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Kelsey Smith Briggs Archived Coverage
Last defense witness testifies in abuse trial
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.
Mom found guilty; jury hands down 27-year prison term
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.
Pastor testifies for defense in Smith's trial
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?”
Kelsey lost her spirit weeks before death, grandmother testifies
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.
Smith weeps during testimony about Kelsey's injuries
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.
Defense opens in abuse trial
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...
Kelsey Smith-Briggs' death lawsuit brings $625K deal
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...
Lawsuit accusing DHS in toddler's death to move forward
Thu, Apr 24, 2008
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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...
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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...
Judge denies request for shorter sentence in Kelsey case
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....
Kelsey's mom won't be retried
Thu, Dec 6, 2007
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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...
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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...
Kelsey's mom loses bid for new trial
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,...
Kelsey's mom seeks new abuse trial
Mon, Oct 22, 2007
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Changes made on rim.
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Changes made on rim.
Kelsey's dad plans appeal
Fri, Oct 12, 2007
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Kelsey's run aims to prevent child abuse
Wed, Oct 3, 2007
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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...
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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...
How Kelsey's mother spent her time in court
Convict tells dead girl's grandmother, ‘I forgive you,' which afterward spurs the comment, ‘She's demented' Tue, Sep 11, 2007 | Comments30
BRISTOW — The mother of Kelsey Smith-Briggs passed up her chance Monday to ask a judge for mercy or to again claim she is innocent. Instead, Raye Dawn Smith looked toward her former mother-in-law...
Convict tells dead girl's grandmother, ‘I forgive you,' which afterward spurs the comment, ‘She's demented' Tue, Sep 11, 2007 | Comments
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BRISTOW — The mother of Kelsey Smith-Briggs passed up her chance Monday to ask a judge for mercy or to again claim she is innocent. Instead, Raye Dawn Smith looked toward her former mother-in-law...
Kelsey's mother gets 27 years in prison
Mon, Sep 10, 2007
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Send back to write basket when finished, style changes on slot
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Send back to write basket when finished, style changes on slot
Your thoughts: Kelsey's mom sentenced to 27 years in prison
Mon, Sep 10, 2007
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Kelsey's mom sentenced to 27 years in prison
Mon, Sep 10, 2007
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DO NOT RUN UNTIL NOLAN CALLS added headline
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DO NOT RUN UNTIL NOLAN CALLS added headline
‘Conspiracy against me'
Fri, Aug 24, 2007
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BRISTOW — In her first public comments since being found guilty, the mother of Kelsey Smith-Briggs denied again that she allowed the girl to be hurt and stated she "would love ... one day (to)...
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BRISTOW — In her first public comments since being found guilty, the mother of Kelsey Smith-Briggs denied again that she allowed the girl to be hurt and stated she "would love ... one day (to)...
Attorney may seek new trial
Thu, Aug 16, 2007
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Send back to write basket when finished
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Send back to write basket when finished
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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.
THE TIMELINE
The final months of Kelsey Smith-Briggs' lifeJan. 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
