Carly Madison Gregg was born on April 23, 2009, to Ashley and Kevin Gregg. A bright and affectionate child, Carly quickly embraced the role of big sister when her younger sibling, Natalie, was born on June 20, 2012. Their bond, though brief, was filled with love and care—especially after Natalie was diagnosed with a rare genetic disorder shortly after birth.

In the wake of Natalie’s diagnosis and her parents’ divorce, Carly, her mother Ashley, and baby Natalie moved to Vicksburg so Natalie could be near the medical services she needed. Carlys maternal grandparents Robert and Vicki Breland moved to Vicksburg shortly afterwards. Together, the family created a nurturing and supportive environment centered on caring for Natalie and recovering from the family’s emotional upheaval. Tragically, Natalie passed away on September 9, 2013, at just 18 months old, a devastating loss that left a lasting impact on Carly and her family.

In time, Carly’s life grew to include a close bond with her stepfather, Heath Smylie, whom Ashley later married. Their family life, shared with golden retrievers Wyatt and Finn, was rich with warmth, joy, and a shared love for animals and the outdoors. Carly maintained contact with her biological father through court-ordered visits, though she increasingly expressed discomfort with those visits as she matured.

Carly was a gifted student and a compassionate soul. Her talents spanned academics, music, and literature. With an early love of reading and an aptitude for learning, she excelled far beyond her years—skipping the third grade and earning a score of 30 on the ACT at just 13 years old. She played multiple instruments, earned numerous academic accolades, and was once named Student of the Year at her middle school. Her intelligence was matched by her emotional sensitivity and deep empathy.

Despite her achievements, Carly battled mental health challenges from an early age. She and her mother pursued various treatments, including therapy and equine therapy, in efforts to support Carly’s well-being. Mental illness had long roots in Carly’s family history, including bipolar disorder, depression, and schizophrenia. In early 2024, Carly had recently discontinued antipsychotic medication and had begun taking Lexapro—a medication known to worsen bipolar symptoms in some patients.

On March 19, 2024, in an unexpected and heartbreaking event, Carly fatally shot her mother shortly after they returned home from school.  She also attempted to shoot her stepfather, Heath Smylie, who survived. Heath later testified that Carly appeared frightened, disoriented, and completely detached from reality—describing her as looking as though "she had seen a demon."

In the aftermath, Carly fled in terror, scaling her backyard fence and eventually flagging down a police officer. She was arrested but not read her Miranda rights, denied access to family, and appeared in her initial court hearing without adult representation. Bail was set at $1 million and later revoked. Carly then spent 180 days in solitary confinement, 23 hours a day, at an adult facility unequipped for minors, during which she was exposed to adult inmates and subjected to verbal abuse—conditions that violated established protections for juvenile detainees.

Despite her age, mental health history, and the circumstances surrounding the tragedy, Carly was tried as an adult. On September 20, 2024, after a five-day trial, she was convicted and sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole.