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Kelsey Smith Briggs

Kelsey Smith Briggs Archived Coverage

Aja Johnson's killing prompts child welfare scrutiny Updated: Thu, Sep 30, 2010 | Comment on this article Leave a comment Prosecutors say child welfare workers are overworked and underpaid and often don't work well with local law enforcement on child abuse and neglect investigations. Read More
Juror in Kelsey Smith-Briggs abuse case denies misconduct accusations Updated: Thu, Sep 2, 2010 A juror, Brandi Oldham, 29, of Tulsa, OK, told a judge she did not watch TV news and did not do improper Internet research about the case of Kelsey Smith-Briggs during the eight-day trial in Bristow. Read More
Evidentiary hearing set in Kelsey Smith-Briggs case Updated: Sun, Aug 1, 2010 | Comment on this article Leave a comment Judge plans to hear testimony about alleged juror misconduct during mother's 2007 trial. Read More
Kelsey Smith-Briggs' mom won't get money from settlement Updated: Wed, Feb 10, 2010 A federal judge Tuesday ruled Kelsey Smith-Briggs’ mother cannot share in a lawsuit settlement over her daughter’s death because of her own wrongdoing. Raye Dawn Smith, 30, wanted half of the $345,097 left over from the settlement. She is in prison for enabling her daughter’s abuse. U.S. District... Read More
Kelsey Smith-Briggs' mother gets no money from lawsuit settlement Updated: Tue, Feb 9, 2010 A federal judge ruled today the mother of Kelsey Smith-Briggs will get nothing from the settlement of a lawsuit over her daughter's death. Raye Dawn Smith wanted half of the $345,097 leftover from the settlement. She is in prison for enabling her daughter's abuse. The ruling by U.S. District Judge Timothy... Read More
Kelsey's mom sentenced to 27 years in prison Updated: Tue, Jan 19, 2010 | Comment on this article Leave a comment BRISTOW — A judge today sentenced Raye Dawn Smith to 27 years in prison for enabling the abuse of her daughter, Kelsey Smith-Briggs. Kelsey, 2, died Oct. 11, 2005, at her home near Meeker after months of suffering broken bones, bruises and other injuries. Jurors chose the punishment July 18 after finding Smith,... Read More
Last defense witness testifies in abuse trial Updated: Sun, Aug 23, 2009 BRISTOW — The mother of Kelsey Smith-Briggs sobbed, "I don't understand. Help me,” in court Wednesday after jurors found her guilty of allowing the girl to be abused. Read More
Mom found guilty; jury hands down 27-year prison term Updated: Sun, Aug 23, 2009 BRISTOW — The mother of Kelsey Smith-Briggs sobbed, "I don't understand. Help me,” in court Wednesday after jurors found her guilty of allowing the girl to be abused. Read More
Pastor testifies for defense in Smith's trial Updated: Sun, Aug 23, 2009 BRISTOW — A pastor testified today that Raye Dawn Smith cried out to him at the hospital after her daughter died Oct. 11, 2005, asking, "Why did God take my baby?” Read More
Kelsey lost her spirit weeks before death, grandmother testifies Updated: Sun, Aug 23, 2009 BRISTOW — The outspoken grandmother of Kelsey Smith-Briggs told jurors today that the 2-year-old had changed for the worse when they were last together weeks before her death. Read More
Smith weeps during testimony about Kelsey's injuries Updated: Sun, Aug 23, 2009 BRISTOW — Raye Dawn Smith wept again today as jurors saw autopsy photos and diagrams of the bruises, scrapes and other injuries to her dead daughter’s body. Read More
Defense opens in abuse trial Updated: Sun, Aug 23, 2009 BRISTOW — The first defense witness at the child-abuse trial for Raye Dawn Smith said Monday the mother wanted an autopsy to find out why her 2-year-old daughter died in 2005, but her new husband opposed it. Read More
Kelsey Smith-Briggs' death lawsuit brings $625K deal Updated: Tue, Jun 30, 2009 The state of Oklahoma paid $525,000 Monday to settle a wrongful-death lawsuit over the murder of Kelsey Smith-Briggs, and a private agency paid $100,000. A federal judge Monday approved the $625,000 settlement but will decide later how to split the money. The girl’s father filed the lawsuit and represents her... Read More
Lawsuit accusing DHS in toddler's death to move forward Updated: Thu, Apr 24, 2008 | Comment on this article Leave a comment TULSA -- A lawsuit claiming three Oklahoma Department of Human Services workers contributed to the conditions that led to a 2-year-old girl's death has been allowed to move forward by an appeals court. The 10th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled Wednesday that the DHS workers accused in Raymond Briggs' lawsuit... Read More
Judge denies request for shorter sentence in Kelsey case Published: Thu, Feb 7, 2008 CHANDLER--A judge today refused to give a more lenient prison sentence to the stepfather of Kelsey Smith-Briggs. Michael Lee Porter is serving 30 years in prison for enabling child abuse. His attorney on Feb. 1 asked the judge to consider shortening the time. Judge Paul Vassar turned Porter down. The judge... Read More
Kelsey's mom won't be retried Updated: Thu, Dec 6, 2007 | Comment on this article Leave a comment BRISTOW — The mother of Kelsey Smith-Briggs has lost her first bid for a new trial. Raye Dawn Smith is serving 27 years in prison for enabling child abuse. Jurors in July found Smith, 28, guilty of allowing her then-husband to abuse Kelsey. In a decision filed Tuesday, her trial judge, Paul Vassar, rejected all... Read More
Kelsey's mom loses bid for new trial Updated: Wed, Dec 5, 2007 BRISTOW — The mother of Kelsey Smith-Briggs has lost her first bid for a new trial. Raye Dawn Smith is serving 27 years in prison for enabling child abuse. Jurors in July found Smith, 28, guilty of allowing her then-husband to abuse Kelsey. In a decision filed Tuesday, her trial judge, Paul Vassar,... Read More
Kelsey's mom seeks new abuse trial Updated: Mon, Oct 22, 2007 | Comment on this article Leave a comment Changes made on rim. Read More
Kelsey's dad plans appeal Updated: Fri, Oct 12, 2007 | Comment on this article Leave a comment Text edit Read More
Kelsey's run aims to prevent child abuse Updated: Wed, Oct 3, 2007 | Comment on this article Leave a comment Kelsey Smith-Briggs' paternal grandmother and step-grandmother can't do anything to help her now, but they're trying to prevent other children from suffering the same fate. Kathie Briggs, her grandmother, and Teri Sigman, Kelsey's step-grandmother, are organizers for the second annual Kelsey Briggs Run Against Child... Read More
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Ed Kelley - Protecting Our Young thumbnail

