Fact Check

Kelsey Smith-Briggs

E-mail and video describe the fatal abuse case of 2-year-old Kelsey Smith-Briggs.

Published Aug. 13, 2007

Claim:

Claim:   E-mail and video describe the fatal abuse case of 2-year-old Kelsey Smith-Briggs.


Status:   True.

Example:   [Collected via e-mail, August 2007]




This little girl went through hell. How can any mother do this and allow this to be done to her child PLEASE, take a few minutes to Remember Kelsey Briggs.. Her mother's trial started this morning and is expected to last 2 weeks.. Raye Dawn Smith is being charged with child abuse or enabling child abuse. Please repost this.




Origins:   Although a bit outdated (because the associated court cases have already been adjudicated), this e-mail and video provide a broad outline of the tragic case of Kelsey Smith-Briggs.

On 11 October 2005, two-year-old Kelsey Smith-Briggs died at the Meeker, Oklahoma, home of her mother, 27-year-old Raye Dawn Smith, and

her stepfather, Michael Lee Porter. Although child welfare workers had been monitoring Kelsey's case, evidence indicated that Kelsey had died from a blow to the abdomen, and that in the final months of her life she had suffered repeated injuries, including a broken collarbone, broken legs, and bruises on her face and body.

Prosecutors initially charged Michael Porter with sexual assault and first-degree murder, but in February 2007 he plead guilty to enabling child abuse and received a 30-year prison sentence.

Raye Dawn Smith was tried on charges of enabling child abuse, and a jury returned a verdict of guilty against her on 18 July 2007. On 10 September 2007, she was sentenced to 27 years in prison.

In March 2006 the Oklahoma state legislature passed the Kelsey Smith-Briggs Child Protection Reform Act to reform how that state's Department of Human Services and courts handle child abuse cases.

Another video montage about Kelsey has also been widely circulated via e-mail and MySpace postings:

Last updated:   11 September 2007





  Sources Sources:

    Swails, John.   "Mother Found Guilty."

    Sapulpa Daily Herald.   19 July 2007.

    Associated Press.   "Jury Convicts Oklahoma Woman for Permitting Child Abuse in 2-Year-Old Daughter's Death."

    FOX News.   18 July 2007.

    KOCO-TV [Oklahoma City].   "McVeigh Attorney to Represent Raye Dawn Smith."

    8 August 2007.

    KSBI-TV [Oklahoma City].   "Smith Found Guilty."

    18 July 2007.

    KSBI-TV [Oklahoma City].   "Reaction to Smith Verdict."

    19 July 2007.


David Mikkelson founded the site now known as snopes.com back in 1994.

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