Kelsey Smith-Briggs
Our system of protecting some of the most defenseless amongst us must be fixed. Romeocat has a post about the sad and pathetic excuse for a judge who decided to give a child rapist a 60-day sentence for serial raping a 6 year-old girl. The judge sure doesn’t care about putting a monster back on the street to hurt other little children. He doesn’t care about justice for the six-year-old whose life has been warped by a sick, putrid, disgusting, pile of filth that deserves to be left in a room with the parents, chained to the floor, and brillo pads and hack-saws. Sounds rough eh? Not nearly as rough as being a six year old and BEING RAPED REPEATEDLY.
Now on to the sweet little girl whose picture is above. Her name is Kelsey Smith-Briggs. She is the latest story here in Oklahoma. Poor little Kelsey died October 11th. She didn’t die at the hands of rapists, or serial murderers. But at the hands of those who were supposed to nuture, love, and care for her, her mother and step-father.
Her care was being supervised by a judge and the Department of Human Services when she died Oct. 11, allegedly from a stomach blow.
Her stepfather, Michael Lee Porter, 25, is charged with first-degree murder. Her mother, Raye Dawn Porter, 26, is under investigation.
Televised home-video images of her trying to walk and play with casts on two broken legs haunt Oklahomans. Her death came four months after the judge returned her to her mother, against a DHS recommendation. The judge ruled her abuser was unknown.
(emphasis mine)
That’s right folks, a judge returned her to an abusive and dangerous situation.
Here is a timeline, provided by The Oklahoman. Tell me if you can’t see the writing on the wall.
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.(hmmmm. Okay, kids play and get hurt. -D.A.)
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.
(hmmmm. Seems to have an awful lot of “playing and getting hurt” in her mothers “care” - D.A.)
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.
(YAY! Someone finally pulled their heads out of their arses and finally took that poor child out of an apparently abusive situation -D.A.)June 15: Lincoln County Associate District Judge Craig Key rules that who abused Kelsey is unknown. The judge returns Kelsey to her mother.
(Just cue the “imperial march” here folks! In comes the Black Robed Wonder who returns Kelsey to her mother and step-father because the abuser is “unknown”. Let me widdle it down for ya there Judge Key, it is either the MOTHER or the STEP-FATHER. Sending the lamb back amongst the wolves. -D.A.)
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.
(Too late. Another innocent dies at the hands of an evil monster because of a Black Robed Wonder. -D.A.)
If you were wondering where Kelsey’s father was this entire time, well, he was fighting in the National Guard in Iraq.
Apparently the Oklahoman will continue the next few days with stories on the situation should you wish to follow it. It is a pretty big stink, with the mom blaming step-dad and step-dad blaming mom. I don’t care who exactly struck the fatal blow, it was one of the two. The other one HAD to know that the abuse was taking place, and did nothing to stop it either. So the blame goes on the parents. Then I blame the judge, who went against the advice of the social workers who wished to keep her out of that situation. I for one am sick of this crap. A two year old girl was sadistically abused, and the system did absolutely nothing to protect her.
A broken system. No. A worthless system that sacrifices our youth, our future. That sounds more appropriate.
Cross-posted @ Parrot Check.
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[…] ystem that sacrifices our youth, our future. That sounds more appropriate. Cross-posted @ The Wide Awakes.
Posted at 14:14 hours, in Just Pathetic, […]
Pingback by Parrot Check » Blog Archive » Judges and a broken system. — 1/8/2006 @ 1:15 pm
sounds like some of the people in this situation need a serious and abrupt punishment for the loss of this young child’s death and the father that was overseas is in my prayers and i hope that he gets the justice he needs for his daughters unruly death
Comment by Muriel Davis — 1/8/2006 @ 4:31 pm
Bring that illiterate Judge to Arizona — we’ll introduce that Twinkle-toed Communist Bastard to some old-fashioned “Western Justice” … bend him over like a shotgun; ram it up his stupid ass numerous times; and see how he likes it.
Maybe y’all might be able to hear him scream across the desert floor … then, we’ll bury his dumbass up to his neck in a mound of Fire Ants, and walk away.
Comment by SSgt Yatahey — 1/8/2006 @ 7:12 pm
YOU GO SSgt Yatahey - we need more Americans like you!
Comment by justice for kelsey briggs — 1/11/2006 @ 2:48 pm
They should leave the stepdad in the care of the father….and maybe the rest of his squad for good measure.
Comment by Kender — 1/12/2006 @ 8:23 pm
Where are all those politicians who are supposed to be watching these idiots who call themselves “judge”? Is this loser still deciding about the lives of kids? Why? Get rid of him!!!!
Comment by justiceforall — 1/13/2006 @ 9:34 pm
One of them killed her and both of them should be held responsible because I think they both I think abused her and how can a judge send a child back after DHS recommends not to and the judge should have to resign and he should also be held responsible b/c he put the child back in a abusive home and how can a judge not care about children and send them back to abusive families howe can a loser put a child back, innocent children die because of Judges and DHS not protecting them , if a parent can’t take responsibility then someone needs to step in and take action what is wrong with the judges, DHS.
Comment by Shelli Coble — 1/18/2006 @ 10:56 am
The mother has not been charged with anything in this crime as of yet. She has a alcohol addiction and numerous arrests as such. I don’t understand how she could walk free when she has abused this child ever since she moved out of the grandparents home. People need to call and report her actions to the Pottawatomie County D.A.’s office in Shawnee, OK. Raye Dawn Porter is a menance to society and needs to be locked up.
Comment by Everyone Loved Kelsey — 1/21/2006 @ 12:06 am
They should take that unborn baby from her as soon as it is born she or her husband do not deserve to have a child. The mother had her chance and she failed, you can’t just throw one child away and move on to the next.
Comment by upset reader — 2/24/2006 @ 3:01 pm
Three years ago my daughter left her abusive marriage of five years. Her husband has had a long history of drug abuse which increased in August ‘05. Judge Key has instructed her to make her two children visit their father. What is happening to Lincoln County?
Comment by Rita Harrison — 2/27/2006 @ 9:21 pm
The mother has been charged with Child Neglect and Enabling Child Abuse. Her bond was sat at just $25,000. Which her family already had the money. She didn’t do 1 second behind bars. There is definetly SOMETHING going on in Lincoln County….and all OVER the state of Oklahoma!
Comment by Kelsey's Ninni — 3/14/2006 @ 8:33 am
Unfortuately, there is something going on ALL OVER THE WORLD. Kelsey’s case is just one in many where CPS, the law, doctors and some ignorant judge could have saved a child and neglected to do so. I have added her story to my site which has a section with many abused to death children on it. www.angelizdsplace.com/child1.htm
NOTHING in life prepares us for the suffering these children go through. There isn’t a single day that goes by that I am not thinking about the children on my site, crying for their suffering, praying NOT to have to hear about another child who has been abused to death or abused at all. I have a strong fear that the day will never come.
All we can do is pray and hope that there will come a day when these people who believe “families” consist of mothers, fathers and children, will open their eyes and realize that it’s not ALWAYS in the best interest of a child to keep him/her with their parents.
Comment by Sharon — 3/15/2006 @ 12:28 am
Raye Dawn killed this baby, as everyone will find out soon. Be ready Raye.
