Kelsey Smith-Brigg

This beautiful little girl is Kelsey Smith-Brigg. Her parents, Raye Dawn Smith and Lance Briggs met in high school. He played football and she was on the Pom's squad, classic high school relationship.

The two were married for two years. It was two years of trouble. They were always battling with each other. There were reports of domestic abuse towards Raye. The marriage was doomed from the start and on July 31st, 2002 the divorce was official. Five months after their divorce, on December 28th, 2002, Raye gave birth to a baby girl who they named Kelsey Smith-Briggs. Eventually both parents remarried.

Kelsey, at just two years old, was described as a "go-getter." She won Miss Personality in a Shawnee baby pageant.  She liked the movies, Brother Bear, Shrek and Monster's Inc., she liked cabbage patch dolls. Kelsey and her mom would dance together and napped together. And she loved to swing. She was a normal two year old little girl.

In January 2005, while in the care of her mom, Kelsey suffered a broken collarbone and bruises. She was then moved to live with her paternal grandmother, Kathie Briggs. It was in January when it was first confirmed by Oklahoma DHS, child abuse against Raye Dawn Smith. Three months later in April, while Kelsey is on regular visits with her mom, she breaks both shines. Also, in April, Kelsey's mom marries Michael Lee Porter. Oklahoma DHS took custody of Kelsey and placed her in the care of her maternal grandmother Gayle Smith. 

Despite all the evidence against Kelsey's "mother", despite the fact that DHS had to take custody of this little angel, Associate District Judge, Craig Key returned custody back to Kelsey's mom. Against the recommendations of Oklahoma DHS. He stated that the abuser was "unknown." 

Just four months later, little Kelsey Smith-Briggs was dead. She died on October 11th, 2005 in the home of her mother and step-father. After two autopsies, it was determined that Kelsey died as a result of blunt forced trauma to the abdomen. Although no one was convicted, her mom was sentenced to 27 years and her step-father was sentenced to 30 years after pleading guilty to enabling child abuse. In my opinion, still not enough time.

All this could have been prevented. Kelsey's life could have been saved if the idiot judge has concurred with OK DHS and NOT placed her with her mother. In my opinions, there are three people responsible for her death, her mother (term used loosely), her step-father and Associate District Judge, Craig Key.


**UPDATE** The appeal to overturn original sentencing for Raye Dawn Smith, has been denied. How do you knowing cause harm to your child and cause the death to your own child and then have the nerve to think you deserve to see another day outside prison walls. If it was up to me all three would never see the light of day.

Here is the link to Kelsey's foundation page:
http://www.kelseybriggsfoundation.org/

This is the link to the foundation facebook page:
http://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Kelsey-Briggs-Foundation/322348135607?filter=2

There are many, many more community pages on facebook in support of Kelsey. Spreading awareness through her story.