In the ongoing trial of Carly Madison Gregg, a Mississippi teenager accused of fatally shooting her mother and attempting to murder her stepfather, the central question revolves around her mental health. Conflicting testimonies from expert witnesses have emerged, specifically concerning whether Gregg, 15, reported hearing voices before the tragic incident at her family’s Brandon home on March 19.
The prosecution, aiming to rebut the defense’s claims of a mental health crisis, presented witnesses who testified that Gregg explicitly denied experiencing auditory hallucinations in the months leading up to the crime. Olivia Leber, a psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner, stated that she met with Gregg multiple times beginning in January 2024. During their initial consultation, Gregg completed a form where she marked “No” when asked about hearing voices. Leber diagnosed Gregg with major depressive disorder and adjustment disorder, noting her depression was not chronic. “She denied hallucinations or delusions,” Leber reiterated, emphasizing Gregg’s consistent denials during subsequent appointments in February and March, even as medication adjustments were made.
Further bolstering the state’s position, licensed professional counselor Rebecca Kirk, who counseled Gregg in nine sessions prior to the shooting, corroborated Leber’s testimony. Kirk stated that while Gregg and her mother, Ashley Smylie, reported intrusive thoughts, anger, and sleep difficulties in January, Gregg never admitted to hearing voices. Kirk also testified that in their final session, there were no indications of suicidal or homicidal tendencies, nor any reported medication side effects. In a pointed exchange, prosecutor Kathryn Newman questioned Kirk about the rarity of such cases, asking, “And how many of them have gone on to kill their mom?” to which Kirk responded, “Before that, none.”
Dr. Jason Pickett, a forensic psychiatrist tasked with performing a mental evaluation of Gregg, also testified. His testimony centered on the M’Naghten Rule, Mississippi’s legal standard for insanity, which requires both a diagnosed mental illness and a lack of understanding of the nature and wrongfulness of one’s actions at the time of the offense. Pickett described some of Gregg’s writings and statements as “theatrical” and others as “concerning.” He cited journal entries, family conversations, drug use, and text messages, including one from February where Gregg told a friend about almost murdering her parents.
Pickett concluded that Gregg did not meet Mississippi’s insanity standard at the time of the alleged crimes, stating, “My opinion is that Carly does not meet Mississippi’s standard for insanity at the time of the offense, and that she knew the nature, quality and wrongfulness of her actions during that day.” He also dismissed the notion that the prescribed low dosage of Lexapro contributed to the alleged crimes.
These testimonies directly contradicted the account given by the defense’s expert witness, psychiatrist Dr. Andrew Clark. Clark had testified on Wednesday that Gregg was indeed experiencing a mental health crisis leading up to the shooting. He claimed Gregg suffered from “mood issues, eating disorder issues, cutting herself, hearing voices and sleeping difficulty” preceding January 2024. Crucially, Clark presented a journal entry purportedly dated March 12, where Gregg described a “psychotic break” and claimed to have spoken with voices in her head, stating, “I think I had a psychotic break earlier. The whole ordeal is quite silly. I actually spoke with one of the voices in my head… My particular friend and I were practically screaming bloodthirstily and ravenously.”
Clark argued that the Lexapro, in conjunction with Gregg’s pre-existing mental health issues and upbringing, triggered a violent outburst, for which Gregg allegedly has no memory during the critical hour surrounding the murder. However, prosecutor Michael Smith challenged this account during cross-examination, highlighting the “convenience” of Gregg’s memory loss being limited to the timeframe of the crime, while she could recall events before and after.
As the trial progresses, the jury is faced with weighing these conflicting expert opinions on Carly Gregg’s mental health diagnosis and state of mind at the time of the tragic events. Gregg faces severe charges of murder, attempted murder, and evidence tampering, with a potential sentence ranging from 20 years to life imprisonment if convicted. The question of whether her mental state meets the legal criteria for insanity remains a critical factor in determining the trial’s outcome.
