Dumb Blonde Podcast: TBT – Carly Gregg: Honor Roll to Homicide
Episode Date: October 9, 2025

Main Theme & Purpose

This episode of the Dumb Blonde Podcast, hosted by Bunnie XO and co-hosts Bailey and Mimi, kicks off the show’s October true crime series by covering the shocking and recent case of Carly Gregg—a highly intelligent Mississippi teenager who murdered her mother and attempted to kill her stepfather. The episode dissects Carly’s background, mental health struggles, family dysfunction, the circumstances of the crime, the trial, and the controversial aftermath, while offering candid, often emotionally-charged analysis and speculation.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Setting the Scene: True Crime Month & Tour Life

• The episode opens with excitement for October’s true crime focus, setting a casual, behind-the-scenes tone as the hosts broadcast from their tour bus.
  “For the next four weeks, we are going to be covering all different sorts of true crime stories, and the podcast just gets turned into just so much fun.” – Bailey [04:07]

2. Carly Gregg’s Early Life – Gifted but Isolated

• Carly’s fraught upbringing: absent, abusive biological father (Kevin), raised primarily by mother Ashley after a custody battle, Kevin disappears from her life.
• Carly is described as exceptionally intelligent:
  • Scored a 30 on the ACT at age 13—6–7 points off perfect.
  • Skipped grades but struggled to fit in, was teased for her intellect, and used by peers for academic advantage.
  • Displays early obsessions with violence and Swiss knives, likely linked to her traumatic home life.
    “The IQ was through the roof... She was smart, like, ridiculously, like, little baby Einstein.” – Bailey [07:33]

3. Warning Signs and Escalating Problems

• Incidents at school, including bringing weapons and orchestrating a mass cheating scandal.
• Early rebellious behavior, enforced by a strict mother—no social media, regular phone checks, and severe restrictions.
• Experiments with substances—vaping nicotine and THC—leading to household turmoil.
• Carly attempts to reconnect with her biological father despite her mother’s objections.
• Evidence of worsening mental health:
  • Cutting, anxiety, and stress.
  • Placed in therapy briefly; later prescribed antipsychotics and eventually Lexapro.
• The stepfather, Heath, becomes a key (and possibly contentious) figure; speculation about his involvement and impact surfaces throughout.

4. Mental Health & Medication

• Discussions on overmedication of children:
  “Which antipsychotics. When you’re 11 or 12, your brain is still developing.” – Bailey [21:48]
  “Lexapro... It makes you almost unhuman, which is what we saw with Carly. Super numb, like unemotional.” – Mimi [23:20]
• Five days after starting Lexapro, Carly murders her mother.

5. Day of the Crime – March 19, 2024

Timeline Recap (Key Events Start at 24:31):

• Ashley discovers vapes and weed cartridges in Carly’s room after a tip from a friend.
• Carly returns home, enraged at the invasion of privacy and confrontation.
• Walks into mother’s room, retrieves a .38 Special, and conceals it from security cameras—showing both calculation and emotional chaos. “She walks into her mom's room and just cold blooded shoots her in the face three fucking times.” – Bailey [27:51]
• Discussion on psychological implications of shooting someone in the face and weapon familiarity.
• Criticism of having unsecured firearms in a household with a mentally unstable child.

6. Aftermath – Evasive and Disturbing Behavior

• Carly texts her stepfather, Heath, in a chillingly casual manner:
  “You almost home, honey?” … “Thumbs up.” – [34:12]
  • Host theorizes this may have been code for “it’s done.”
• Begins singing to herself after the crime—a sign of detachment that the hosts compare to infamous murderer Jodi Arias.
• Calls a friend for support, asks:
  “Do you get squeamish around dead bodies?” – Carly, relayed by Bailey [37:38]
• Friend is terrified, especially when Carly shows her mother’s corpse and reveals plans to shoot her stepfather with the remaining bullets.

7. Attempted Murder of Stepdad & Carly’s Escape

• Heath arrives home; Carly attempts to shoot him but misses due to his evasive action (“Jackie Chan/Bruce Lee” style, as joked by hosts).
• A struggle ensues, gun goes off multiple times. Carly flees after running out of bullets; her friend escapes separately.
• Stepdad finds Ashley's body, covered by a towel.