Ed Kelley - Protecting Our Young

Jan 25Oklahoma's children aren't faring well. Understanding why...

Angi Bruss - NewsOK AM Headlines 07/19/07 thumbnail

Angi Bruss - NewsOK AM Headlines 07/19/07

Aug 6Angi Bruss provides headlines from NewsOK and The Oklahoman

THE PEOPLE


Raye Dawn Porter: Kelsey's mom.


Michael Lee Porter: Kelsey's stepfather - charged with first-degree muder.


Lance Briggs: Kelsey's father - coming home from overseas military service at the time of her death.


Kathie Briggs: Kelsey's grandma - calling for reforms.


Craig Key: Kelsey's judge - gave Kelsey back to her mother.

TIMELINE

The final months of Kelsey Smith-Briggs' life
Jan. 9, 2005:
Kelsey suffers a broken collarbone and bruises while in the care of her mom, Raye Dawn Smith.

Jan. 24:
Kelsey is moved to her paternal grandmother, Kathie Briggs.

April:
Kelsey is still in Briggs' care but visits her mom regularly. She breaks both shins.

April 18:
Raye Dawn Smith marries Michael Lee Porter.

May 3:
Kelsey is placed in state Department of Human Services custody because of the broken legs. She is moved to her maternal grandmother, Gayla Smith.

June 15:
Lincoln County - Associate District Judge Craig Key rules that who abused Kelsey is unknown. The judge returns Kelsey to her mother.

Aug. 19:
Kelsey is hurt in a car accident.

Oct. 11:
Kelsey dies, allegedly after her stepfather, Michael Porter, strikes her in the stomach at their home near Meeker.

Since Oct. 11
Separate memorial services were held the same day, with sheriff’s deputies at one to keep the peace. Her new stepfather, Michael Lee Porter, was arrested and charged with first-degree murder. He is free on $250,000 bail. The judge and attorneys are set to meet Jan. 27. Her mother, Raye Dawn Porter, remains under investigation. She hired an attorney.
Mike and Raye Dawn Porter are divorcing.

Kelsey’s father, Lance Briggs, filed notice with the state, seeking $15 million for her death and an overhaul of the Department of Human Services.

Lance Briggs and his wife, Ashley, are divorcing.

Rallies are held outside the Lincoln County Courthouse and at the Capitol. Some call for the judge in Kelsey’s case to resign.

State Rep. Kris Steele begins work on reform legislation to be called the Kelsey Briggs Law.

Kelsey’s outspoken grandmother, Kathie Briggs, calls for changes.

A Web site is created. Briggs writes on the home page that she realized Kelsey’s purpose in being after Kelsey “joined the other little angels in Heaven.” Briggs writes: “She was put here to make a difference - to make sure other children are protected.”

Kelsey's Purpose Web site