Comment by Get Ready Raye Dawn — 7/28/2006 @ 8:54 am
I now feel more enlightened after reading the latest information about this case. It was passed on to me by a friend in law enforcement. Looks like there are things one side wants hidden! IT’S A MUST READ, and can be found at -
www.usobserverok.com
Comment by Maria — 6/16/2007 @ 11:51 pm
Amen Maria. Finally the truth comes out. It’s sickening that Kathie is using her sons so called honorable position in the military to play upon our sympathies. It’s one thing to mourn the loss of your child, but yet a whole other story when the poor poor pity me card comes into play- “I’m off fighting for my country while my daughter is back home being preyed upon by a monster.” Little did he know that his mother was included in that monster category and still is. The child needs peace and no amount of finger pointing, false accusations, and harrassment will bring her back. Focus on her memory, bettering your own life, and moving on - not on destroying others.
Comment by Mamma_buddha — 6/21/2007 @ 9:41 am
Today, June 21, 2007. Former Judge Key is having a press conference to explain his his decision in the Kelsey Smith-Briggs case which happens to be the same day that his new book comes out on the case. Not only did this judge assisted in the death of this beautiful little angel but now he is profitting by writing an book on his decision. The people of Lincoln County voted Craig Key out of office and he can’t seem to get business in his law firm, so he is making money off of the little angel that he helped in her death. Talking about be SICK.
Comment by William Logan — 6/21/2007 @ 1:31 pm
William,
What’s really “SICK” is the absolute miss-information you just typed. This child is being used as a pawn and Craig Key was specifically asked where the money for the book would go and he specifically enumerated three areas where it would be distributed to help keep something like this from happening again.
You are either uninformed or intentionally attempting to miss-inform. Check you facts before you type or shame on you!
How about get the book (the proceeds all go to worthy causes) and become informed.
Comment by Mark — 6/22/2007 @ 12:33 pm
Amidst the sad details of this story is the underlying fact that the DHS Workers in Oklahoma need to be investigated. This tragic story is one among many going on in Oklahoma. Read up on current cases involving day care centers with numerous allegations against them that currently stay open. Among a recent one with the death of a 2-year old because the “System” has FAILED. Our Department of Human Services needs to be restructured and ALL Workers need to be investigated. WE HAVE TO SAVE OUR CHILDREN.
Comment by J-of-Ardmore, OK — 6/22/2007 @ 1:57 pm
If we’re going to save our children, we should look to ourselves and not our government or the courts.
Comment by Cao — 6/23/2007 @ 7:51 am
Thank you, Maria!! I was going to post that link as well. Glad someone else knows to seek out the WHOLE truth rather than one person’s very twisted take on it.
Always three sides to every story, people…ALWAYS.
Your’s.
Their’s.
The Truth.
Comment by Stacey — 6/24/2007 @ 7:45 pm
Yeah, I bet the Observer posts nothing but the truth. Do yourselves a favor and try to find the things that it states in any other place other then the Observer. Maria has been spreading her trash over several sites, but hasn’t been able to back up a single thing she’s said without using the Observer as her source. Why?? Because her information CAN’T be found anywhere else. WHY? Because it’s a bunch of crap.
Comment by Karen — 6/26/2007 @ 11:33 am
Maria- like I said on the other site you took it upon your self to comment on, get a life. The door has already been opened as to what the truth is about what happened to Kelsey. People to blame, RD DHS and all of you who did not stand up and stop what was going on.
The entire secret report can be read at Oklahoma news 9’s website. Go on and keep making yourselves look stupid, but it’s a little too late for damage control- Kelsey is dead!!!!!
Comment by jules — 7/4/2007 @ 2:42 pm
I have read the US Observer story. It is all a big pack of lies. Even the pictures of the Briggs family members were altered. Kathie Briggs picture was stretched to make her look fat. She would have to gain better than 50 lbs to be that big and the underarm sweat stains on Lance Briggs jacket were just as enhanced. More important than any Briggs family member is that Kelsey Briggs death doesn’t go unpunished. Mike Porter has gotten his sentence, just as Raye Dawn has hers coming. They failed Kelsey more than anyone else that has fingers pointed at them. They were given a second chance to be good parents and they failed. To bad the judge didn’t have x-ray vision to see how black those two hearts were when he put Kelsey back into their care.
Comment by Looking IN — 7/5/2007 @ 8:58 pm
Actually, Maria was able to back up much of what was in the Observer article on the Crimewave blog along with others. If everything in the article is a lie then the Briggs will sue I’m sure. But when they sue the discovery begins (legal term). Kathie’s DHS record and Lance’s military record can be accessed through that suit. I’m not say the article is true or not but Maria backed up a chunk of it independently through police reports and court cases.
“The lady doth protest too much, methinks.”
-Hamlet (III, ii, 239)
Comment by Mark — 7/7/2007 @ 9:16 am
I just found this site after reading some others. The more I read from the anti mother people in this case the more I question those people. I don’t know what is in that article but I plan on reading it.
kevin
Comment by kevin — 7/7/2007 @ 9:24 am
WHO CARES MARK ABOUT WHAT HAPPENED IN THE BRIGGS PRIVATE LIVES IN THE PAST. THEIR PAST HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH WHY KELSEY DIED UNDER MIKE PORTER’S CARE AND RAYE DAWN’S CARE ON OCTOBER 11, 2005. I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW HOW “MARIA” GOT A COPY OF KATHIE’S PAST DHS RECORDS, NOT THAT IT PERTAINS TO WHY KELSEY WAS NEGLECTED AND MURDERED. I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO KNOW HOW MARIA KNOWS WHAT LANCE’S MILITARY RECORDS SAY. CAN YOU ANSWER THAT MARK???????? I DON’T BELIEVE THAT SHE DOES- IT IS ALL SPECULATION AND LIES. I DON’T THINK KATHIE AND LANCE HAVE ANYTHING TO HIDE. KATHIE CAME OUT A LONG TIME AGO TO THE PUBLIC AND EXPLAINED HER DHS PAST, NOT THAT SHE HAD TO. IT IS NOT RELEVANT, BUT GO AHEAD “MARIA”, KEEP OPENING YOUR BIG MOUTH BECAUSE IT IS GOING TO CATCH UP WITH YOU EVENTUALLY.
Comment by jules — 7/7/2007 @ 10:39 am
Well I don’t know, being forced to hacksaw your limbs off to survive is actually pretty extreme. But agreed, it gives no excuse for what he has done.
The point is, you have enough money, anything can happen, just shows you having a right wing government doesn’t fix everything hey?
Comment by Jayden — 7/10/2007 @ 10:44 am
“She didn’t die at the hands of rapists” - this phrase catches my eye every time I google Kesley and see the link to this site - why?
Because it appears that Kelsey may have, indeed, died at the hands of a rapist. Two Medical Examiners have found evidence pointing to sexual assault - one ME (Dr. Inas Yacoub) will not definitively say that it HAD to be assault, the other(”Dr. Hawley”) claims it certainly was.
This case is not as open and shut as people want it to be: hero dad, drunken mom, murdering step-father, doting grandparents, irresponsible judge, incompetent DHS etc. The archetypes don’t fit their profiles and sadly the only true character was the child herself and she is dead from blunt force trauma to the abdomen - allegedly from an externally inflicted trauma and sickeningly, possibly from internally inflicted trauma, too.
P.S. I understand the original meaning of the “rapist” comment - I took it to mean that she wasn’t assaulted by a stranger - it just seemes ironic in light of new information so I had to stop in and comment!
Things are not always as they seem at first glance.