8. Investigation & Trial

• Surveillance footage immediately implicates Carly.
• Speculation abounds regarding underreported family abuse, potential sexual misconduct by the stepfather, hidden motives, or manipulation.
• Defense initially pleads insanity but refuses to turn over full medical records, raising suspicion.
• Observers disturbed by Carly’s lack of emotion at trial—except overwhelming breakdown when seeing her stepfather. “I saw a couple people in the comments, arguing, and they were like, well, maybe he just realizes she’s a child…” – Bailey [52:37]
  “Something definitely is there. Because you having literal breakdowns. And if you watch, like, snot pouring from her nose. Breakdown.” – Mimi [51:57]
• Stepfather’s odd response in court, mouthing “I love you” to Carly.
• Carly sentenced to two life sentences (for murder and attempted murder, both without parole), plus ten years for tampering with evidence (covering mother’s face, possible other actions).

9. Final Reactions, Theories & Sentencing Debate

• Debate whether Carly’s punishment fits her actions or ignores her tragic context. “At first, when I first heard it, I still don’t think that she should get life. I think that she’s a really messed up child, you know, and I think that she’s just going to be another statistic.” – Bailey [56:19]
• Both hosts voice suspicions: more behind the scenes (“Heath needs to be investigated”), and predict further revelations.
• Listeners are invited to share their thoughts on the complex, disturbing case.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments (with Timestamps)

• “How is somebody so smart did something so stupid?” – Bailey [07:39]
• “She walks into her mom’s room and just cold blooded shoots her in the face three fucking times.” – Bailey [27:51]
• “That is hatred.” – Bailey [31:32] (on shooting her own mother in the face)
• “Do you get squeamish around dead bodies?” – Carly, via Bailey [37:38]
• “She’s a child, dude. How many of us made severe mistakes when we were younger? Granted, we did not kill people.” – Bailey [23:44]
• “This whole thing is alleged.” – Mimi and Bailey [47:48, 50:08, repeated frequently]
• “She didn’t just have the gun in her hand. She literally opens the gun up and says, hey, there were six bullets in here…I used three on my mom. I’m going to use three on my stepdad.” – Bailey [38:40]
• “You definitely planned some of it, but…are you really that stupid?” – Mimi [53:52]
• “I feel like she’s gonna come out with the truth in like, a year or two.” – Bailey [57:04]

Timestamps for Key Segments

| Timestamp | Segment | Key Topics Covered | |-------------|------------------------------------------|-------------------------------------------------------| | 04:00–06:15 | Introduction to True Crime Series | October focus, Crime Story Selection | | 06:22–10:57 | Carly’s Early Life | Family background, abuse, intellect, school troubles | | 17:19–20:26 | Rebellion & Mental Health | Substance use, cutting, attempts at therapy | | 21:48–24:31 | Medication & Mental Health Debate | Antipsychotics/Lexapro, impact on youth | | 24:31–28:07 | Day of the Crime | Discovery, confrontation, murder details | | 34:12–38:40 | Eerie Aftermath & Friends’ Involvement | Texts/code theory, singing, friend as witness | | 41:24–44:27 | Attempted Patricide & Escape | Stepdad’s account, struggle, aftermath | | 46:14–51:56 | Investigation, Trial & Family Dynamics | Medical records, court behaviors, speculation | | 54:00–56:55 | Sentencing & Debate | Outcome, possible rehabilitation, hosts’ opinions | | 56:57–57:42 | Predictions & Audience Engagement | What’s next, audience input solicited |

Tone & Style

As always, the tone is (sometimes darkly) humorous, candid, emotionally invested, and irreverent, with a genuine attempt to analyze both legal and psychological aspects. The hosts don’t shy from speculation and conspiracy, sometimes playing devil’s advocate while remaining engaged with the tragic realities of the story.

Conclusion

This episode dissects the baffling, horrifying case of Carly Gregg—a prodigiously intelligent teen who committed a shocking act of violence against her family. The hosts explore possible motives, mental health implications, and failures in the support system. Open questions about abuse, family dynamics, medication, and responsibility for youth violence permeate the discussion, leaving the case unresolved in the court of public opinion.

Listeners are left with the hosts’ invitation to join the debate and a promise of more chilling true crime stories to come during “Spooky Season.”