the word “jackass” was mentioned he immediately ran as fast as he could to sign up.


In order to help clean up the legal profession, Adam Kilgore of the Mississippi Bar will be giving away free, round-trip plane tickets to the North Pole where they keep their bar complaint forms (which are NOT available online). If you don't want to go to the North Pole, you can enjoy Brant Brantley's (of the Mississippi Commission on Judicial Performance) free guided tours of the quicksand field over by High Street where all complaints against judges disappear. If for some reason you are unable to control yourself, never fear; Judge Houston Patton will operate his jail where no lawyers are needed or allowed as you just sit there for minutes... hours.... months...years until he decides he is tired of you sitting in his jail. Do not think Judge Patton is a bad judge however as he plans to serve free Mad Dog 20/20 to all inmates.

Trollfest '09 is a pet-friendly event as well. Feel free to bring your dog with you and do not worry if your pet gets hungry, as employees of the Jackson Zoo will be on hand to provide some of their animals as food when it gets to be feeding time for your little loved one.

Relax at the Fox News Tent. Since there are only three blonde reporters in Jackson (being blonde is a requirement for working at Fox News), Megan and Kathryn from WAPT and Wendy from WLBT will be on loan to Fox. To gain admittance to the VIP section, bring either your Republican Party ID card or a Rebel Flag. Bringing both and a torn-up Obama yard sign will entitle you to free drinks served by Megan, Wendy, and Kathryn. Get your tickets now. Since this is an event for trolls, no ID is required. Just bring the hate. Bring the family, Trollfest '09 is for EVERYONE!!!

This is definitely a Beaver production.


Note: Security provided by INS.

Trollfest '07

Jackson Jambalaya is the home of Trollfest '07. Catch this great event which promises to leave NE Jackson & Fondren in flames. Sonjay Poontang and his band headline the night with a special steel cage, no time limit "loser must leave town" bout between Alan Lange and "Big Cat"Donna Ladd following afterwards. Kamikaze will perform his new song F*** Bush, he's still a _____. Did I mention there was no referee? Dr. Heddy Matthias and Lori Gregory will face off in the undercard dueling with dangling participles and other um, devices. Robbie Bell will perform Her two latest songs: My Best Friends are in the Media and Mama's, Don't Let Your Babies Grow up to be George Bell. Sid Salter of The Clarion-Ledger will host "Pin the Tail on the Trial Lawyer", sponsored by State Farm.

There will be a hugging booth where in exchange for your young son, Frank Melton will give you a loooong hug. Trollfest will have a dunking booth where Muhammed the terrorist will curse you to Allah as you try to hit a target that will drop him into a vat of pig grease. However, in the true spirit of Separate But Equal, Don Imus and someone from NE Jackson will also sit in the dunking booth for an equal amount of time. Tom Head will give a reading for two hours on why he can't figure out who the hell he is. Cliff Cargill will give lessons with his .80 caliber desert eagle, using Frank Melton photos as targets. Tackleberry will be on hand for an autograph session. KIM Waaaaaade will be passing out free titles and deeds to crackhouses formerly owned by The Wood Street Players.

If you get tired come relax at the Fox News Tent. To gain admittance to the VIP section, bring either your Republican Party ID card or a Rebel Flag. Bringing both will entitle you to free drinks.Get your tickets now. Since this is an event for trolls, no ID is required, just bring the hate. Bring the family, Trollfest '07 is for EVERYONE!!!

This is definitely a Beaver production.

Note: Security provided by INS
.