Kelsey Smith-Briggs
Encyclopedia
Kelsey Shelton Smith-Briggs (28 December 2002 - 11 October 2005) is a child abuse
victim. She died at the home of her biological mother
Raye Dawn Smith, and her stepfather Michael Lee Porter. Her death was ruled a homicide
. Kelsey had been "closely" observed by the Oklahoma Department of Human Services
from January 2005 up to and including the day of her death.
, Oklahoma
to divorced parents
. She lived with her mother, and maintained contact with her paternal family. The first two years of her life were uneventful. Before January 2005, no signs of abuse were reported to authorities, nor noticed by family members nor Kelsey's day care
staff.
. Her injuries included a broken collarbone, broken leg
s, and multiple bruises and abrasions on her face
and body
.
On January 17, 2005, the Oklahoma Department of Human Services
(OKDHS) first confirmed abuse against Kelsey's mother after Kelsey was taken to a local emergency room with a broken collarbone, multiple bruises and abrasions to Kelsey's lower back, buttocks
, and thigh
s.
In April 2005, both of Kelsey's legs were broken. Medical examiners determined these were spiral fracture
s in different stages of healing and were caused by child abuse. After this incident, Kelsey was taken into OKDHS (State's) custody.
On June 15, 2005, Kelsey was placed into the home of biological mother Raye Dawn Smith and stepfather Michael Lee Porter by Associate District Judge
Craig Key, against an OKDHS recommendation. The judge stated that the abuser was "unknown".
. Her death was ruled a homicide
from blunt force trauma to the abdomen
.
and first-degree murder, but in February 2007 he pleaded guilty to enabling child abuse and was sentenced to 30 years in prison.
Raye Dawn Smith (biological mother) was convicted on July 18, 2007 of enabling child abuse and was sentenced to 27 years in prison. She was denied her request for appeal.
passed the Kelsey Smith-Briggs Child Protection Reform Act
to reform the way courts and the Oklahoma Department of Human Services (OKDHS) handle cases related to child abuse and neglect.
Child abuse
Child abuse is the physical, sexual, emotional mistreatment, or neglect of a child. In the United States, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Department of Children And Families define child maltreatment as any act or series of acts of commission or omission by a parent or...
victim. She died at the home of her biological mother
Mother
A mother, mum, mom, momma, or mama is a woman who has raised a child, given birth to a child, and/or supplied the ovum that grew into a child. Because of the complexity and differences of a mother's social, cultural, and religious definitions and roles, it is challenging to specify a universally...
Raye Dawn Smith, and her stepfather Michael Lee Porter. Her death was ruled a homicide
Homicide
Homicide refers to the act of a human killing another human. Murder, for example, is a type of homicide. It can also describe a person who has committed such an act, though this use is rare in modern English...
. Kelsey had been "closely" observed by the Oklahoma Department of Human Services
Oklahoma Department of Human Services
The Oklahoma Department of Human Services is an agency of the government of Oklahoma responsible for providing help to individuals and families in need through public assistance programs and managing services for seniors and people with disabilities. The Department is governed by the Commission on...
from January 2005 up to and including the day of her death.
Birth and early childhood
Kelsey was born on December 28, 2002 in Oklahoma CityOklahoma city
Oklahoma City is the capital and largest city of the U.S. state of Oklahoma.Oklahoma City may also refer to:*Oklahoma City metropolitan area*Downtown Oklahoma City*Uptown Oklahoma City*Oklahoma City bombing*Oklahoma City National Memorial...
, Oklahoma
Oklahoma
Oklahoma is a state located in the South Central region of the United States of America. With an estimated 3,751,351 residents as of the 2010 census and a land area of 68,667 square miles , Oklahoma is the 28th most populous and 20th-largest state...
to divorced parents
Divorce
Divorce is the final termination of a marital union, canceling the legal duties and responsibilities of marriage and dissolving the bonds of matrimony between the parties...
. She lived with her mother, and maintained contact with her paternal family. The first two years of her life were uneventful. Before January 2005, no signs of abuse were reported to authorities, nor noticed by family members nor Kelsey's day care
Day care
Child care or day care is care of a child during the day by a person other than the child's legal guardians, typically performed by someone outside the child's immediate family...
staff.
Abuse
From January 2005 to the end of her life, Kelsey had suffered several documented and confirmed incidences of child abuseChild abuse
Child abuse is the physical, sexual, emotional mistreatment, or neglect of a child. In the United States, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Department of Children And Families define child maltreatment as any act or series of acts of commission or omission by a parent or...
