Death of Kelsey Smith-Briggs

Kelsey Shelton Smith-Briggs
Born	Kelsey Shelton Smith (2002-12-28)December 28, 2002 Meeker Oklahoma
Died	October 11, 2005(2005-10-11) (aged 2) Meeker, Oklahoma, USA
Cause of death	Blunt force trauma to the abdomen
Resting place	Meeker Oklahoma
Nationality	American
Parent(s)	Lance Briggs and Raye Dawn Smith. Stepfather Michael Lee Porter
Website	Kelsey's Purpose, The Truth About Kelsey

Kelsey Shelton Smith-Briggs (Oklahoma City, 28 December 2002 - Meeker, Oklahoma, 11 October 2005) was a child abuse victim.

She died at the home of her mother, Raye Dawn Smith, and her stepfather, Michael Lee Porter. Evidence indicated that Kelsey died from a blow to the abdomen. In the final months of her life she had suffered at various times a broken collarbone, broken legs, and bruises on her face and body. However, while the injuries were not confirmed to be the result of abuse, her case was watched closely by authorities, including the courts. Her biological father, Lance Briggs, was stationed at Fort Benning, Georgia awaiting separation papers when she died.

Trial

In March 2006, the Oklahoma state legislature passed the Kelsey Smith-Briggs Child Protection Reform Act.

Michael Porter was charged with murder and sexual abuse. In February 2007, he plead guilty to enabling child abuse, and received a 30-year prison sentence. He had previously been offered a 25-year sentence for murder, which he declined, stating that he did not directly cause the child's death. He filed for divorce from Raye Dawn Smith about a month after Kelsey died, and later testified at Smith's trial, claiming that Smith was the person who killed Kelsey. The prosecutor, Richard Smothermon, stated during the trial, in response to Porter's answer, that he believes Porter killed Kelsey.

Raye Dawn Smith was charged with child abuse or, in the alternative, enabling child abuse. She was offered a plea deal to one count of abuse stemming from an alleged spanking with a hairbrush, but she declined, claiming innocence. On September 10 2007, she was convicted of enabling child abuse, and sentenced to 27 years in prison. She is seeking a new trial and has filed a 94-page brief, based on numerous alleged irregularities in the original trial.

See also

• 'Pro-Raye Dawn Smith site
• 'DHS Visitation Logs'
• 'Review of Kelsey's death'

External links

• 'Heavens Gates Memorial Site for Kelsey Briggs'

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