Comment by ctyblogs — 7/11/2007 @ 12:25 am
Jayden where were you and your snide comments when we had a left wing government? Oh wait! We do! Count the libs in congress…check your history during hte Clinton years, remember Carter?
Comment by Richard Nixon — 7/11/2007 @ 8:41 am
jules,
Go back and read my post; your response doesn’t make any sense.
Best and kindest regards that I can possibly muster,
Mark
Comment by Mark — 7/14/2007 @ 4:35 pm
How does my comment not make any sense. You are saying “Maria” can back up all her so called facts, and I am saying what does that have to do with this case?????? NOTHING!!!! MAYBE IT IS YOU WHO DOES NOT UNDERSTAND.
Comment by jules — 7/14/2007 @ 8:38 pm
First off, I never read where Maria said they were her facts. She did however post case #’s and police report #’s to back up the claims made in the Observer article concerning statements about Lance’s police/ criminal record and the police report where the police said the paternal grandmother was stalking & harassing. Not what anyone else said, or what she said, but what the police said, what the courts said and what Lance plead to in his cases. At that point it only leaves military & DHS statements.
Secondly, I said the Briggs can of course sue anyone, but that court case brings the right of “discovery” meaning that those being sued will be able to gain both Lance’s military record and the grandmother’s DHS record through subpoena.
Thirdly, people are talking about what it has to do with “this case” being the case of Kelsey. Not just the case of Michael Porter or the case of the mother, but the case of what Kelsey was subjected to in her short life. Remember, Kelsey is the important one here and her life/ death is what needs to be sorted in hopes this “case” can be avoided in the future.
The more you and others in your camp yell, “Pay no attention to the man behind the curtain!” the more we see the importance of looking. What did it have to do with her life/ death? Everything.
BTW, the CAPITAL LETTERS really don’t make it louder.
Comment by Mark — 7/15/2007 @ 7:27 am
Keep this basic logic in mind. If the grandmother claims she wasn’t stalking/ harassing but her actions show she was, we have to question her veracity. If she made misleading statements about her own DHS record, we have to question her veracity. If she and her son make misleading statements about Lance’s military record in what seems to be an effort to gain sympathy, we have to question their motives. We know there was a nasty divorce so we have to question everyone’s motives. We know Lance has a criminal record of pleading guilty to assaulting more than one woman so we have to consider that when looking at the mother’s motive to keep Kelsey away from him.
The people on the inside don’t like being looked at, but the rest of us on the outside have to try and be objective in order to make sense of this.
Comment by Mark — 7/15/2007 @ 7:31 am
DA Smothermon offered Raye Dawn a plea agreement Friday!!!
* One count of swatting Kelsey on the diaper with a hair brush in return for dropping all other charges.
*Raye Dawn said, “I didn’t do it; I won’t take it.”
WOW!!! Now I’m really questioning this case. That is just a slap on the wrist and the DA wouldn’t offer it at this point of the game unless he was scared. He’s not even finish with his own testimony!
Found it here:
http://www.usobserver.com/archive/july-07/raye-dawn-prosecute.htm
Don’t believe it? I suggest asking the DA
….posted elsewhere by me.
Comment by Mark — 7/16/2007 @ 6:58 am
I have followed this case from the beginning. It has made me sick as I knew every player in this game except Michael Porter. Raye Dawn and Lance as well as their families are just like the rest of us people with pasts and not flawless ones. We all have skeletons in the closet but truely that’s not really the point, is it? The point is that a little girl died and before she died she was most likely tortured. I believe, just as Smotherman does that Michael Porter raped and murder a precious little angel. I can’t stomach the fact that Smotherman let him take a plea agreement for only 30 short years. Everybody’s wanted to see Raye Dawn fry and the “real killer” not enabler comes out smelling like a rose. Truely 30 years is a slap on the wrist for what he did. If you havent already, go to www.okcfox.com and read the trial notes. Specifically Porters he is a self admitted liar and he continues to lie and Smotherman continues to let him lie just to convict Raye. I don’t know what Raye knew and what Raye didn’t know but I knew Raye and the Raye I knew would never harm her child or knowingly allow anyone else to harm her child. My prayers are that someday Kelsey will be able to rest in peace. I pray Raye Dawn, Lance, and both of their families will allow God to start healing their hearts. I have no prayers for Mr. Porter.
Comment by Felicia — 7/17/2007 @ 6:34 pm
This story outrages me because I have had my children taken away for way less than what these horrible people put this little girl through. I have fought for my babies for 17 months and I feel because DHS messed up in cases such as this and Ryan Luke that people that really do care for and try to do everything that our so called government officials tell us to do still can’t get them back. I feel so sorry for this family and she is a beautiful little girl, i just feel that because of the mess ups by OKDHS people like me and my children are having to pay for them giving angels like her back to the demons that have hurt them.
Comment by Heather — 7/19/2007 @ 12:05 am
mark, just for you i am using all little letters. why is it that you believe everything the us observer writes? and for the last time who cares what their pasts have to do with why kelsey died?
we are yelling loud, so make sure you pay attention to who needs paying attention to. btw you are more than welcome to join us and see for yourself that “our camp” of supporters really are not that bad. just a suggestion.
Comment by jules — 7/20/2007 @ 8:45 pm
The supossed Hero Dad fighting for his contry ,was no Hero at all!!!! He was a little man that was allways introuble with the LAW and also a WIFE BEATER .thats why Raye Dawn left him in the first place ,O buy the way he never made it to IRAQ to fight for our Country he was in the Army brigg in Germany for Drug abuse ,also he didnt want any thing to do with Kelsey until his nutjob mother made him !!! There is more to this story than the average blogger knows!!!!
Comment by curly jo — 7/23/2007 @ 5:30 pm
The supossed Hero Dad fighting for his contry ,was no Hero at all!!!! He was a little man that was allways introuble with the LAW and also a WIFE BEATER .thats why Raye Dawn left him in the first place ,O buy the way he never made it to IRAQ to fight for our Country he was in the Army brigg in Germany for Drug abuse ,also he didnt want any thing to do with Kelsey until his nutjob mother made him !!! There is more to this story than the average blogger knows!!!!
Comment by curly jo — 7/23/2007 @ 5:30 pm
Kelsey’s mothe was not there when she was being abused. Her husband; Kelsey’s step father made up stories as to what happened and Kelsey was too small to be able to tell er herself. Quit blaming the mom- there is no proof of abuse from her. She doesn’t need to be sitting in jail anymore than the grandmother does or the biological father who by the way as charged with assault on 3 different mate of his. It’s ridiculous that way people are blaming this innocent mother who should be at home grieving her daughter as her ex husband is ho punched her in her pregnant with Kelsey belly. Don’t let his sob stoy fool you- he tried to make her lose this baby in the first place and no to mention his mother who had her own children take away because she threatened to kill all of them. Read all of yur facts before pointing fingers!
Comment by Anonymous — 7/25/2007 @ 2:50 pm
This is so sad to me….
We have a little girl that is dead and a lot of grown people trashing each other! I have read everything I could about this case, yes you can tell take Kathie hates Raye Dawn and will make Raye dawn’s life hell. You can also see Lance tuck his head in his ass doing what ever his mommy tells him to do!!! Mike got off free….Raye Dawn should not be in jail!!! Lance is no better than Raye Dawn was, and as far as I can tell Kathie Is just as bad “TAKE THIS KIDS BEFORE I KILL THEM” !!!! Raye Dawn has lost a baby and now she has lost her son, WHY because she fell in love with a man she thought would be a great step dad for Kelsey and for a family that hates her for leaving thier son! Lance didn’t even want Kelsey, saying the baby isn’t mine! People we have all done thing in our life we are not proudof!!!! I dont thing or should I say I know raye dawn did not hurt Kelsey…..
Comment by Anonymous — 7/26/2007 @ 3:33 pm
To Anonymous 7/26/2007 @ 3:33 pm.
Did you personally hear Kathie ever threaten to kill her kids? Or did you read it in the observer? Where you there when Lance claimed that Kelsey wasn’t his?
Did you know that Raye Dawn lied on the stand during her divorce from Lance knowing she was pregnant and claiming she wasn’t? All you have to do is the math! Did you know Lance had to fight for his paternal rights? There is court documents showing that as well. He may not be perfect and he has made some big mistakes. But tearing him and his family down doesn’t make Raye Dawn and Mike Porter any less guilty. It’s all a smoke screen used to make others (i.e Raye Dawn and/or Mike) look less guilty. If you can’t prove you are innocent as they say “the best defense is a good offense”.
The only thing that even matters is that no matter what anyone says or anyone does nothing will bring Kelsey back! The evidence from the trial shows that Raye Dawn knew Mike was abusing Kelsey. To me the most damming point was made by Raye Dawn’s mother when she stated that Raye Dawn told her Mike had taped Kelsey’s eyes and mouth shut. I don’t care what any one says about thatincident only being a game. No self respecting adult could ever believe that taping a child’s mouth and eyes shut is a game. Especially when it is a two year old child. I have teens and if my husband ever did something like that to my (much older) kids and I found our about it there would be hell to pay.
Comment by Looking IN — 7/29/2007 @ 2:26 pm
i think raye didnt have any thing to do with it. but i do belive she did swat her a few times. i my self have swatted my child, with an open hand on the bottom, while they wore a diaper. but i didnt leave any marks.im sure a lot of parents have.as for mr.porter his day will come. that day will be judgemeny day!!!
Comment by luv my kids — 7/31/2007 @ 8:34 pm
Comment by luv my kids — 7/31/2007 @ 8:34 pm
I also dont think Raye Dawn had anything to do with it! You can tell she loved her baby!!
I have been around a family where they couldn’t get along, and it was hell for the child! The one side of the family (fathers’s side) made up all kids of stuff just to hurt the mother!!
I’m not saying that something didn’t happen to little Kelsey, but I dont think Raye Dawn did it!
She didn’t get a fair trial….
Comment by Anonymous — 8/1/2007 @ 9:23 am
if you want to really get a trueful view of this sad case of kelsey then maybe you should actually read the review of child death of Kelsey Smith Briggs on the oklahoma commission on children and youth website. it gives the real and accurate details before people start bashing others on here for what they’ve heard. the website is www.okkids.org i think that i would trust it more than the usovserver anyday.
and for maria you should especially read it if you can handle 20 pages of the actual truth
Comment by michelle — 8/12/2007 @ 12:01 am
This is so sad! I do not know anyone in this case nor do I know what really happened. I do know this though… As a child my step-father abused me sexually, physically, and emotionally. The majority of the abuse took place when my mother was at work, but there where still signs that would have been obvious to any mother. The amount of bruises that poor little Kelsey obtained should have been an alert to her mother. A broken clavicle and 2 broken tibias may happen to a child who is not being abused, but the parent would have some idea as to how such extensive injuries occured. Kelsey’s mother siad she had no idea how these injuries were sustained. Being the mother of a 6 year old myself I would have been questioning what the hell was happening to my little girl. I would have kept her away from everyone just to protect her from the abuse. Her mother may not be responsible for the abuse herself, but she should have been aware that something wasn’t right. She had to have known something was wrong, but she chose to ignore the signs. If she wasn’t abusing this poor child herself she should have atleast done something to stop this abuse. She did just as my mother did. She chose to ignore the signs and as a result an innocent child is dead. I have read everything I can find about this. I still do not know exactly what occured, but I know she could have done something to prevent this. Any mother should know when something like this is going on, and if they allowing this sort of thing they are just as responsible. I have remarried since the divorce from daughter’s father. I love my husband with all my heart, but if he ever did anything to my daughter he would be out of our lives. No man is worth so much that your own child should have to suffer.
Comment by Jess — 8/14/2007 @ 10:14 pm
let me just remind everyone here that you haven’t walked a mile in kelsey’s shoes and it’s her life that we are talking about, not yours. The one true thing in this world is God will always be watching every move you make and only his decision counts. When it comes to their day at the pearly gates, God will know who did what and who didn’t. He will be the only true “judge” that matters. He decides their fate. So, whoever did it, they will get justice. It may not be now but it will come to them.
Comment by angela — 8/20/2007 @ 9:13 am
This story is absolutely HEART BREAKING and I hope it opens the eyes of everyone! Situations like this happen WAY too often and I am not the person to point the finger but I do hope the Judge who continued to give custody of this poor, innocent, defenseless child to those devils who derserve no better than to rot in hell sits back and realizes her poor judgement and it lingers with her for life. I am a loss for words other than the ‘justice’ system needs some work and I hope the father who was working abroad, giving us the freedom his daughter deserved gets his justice and God Bless!
Comment by vicky — 8/20/2007 @ 10:47 am
Well first of all Nobody knows the truth but the people who were in that room. So all those people who are acting like they know what happen, You dont so stop trying to figure out. In my eyes eveyone is quilty someone should have known that baby girl was being harm, and somebody should have stop it.. So Shame on everybody!
Comment by Sarah — 8/21/2007 @ 3:06 pm
I just cannot understand this screwed up system!? This BABY was BRUTALLY MURDERED!!! This BABY could NOT defend herself, & probaly couldnt even speak of what was REALLY going on! WHY on earth would these predators ONLY GET 27 years?? I SAY DEATH PENALTY or LIFE!!! they took an innocent, fragile, life!! AN EYE FOR AN EYE!! this is just not fair!! I feel extremely disturbed by this! the system ALREADY failed her. I have 3 babies (they just dont get bruises on their face or neck, by just playing!!) ITS COMMON SENSE PEOPLE!! SHE WAS ABUSED!! why couldnt this system see this,Iam a 26 yr old mother who sees it, just in pictures!! NOW, they only get 27 years, they will be out by the age of 55 and be able to do it again!! Kelsey is gone forever
because of these people, and they are going to be able to enjoy life again at 55!? ALSO, were these people tested for drugs? because they had to be on some SERIOUS STUFF to put so much evil and darkness into a childs little life! and she was obviously having seizures due to a predator beating on her precious body & head all the time! AND this man has other children!? did he EVER TOUCH THEM!?? IAM JUST EXTREMELY DISTURBED & SAD!!!! 
Comment by tracy laporta — 8/21/2007 @ 6:44 pm
finally when the nieghbors called and informed them that her father left her there and went to california they found my daurghters paternal aunt in calif. and gave my child to her . to months after that they sent me a child support order to months after that they sent me a petition to terminate my parental rights I did nothing wrong. nothing they stole my child from me.
Comment by dawn marie — 8/24/2007 @ 2:15 am
finally when the nieghbors called and informed them that her father left her there and went to california they found my daurghters paternal aunt in calif. and gave my child to her . to months after that they sent me a child support order to months after that they sent me a petition to terminate my parental rights I did nothing wrong. nothing they stole my child from me.
Comment by dawn marie — 8/24/2007 @ 2:15 am
Wow. Judge if wre you i would end it all. You should be in prison too, for enabiling child abuse you rotten peice of filth. You must live with this and you will answer not only too God but to this child, you ever think if she will forgive ya????? What this country has come to is disgusting, I can not believe the wa we are going, Communist ? No we are far worse to inpower slobs like this one. John
Comment by John Waldron — 9/2/2007 @ 9:17 pm
John Waldron … ever heard of spell check? Your post makes you appear ignorant but probably not more so than you may be in real life. If you can’t check your own grammar and spelling and content, no one expects you to actually check your facts. So don’t bother with more posts.
Comment by Missy — 9/4/2007 @ 1:37 pm
I hope these two descipable dirtbags, Raye Dawn Porter and the step father have the MOST miserable life ahead! They don’t deserve to breathe the air we breathe. And that disgusting moron Judge, was he inbred? He’s a Judge, what kind of pathetic Judge would reason this kind of ruling, sending the child back when she is constantly showing up with scars, broken bones, hospital visits and claiming we “don’t know who is abusing her?” He should be tarred and feather pathetic man as pathetic as the two abuser. The Judge is an abuser folks because only an abuser would rule like he did! I hate them, all Judges who don’t protect the children deserve to be tortured!!! Maybe THEN they can garn some sense and compassion for the defenseless children! Judge Craig Key your an asshole and a piece of scum.
Comment by Sophie — 9/10/2007 @ 11:19 pm
Kelsey Briggs, your vivacous, endearing Spirit touches us. Though we may have never met, I recognize your light and love and it makes me smile. It makes me cry also because you deserved to be protected and loved always! You must be smiling down on your father who didn’t deserve to lose you but no doubt will love you forever. And he will have true reason to rejoice the day you meet again!
Comment by Sophie — 9/10/2007 @ 11:25 pm
i think that a chid like her shall not be given back to the parents after the first time they noticed the abuse and i will remeaber this and never forget
Comment by rylie — 9/14/2007 @ 3:28 pm
This just shows that the judge was only doing his job for the pay cheque and not for the well-being of Kelsey and possiably other child. I think this judge should be given a jail sentence juat as the mother and step-father because he was abusing Kelsey by letting her go back to her mother. Why did was Kelsey’s father not in Okla while this was all going on? I understand he was serving the country but don’t you think his daughter should have been more important then the coumtry at this point in time. No hard feels Lance to the last comment but if it where me I would have been there for my child weather the country needed me or not. My heart goes out to you Lance
I also think that the abusers should be 6 feet under, not sitting in a jail house.
Comment by Sheri — 9/17/2007 @ 10:40 pm
How could anyone hurt an innocent child? She is beautiful, it saddens me to know that this innocent life was taken by the hands of a monster. I hope they both burn in hell!!
Comment by Nicole Walsh — 9/18/2007 @ 1:33 pm
Lets for a second take into view, what Marie said “claims that Lance Briggs was on drugs”, if this is true, and it may be I don’t know I haven’t drug tested him and wouldn’t want to after something like this in my opinion it shouldn’t matter, he wasn’t the one who killed his daughter, nonetheless, lets say he was on drugs, then him being away from his daughter, what some of you look down on him for, was in the best interest of his child. He couldn’t take care of himself while on drugs, let alone a child, so why oh why, would you complain that he wasn’t their, he was trying to get himself in check before continuing to be a father to that beautiful little girl, and left her mother in charge of taking care of her and looking after her and she failed her daughter, she failed her daughter miserably. Furthermore, how the heck do you not notice bruises on your child’s face, chest, thighs, and buttocks, and not think to yourself, hmm that looks like a finger print or two. Or at the very least think “wow this wasn’t happening before I started dating this man, maybe I should tell him I want to take a break for my daughters safety and see if things get better” the worst that could have happened in that situation, was him divorce her, the least would be Kelsey still get bruises and broken bones, and Raye have to think of a new theory of how her daughter’s getting them. I have a four year old son, the man I am now married to was accused of helping girls becoming prostitutes, found out later it was completely false, but when the authorities found out I was with this man, they sent CPS to my home, and checked out my son, they claimed to have had a call about child abuse in our house hold, at the time my son had only seen my now husband on two different occasions but the authorities were saying he was the one who abused my son, they didn’t find any signs of abuse at all but still told me “if you return to that man, your child can and will be taken away from you”. Now after a lawsuit against them for slander and libel he and I are happily married together with our son. Now if authorities had told Raye that, would Kelsey still be alive today, chances are she probably would, seeing as though their wasn’t any indications of child abuse before meeting that man, and then all the sudden out of the clear blue sky she gets broken legs, broken collarbone, broken clavicle that doesn’t happen. CHILDREN DON’T FALL AND BREAK THEIR CLAVICAL, one must be punched and punched awfully hard for that to break. You don’t just fall off something and break both legs and have spiral factures on them, are you retarded people, if you got spiral factures that means their was forceful twisting involved, I don’t know if any of you have ever broken a bone, but when it first happens you immediately stop what your doing and try to fix it, a 2 year old I highly doubt will feel her leg hurt and still continue to do it, and in a spiral motion, are you really going to believe that??? I sure hope the hell not. As for the system, it’s very messed up; it failed Kelsey, Kelsey’s father, and her mother miserably. What makes madder than anything else, is that it took a child Kelsey Briggs to die a horrendous death before, we the people would investigate, why did it have to come to that, why if the cps workers had seen abuse going on didn’t they take Kelsey away until further investigation was done. No child should ever have to go through what Kelsey went through ever, I don’t care what they did or for that matter didn’t do; you never hurt a child like that.
Comment by Jessie — 9/19/2007 @ 2:58 pm
Raye Dawn Smith was convicted of enabling child abuse and is currently serving a 27 year sentence in Oklahoma for her crime(s). Mike Porter, her e-husband, is also serving for the same crime. Mike Porter divorced Raye dawn and has accepted responsibility for not protecting Kelsey. Raye Dawn has never accepted ANY responsibility and continues to blame everyone else other than herself for what happened. The official court order pre-sentencing investigation report states that Raye Dawn Smith is a danger to any child in her care and respectfully reccomended she serve her complete 27 years.
Ex-judge Key is an “ex” for a very good reason. He did not follow standard operating procedures i nhis returning Kelsey to her abusive mother. Within1 month the child was dead. Please note that complaints have been filed against Key with the Oklahoma Bar Association.
Comment by a concerned citizen — 9/20/2007 @ 5:08 pm
I say pray for Lance and send Judge Craig Key, Michael Porter, and Raye over to Iraq and forget them: maybe they’ll
get the crap beat out of them and they see what its like. And after it’s all done and over with KICK them in the stomach.
Comment by kappa2012 — 9/26/2007 @ 10:21 pm
I have heard about this case several times. The part that breaks my heart, is Kelsey died days before her father came back from Iraq, and he had to bury his daughter. Raye Dawn Porter is a sad excuse for a mother. For a parent to neglect her child, and let her be abused to the point where BOTH her legs were broken is off the charts. This sounds cruel, but I hope she gets it in prison..
Comment by val — 10/4/2007 @ 12:10 am
So, I hear Judge Craig Key wrote a book to tell his side? And apparently, he didn’t know about the broken legs…right! I believe he just wants to make money off of the spirit of this little girl…don’t buy his book. No sense in trying to make sense out of someone who obviously doesn’t know how to run court hearings!
Comment by Sharon V. — 10/4/2007 @ 11:38 am
I can’t even discuss the judge because it is infuriating. He has gone on basically unpunished and I cannot even comment.
While the mother is too, I can talk about her and dream of a day where I could meet up with her in a dark alley. No freaking way in hell would I miss so much as a new freckle on my child’s body, not to mention massive bruising and the other horrendous injuries that baby suffered. I have a question - was little Kelsey still in diapers? I have a hard time believing that loser of a mother missed any signs of sexual abuse (or otherwise) while changing a diaper. How could you? Did she every give her child a bath? Did the bitch even LOOK at her own baby? And if she did actually believe that these mysterious injuries were the result of simple “childhood accidents”, one must ask oneself “Is she really that f**king stupid???”
Whether she was or was not physically present at the times the abuse took place should not even matter. As mothers, our most important job is to protect our children and be their voice and their advocate when they are small and unable to defend themselves. She is not as guilty as the murdering stepfather…she is guiltier. She failed miserably, not only as a mother, but as a decent human being. And for that, she deserves the worst possible punishment. 27 years for her and 30 for him is a freaking joke - an absolute OUTRAGE.
That skanky piece of garbage supports my (albeit, unreasonable) belief that people should be required to obtain a license (or at least undergo serious psychological testing) before reproducing. Kelsey deserved to be with a family who loved her dearly and protected her with their own lives, if necessary. Her little soul could’ve landed smack dab in the lap of a couple who desperately wanted a child more than anything in the world. Instead, it took a detour and she was delivered to hell on earth, where she would eventually suffer the worst of fates.
But first she suffered immense pain.
And NOBODY helped her.
Disgusting.
Comment by TX Mama — 10/16/2007 @ 1:36 am
i am so sadened that a pathectic judge could allow this to happen he knew all the facts and the ones kept from public he should suffer for the rest of his life he is no better than michale lee porter
Comment by pebbles — 10/17/2007 @ 6:08 am
My first comment goes to Jessie. You don’t seem to know too much about the clavicle bone. My 20 year old son had a broken clavicle at the age of 5. How did he get it? Playing ball in the yard with his Dad. He tripped and FELL on his shoulder. A few minutes later he complained to me that his neck hurt. He had a broken clavicle from none other than playing and FALLING DOWN.
I am not trying to defend the broken collar bone of a 2 year old child, just clearing up that it is possible to fall and break that particular bone.
I personally find it horrendous that this child went through so much suffering and then dying in such a violent manner. What kind of monster could harm an innocent little girl like that? It is mind boggling to me. They must have had a very big control issue going on to do that to a baby. Had to prove they were the big people huh? Like the baby doesn’t already know this? Imagine the confusion of this child, the people that she is supposed to trust are causing her the most horrific pain.
The bad part is that even if you don’t know who the abuser is, you know the child is being abused. Duh!!!! Keep the child in protective custody until you figure it the hell out!! Of course you are going to have angry parents. But if they really LOVE this child, they will also see that it is for the kids safety.
I personally don’t care about any of these people’s background or past faults. Everyone is capable of change. I mean, get real. At different stages of our lives we go through different things. Some of us make bad choices. That doesn’t mean we can’t decide to straighten up our lives and do what is right. Or to even get the help we need to fix what is wrong. So bringing in someone’s past is irrelevant, especially when the biological father wasn’t even there to begin with. He definitely didn’t kill his baby, so what difference does his past make now? NONE! Sounds to me like someone has hard feelings for him and doesn’t want anyone to have sympathy for him and his loss. Get over it and move on.
This is the worlds loss. This little girl was our future. Maybe a small part of it or maybe a big part of it. That we will never know now. We all play our part in this world, even if it is just a miniscule one. The world will miss her dearly, even those of us who may never have known her.
We all plan for our own future. Well the children of the world are our future. We should protect and nurture them, for without them we have no future.
As for them getting out in so many years. Well, don’t you think that there are people in there with them that know what they did? And then when they do get out they will be labeled as well. The death sentence is too good for them. Let them suffer for what they did. Give them the death penalty and when they die, sure they face their maker, but there is no remorse to be felt. She wasn’t supposed to die, he just wanted to hurt her. When she died you can guarantee he was scared to death and wanted to die himself. Don’t give him what he wants. Make him live with what he did. Her too. She should have protected her baby. Love is no excuse.
Comment by Been a Mom for 20 years — 10/18/2007 @ 3:18 am
i feel sorry for Kelsey’s father because he was fighting for us in Iraq and had to come home to her baby girl and bury her. i hope he is doing ok and thank you for fight for us.
I think the mother and the stepfather should have gotten life without parole or death because anyone who hurts or lets a baby get hurt and not do anything should be let on the streets.
Comment by Angie — 11/9/2007 @ 12:47 am
This is so sad. I came across this on myspace, and had too look into it further. That poor little girl suffered, and they give her back to the peice of shit mom who ALLOWED this to go on? My sisters are in a similar situation, only they werent physically abused, they were sexually abused by their moms boyfriend. I am now fighting to get them before the judger puts them back into the home. I would like to have a few words with the stupid ass mother who allowed this to go on! And I understand that the dad was away, but he could have took a leave to get his baby out of there. Kelsey’s mom and step dad will rot in hell, and i hope they live the rest of their lives haunted by the quilt of hurting that baby. No child should ever feel that pain or fear.
Comment by bryar — 11/13/2007 @ 4:30 pm
If you wouldnt have gave her back to her mom she would still be alive!!!!!
Comment by Rebecca — 11/16/2007 @ 8:26 pm
Before I had only seen the story of a stepfather and mother being at fault. I urge people to find out the real story concerning the Briggs family. Lance Briggs was and apparently still is an abusive man and woman hater with a long rap sheet on the abuse that he has inflicted on two ex-wives and other girlfriends. Kathie, the paternal grandmother is not the most credible woman either. She knows how to reap the situation for all it’s worth though. There was an article written by an investigative reporter from Oklahoma who has uncovered many truths about the whole story and not just the story fed to all by Kathie Briggs and her crusade to appear all innocent. Read it. You will see. I found it by curiosity as to who this Michael Porter was and what he looked like. I googled an image of him, clicked on it and the outcome was his picture and the article I’m speaking of. As far as I’m concerned after reading that, I am convinced that the Briggs family are just as much to blame…them and their deceit.
Comment by janet — 11/25/2007 @ 2:05 am
I cannot see how this judge can live with himself now… it was in his hands to protect this beautiful little girl and NOT only did that monster kill her , that judge killed her too. What is wrong with people today? And to know that this judge is a JUDGE makes me soo sick to my stomach!!!!
Comment by nikki — 12/6/2007 @ 9:18 pm
I am in so much pain for this little precious innocent angel. I cant stop thinking about the pain this little girl went through. This story will change me for life. I want to help as many abused children as i can. i am so hurt by this. Words cant even describe the pain I feel for her pain that she felt. I am so sorry for you baby girl. You are a brave soul and I hope to see you when I go.
Comment by Brandy — 12/12/2007 @ 5:00 pm
AT FIRST I BLAMED THE MOTHER TOO,AND FELT SO BAD FOR THE FATHER WHO WAS “FIGHTING” FOR OUR COUNTRY IN IRAQ.UNTIL I READ ALL THE INFO ON THIS WEBSITE www.usobserverok.com.THE FATHER,BIOLOGICAL FATHER IS AN ABUSER HIMSELF.READ THIS INFORMATION,HE WAS NOT IN IRAQ WHEN SHE WAS KILLED BY PORTER,HE WAS IN AN ARMY PROTECTED DRUG REHAB CENTER AND LET GO OUT OF THE ARMY.I BELEIVE THAT THE MOTHER DIDNT HURT HER,BUT,HOW COULD SHE NOT KNOW THAT PORTER WAS ABUSING HER DAUGHTER? A MOTHER JUST KNOWS.RAYE DAWN WAS HARRASSED NUMEROUS TIMES BY THE PATERNAL GRANDMOTHER KATHI BRIGGS.AND WITH ALL KATHIS FALSE ALIGATIONS TOWARDS RAYE DAWN,IT TOOK THE ATTENTION OFF OF THE REAL ABUSER.NICE JOB KATHI,YOUR JUST AS MUCH AT FAULT OF THE MURDER AND PORTER.YOU,YOUR SON,AND PORTER WILL BURN IN HELL.ALONG WITH THE JUDGE AND ANYONE ELSE INVOLVED IN THE MISJUSTICE OF THIS INNOCENT LITTLE ANGEL…
Comment by Angelina — 12/15/2007 @ 10:21 am
Kelsey is such a beautiful little angel from God.. It sickens me that someone she loved and that would protect her from harm would do this evil crime.. When I saw the video my heart was sad and tears just came rolling down.. WHY WOULD ANYONE WANT TO HURT THERE CHILD? WHAT DID THEY DO TO DERSERVE THIS? YOU ARE SUPPOSSED TO PROTECT YOUR CHILD FROM HARM AND LOVED THEM WITH EVERY INCH OF YOUR BODY? LETS STOP THIS EVIL CRIME AND LOVE OUR CHILDREN!!!!! My prayers are with the family… RIP.. FLY WITH THE ANGLES KELSEY!! YOU WILL NEVER GET HURT AGAIN!!!
Comment by Stephanie — 12/16/2007 @ 12:59 pm
This incident has impacted my life in a very lasting way. I hope that everyone, REGAURDLESS OF WHOM IS TO BLAME, will learn from this. Children are not punching bags, They are gifts. Having a 3 year old myself I know that at times they can be hyper and act up, but that is no reason EVER to hit a child. Let God punish those whom he sees fit and heal those who are in pain. And if you are thinking of harming your child, get help… There are people who care!
Comment by Christine R. — 12/18/2007 @ 1:49 pm
I can’t believe someone could do that to a little baby!!!!! It makes me so mad!!
R.I.P Kelsey Smith-Briggs
Comment by katie — 12/27/2007 @ 12:25 am
Why isn’t the judge in prison for murder?
He’s as guilty as the step-father and the mother. There is something wrong with our justice system that protects the
judge and puts an innocent baby in danger. Judges need to be held accountable. I hope he gets his. The mother should rot in hell. What kind of woman puts herself before her baby? She’s not a woman, she’s an animal.
Comment by debbie — 12/27/2007 @ 10:35 pm
Why isn’t the judge in prison for murder?
He’s as guilty as the step-father and the mother. There is something wrong with our justice system that protects the
judge and puts an innocent baby in danger. Judges need to be held accountable. I hope he gets his. The mother should rot in hell. What kind of woman puts herself before her baby? She’s not a woman, she’s an animal.
Comment by debbie — 12/27/2007 @ 10:35 pm
I have read every piece of documentation in this case that I can get my hands on. The articles from the US Observer are by far the least credible and poorly written. I am more willing to believe in reporters that write for REAL Oklahoma papers such as the Tulsa World, The Oklahoman and The Shawnee News-Star. They all tell the real story of Kelsey Smith Briggs and how MANY people failed her.
The comment from Janet is full of lies, she is Kelsey’s maternal aunt and trust me, she knows exactly who Michael Porter is. Her comments are biased against the Briggs family and most of them are untrue. I have found no proof that Kathie Briggs has lied about anything! The US Observer is not a reliable source!!! If she is a liar show me the proof! Let’s see those records from when she supposedly threatened to kill her own children. COME ON! GET REAL PEOPLE!
Who gives a crap if Lance hates women? Since he has already been married TWICE, I’d say he must not hate women too much. His past is absolutely irrelavent. He was not here throughout most of the last year of Kelsey’s life. He DID NOT hurt her! Michael Porter did! Why don’t you go after her murderer and leave an innocent suffering family ALONE!
Comment by Concerned Oklahoman — 1/18/2008 @ 3:56 pm
She was luckier to have died young than to have continued life with her poor excuse of a mother. RIP and be with the angels.
Comment by rebbecca — 1/28/2008 @ 12:50 am
I send my love to father of this precious little girl. It was too bad that he could not come home in time to save her from her heartless mother. What kind of a person would let their child be abused by her boyfriend and then marry the guy! I pray that that judge doesn’t get reelected, what a jerk, trying to make money off this case by releasing a book. He should go to jail with the mother and her husband.
RIP little angel.
Comment by Kaylin — 1/28/2008 @ 1:06 am
In North Dakota it appears that the Social Service System, Judicial System, and attorneys wide spread condone the beating and molestation of minor children. Judge Key, I am begging you to help save other children, please contact me. (701) 352-0926
Comment by michelle lorenzen — 1/30/2008 @ 7:25 pm
The only crime I have seen in this situation is the total abuse of the system by Kathie Briggs. She was so inept at pointing her crooked finger at Raye Dawn she allowed the real abuser to continue to abuse that child until he murdered her. The only thing Raye Dawn is guilty of is hooking up with loser #2. Oh and FYI, Lance Briggs never served in the Iraqi war, that was a fabrication by Kathie to tug at America’s heart strings. Do your reseach peoople, look at both sides of the story before assuming that Raye Dawn was this horrible woman who didn’t care about her child.
Comment by Deej — 2/7/2008 @ 9:48 am
We have a foster baby who was brought to us just a few months old with 15 broken bones that happened at different times. Because the parents got a lawyer immediately and wouldn’t talk, the investigation of the crime was closed. Now the state is trying to reunify this “family,” because they “don’t know who did it.” When the baby sees its biological parents at visits, she screams and cries, in effect saying, “don’t do this to me again.” The child welfare people don’t listen.
Instead, they think therapy will manipulate this baby into trusting these parents again. This is continued abuse. We are gagged by “confidentiality” laws. Only God can protect this baby from these monsters and the system that enables them.
Comment by grace o'hanlon — 2/7/2008 @ 7:06 pm
Don’t really know what to say about this case. I only heard about it a couple of weeks ago & when I saw the video, it made me cry & I have thought about nothing else since. We will never really know the whole truth about that tragic day & I think that people need to stop pointing the finger now & let poor little Kelsey rest in peace. Unfortunately nothing can be done to bring her back. Every one should stop fighting & arguing & realise that a little girl died here & that’s who we need to think of. I hope that some good can come of this dispicable crime & that others are saved from those who are hurting them. I have an 18 yr old daughter & also a 17 month old daughter & it sure as heck makes me realsise what I have & it has made me so much more appreciative of my two beautiful girls.
To Kelsey, I would just like to say, rest in peace little one & I am thinking of you. x
Clare WIlson. England
Comment by Clare Wilson — 3/7/2008 @ 4:36 pm
Okay I have to tell you I work for an organization that deals with this sort of thing only in IL and this is truly a sad and disgusting story. But I truly believe that the parents no matter who did the abusing should be in jail. If he did it, she knew about it and did nothing to stop it. If she did it he knew and did nothing to stop it. So One did it, but for those saying that the mother should not be in prison is WRONG. She FAILED to protect her child. Yes it appears she loved her daughter, but she still failed to protect her. Horrible!