. Her injuries included a broken collarbone, broken leg
Broken Leg
Broken Leg is an indie rock song written and recorded by Australian indie rock band Bluejuice. The song was voted no. 5 in the 2009 Triple J Hottest 100. The accompanying music video was voted in at no. 1 on Rage's RAGE FIFTY countdown that was voted for by viewers and shown on the last weekend of...
s, and multiple bruises and abrasions on her face
Face
The face is a central sense organ complex, for those animals that have one, normally on the ventral surface of the head, and can, depending on the definition in the human case, include the hair, forehead, eyebrow, eyelashes, eyes, nose, ears, cheeks, mouth, lips, philtrum, temple, teeth, skin, and...
and body
Human body
The human body is the entire structure of a human organism, and consists of a head, neck, torso, two arms and two legs.By the time the human reaches adulthood, the body consists of close to 100 trillion cells, the basic unit of life...
.
On January 17, 2005, the Oklahoma Department of Human Services
Oklahoma Department of Human Services
The Oklahoma Department of Human Services is an agency of the government of Oklahoma responsible for providing help to individuals and families in need through public assistance programs and managing services for seniors and people with disabilities. The Department is governed by the Commission on...
(OKDHS) first confirmed abuse against Kelsey's mother after Kelsey was taken to a local emergency room with a broken collarbone, multiple bruises and abrasions to Kelsey's lower back, buttocks
Buttocks
The buttocks are two rounded portions of the anatomy, located on the posterior of the pelvic region of apes and humans, and many other bipeds or quadrupeds, and comprise a layer of fat superimposed on the gluteus maximus and gluteus medius muscles. Physiologically, the buttocks enable weight to...
, and thigh
Thigh
In humans the thigh is the area between the pelvis and the knee. Anatomically, it is part of the lower limb.The single bone in the thigh is called the femur...
s.
In April 2005, both of Kelsey's legs were broken. Medical examiners determined these were spiral fracture
Spiral fracture
A spiral fracture is a bone fracture occurring when torque is applied along the axis of a bone. While torsional forces are being applied along the parallel axis of a bone, planes perpendicular to this axis are not affected. Tension is exerted upon one part of the bone, while compressive forces are...
s in different stages of healing and were caused by child abuse. After this incident, Kelsey was taken into OKDHS (State's) custody.
On June 15, 2005, Kelsey was placed into the home of biological mother Raye Dawn Smith and stepfather Michael Lee Porter by Associate District Judge
Judge
A judge is a person who presides over court proceedings, either alone or as part of a panel of judges. The powers, functions, method of appointment, discipline, and training of judges vary widely across different jurisdictions. The judge is supposed to conduct the trial impartially and in an open...
Craig Key, against an OKDHS recommendation. The judge stated that the abuser was "unknown".
Death
Kelsey Shelton Smith-Briggs died on October 11, 2005 at the home of her mother, Raye Dawn Smith, and her stepfather, Michael Lee Porter in Meeker, OklahomaMeeker, Oklahoma
Meeker is a town in Lincoln County, Oklahoma, United States. The population was 978 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Meeker is located at ....
. Her death was ruled a homicide
Homicide
Homicide refers to the act of a human killing another human. Murder, for example, is a type of homicide. It can also describe a person who has committed such an act, though this use is rare in modern English...
from blunt force trauma to the abdomen
Abdomen
In vertebrates such as mammals the abdomen constitutes the part of the body between the thorax and pelvis. The region enclosed by the abdomen is termed the abdominal cavity...
.
Trial, verdict and sentences
Michael Lee Porter (stepfather) was charged with sexual assaultSexual assault
Sexual assault is an assault of a sexual nature on another person, or any sexual act committed without consent. Although sexual assaults most frequently are by a man on a woman, it may involve any combination of two or more men, women and children....
and first-degree murder, but in February 2007 he pleaded guilty to enabling child abuse and was sentenced to 30 years in prison.
Raye Dawn Smith (biological mother) was convicted on July 18, 2007 of enabling child abuse and was sentenced to 27 years in prison. She was denied her request for appeal.
Kelsey Smith-Briggs Child Protection Reform Act
In March 2006, the Oklahoma state legislatureOklahoma Legislature
The Legislature of the State of Oklahoma is the biennial meeting of the legislative branch of the government of Oklahoma. It is bicameral, comprising the Oklahoma House of Representatives and the Oklahoma Senate, with all members elected directly by the people. The House of Representatives has 101...
passed the Kelsey Smith-Briggs Child Protection Reform Act
Kelsey Smith-Briggs Child Protection Reform Act
The Kelsey Smith-Briggs Child Protection Reform Act is an act that was passed by the Oklahoma Senate Judiciary Committee, which reformed how the state's Department of Human Services, as well as the courts, handle cases of child abuse in the state of Oklahoma, United States.It is named after Kelsey...
to reform the way courts and the Oklahoma Department of Human Services (OKDHS) handle cases related to child abuse and neglect.