Comment by Kristen — 4/17/2008 @ 9:15 pm
Comment by Alissa — 4/24/2008 @ 3:45 pm
how could th emother let this happen to a child i hope they burn in hell and die in a hole
they should suffer th edeath sentence
Comment by dawn corbett — 4/24/2008 @ 3:50 pm
I think the judge should be drawn and quartered.
Comment by Nick — 4/27/2008 @ 5:13 pm
May the Soul of this innocent little angel forever rest on the shoulders of the arrogant Judge who ruled innapropriately and the Mother who allowed this tragedy to occur to this wonderful gift from God — May God Forgive because Heaven knows — we can’t!!!!!!!!!! Rest in Peace Kelsey — you are loved!!!!!!!!!!! And although your life was cut short you made a difference !!!!!!!!!!!!!!! To he loving father — take solice in knowing that your darling daughter did not die in vain and that her killer will one day reap their just rewards at the gates of HELL!!!!! Such misery should never befall such innocence and those responsible should undoubtedly pay dearly for the pain they have caused — Justice Key may the Lord have mercy on your unrepent soul!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! The death of this ANGEL rest solely upon your shoulders and your lack of proper judgement — You do not deserve the title that the State has bestowed upon you!!!!!!
Comment by scales of justice — 4/29/2008 @ 8:39 pm
this site has helped my report and my awarness for non child abuse!! not only her step father andher mother killed her but the judge did also, wait to go jugde for killing an innicent 2 year old
Comment by michelle alspach — 5/8/2008 @ 8:46 am
this site has helped my report and my awarness for non child abuse!! not only her step father andher mother killed her but the judge did also, wait to go jugde for killing an innicent 2 year old
Comment by michelle alspach — 5/8/2008 @ 8:46 am
As a mother, and grandmother, I have just read the terriable acount of this poor little girls life. I live in London England and it was my bithday on 28th April, which is how I found out about this tragic case as I share my birthday with poor little Kelseys Day of rememberance. I have just sat on my computer and read all of these posts and there is a lot of (english expression) slagging off of different partys who either know the mother, father, garandmothers, but the bottom line is that this little girl died at the hands of a abuser, and the Judge Craig Key , what was he thinking, there were only two people who could of abused kelsey, mum, or stepdad, you do not have to have the brains of a rocket sceintist to understand that, and this decission to return her came from a so called educated man, yea right!!!!!!. In england we have this so called bollocks with child abusers walking free every day down to our so called F***ked up human rights law, but I allways thought that it would never happen in america, but you like us have arseholes in charge of your legal system. I only hope that the ordinary people in america will fight tooth and nail to not let these arseholes be in charge again and make them accountable for there actions. Poor little kelsy is dead through no thought of her own, let us all learn from it, stop slagging off who down this and that within the family. The bottom line is her step dad murdered her while married to her mum. Let us learn from it which I hope we can, and as for Judge Craig Keys, SHAME ON YOU, I HOPE THIS DRIVES YOU TO A EARLY GRAVE, YOU HAVE HER BLOOD ON YOUR HANDS JUST LIKE HER KILLER…….
Comment by Kathleen McGurk — 5/11/2008 @ 3:17 am
Comment by melanie anne aquino — 6/10/2008 @ 11:53 am
Now the Father is being vilified for actions that he has done after his daughters death. I believe I myself would have found it hard to contain my rage toward such an obviously vindictive and irresponsible family of Rae Dawn Smith. The Judge is a buffoon
Comment by Glenn — 6/18/2008 @ 11:29 pm
Now the Father is being vilified for actions that he has done after his daughters death. I believe I myself would have found it hard to contain my rage toward such an obviously vindictive and irresponsible family of Rae Dawn Smith. The Judge is a buffoon
Comment by Glenn — 6/18/2008 @ 11:29 pm
people would be surprised at how some people can be deceitfull,can you really say u ever really know someone and what they could be capable of?? yes maybe raye dawn should have known but shouldnt have everyone else?? micheal porter is one lowdown sick and twisted freak….nobody knew how or why he would do what he did, only he knows that and i hope it tears his soul apart….kelsey was a happy healthy little girl till he appeared…..he is a manipulative evil ba*tard……even at the end he plea bargains because he is a coward and GUILTY!!!!!….
R.I.P….lil angel……
forever in eveybodys hearts…………
Comment by uk mum.... — 6/23/2008 @ 7:24 pm
Just like everything in like there is more than one side to the story. Go to thetruthaboutkelsey.com for the rest of the story.
Comment by More to the story — 7/1/2008 @ 10:48 am
Just like everything in life there is more than one side to this story. Go to thetruthaboutkelsey.com for the rest of the story. This mother fought for her daughter and did everything she could to protect her.
Child predators fool parents every day. Should all parents whose children have been victimized be jailed b/c they “should have known”??
Comment by More to the story — 7/1/2008 @ 10:51 am
READ the book “A deadly game of tug of war” by Craig Key. I do not in fact believe lance briggs was in iraq he was here in rehab. He admitted to not being in iraq to dhs. READ that in the reports by dhs! For you non-believers! I believe the briggs family was not to concerned or else they would have petitioned against kelsey being put back in raye-dawns home which would have had her removed from the home and put back into galyas home. Thats the Ryan Luke law, look it up. Now tell me where you observed your facts and how kathys big media bull crap did not effect the way you think. I saw the youtube video to and cryed for her father then found out he was not in iraq and was a terrible person for not attending the court appearences which the military will in fact have let him be present. Thanks Samantha
Comment by samantha — 7/19/2008 @ 3:52 pm
I have also read everything I can find on Little Kelsey’s case. My heart breaks for Kelsey. I think RD supporters are pathetic. They have no defence for Raye so they LIE about the Briggs family. My heart goes out to the Briggs. I am so sorry for what you have been through and continue to go through.
As far as Raye’s supporters and family, I think they are disgusting. On one of their pathetic websites they have posted other people’s personal information. They make videos making fun of innocent people only because they make videos of Kelsey. They try to use Kelsey to get Raye out of prison, really pathetic when you think that its Raye’s fault that Kelsey is not hear today. I have been threatened cussed all because I ask to see proof that Lance was not in Iraq.
Also Raye’s family and supporters had a rally for Raye in June. Raye’s family and supporters STOOD ON TOP OF KELSEY”S GRAVE SMILING FROM EAR TO EAR POSING FOR PICTURES. Pathetic!!! Have they ever heard of respect….
Keep RD in prison for every bit of 27 years and then torture her!!!!!!
Comment by Smith Family is trash — 8/23/2008 @ 1:08 am
Yes, I am pretty sure the mother loved her daughter very much that she brought a complete stanger into her home and take the father role of her daughter. She trust this man so much that she leaves her daughter that she loved so much to be murdered by a complete freak. My opinion they are all to blame for not looking out for this defensive little angel. This child couldn’t count on her parents, or grandparents or any other family member and sad to say her last resource the SYSTEM she couldn’t even count on them to be a VOICE for her. Everyone failed this child. Kelsey Smith Briggs I know that you are now resting in peace and are in much better place than in this cruel world. Sorry, you had to leave this way.
Comment by MkMena — 9/8/2008 @ 2:12 pm