kjbriggs
04-06-2007, 12:09 AM
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While her father was in Iraq fighting for our country Kelsey Briggs was here fighting for her life. She lost that battle, but she has not lost the war. Her stepfather has been sentenced to 30 years in prison after a plea negotiation of enabling child abuse. Her mother, Raye Dawn Smith, has been charged with felony child abuse with the alternative of enabling child abuse with injury. She could spend life in prison. Kelsey was two years old suffered months of documented abuse when a Judge sent her back to her mother. She remained in state custody and under their watch. Four months later she was dead with cause of death, blunt force trauma to the abdomen. Only two people were in the home with her the hour before her death. The stepdad had a 20 minute window to commit this horrific act, or did he?
Kelsey's father was just days from returning from the war. He came home to bury his only child. Kelsey has become the poster child for child abuse in Oklahoma. A law named for her will make changes for other children. A grassroots organization has been formed to hold those that fail children accountable. For more on Kelsey's tragic story go to www.kelseyspurpose.org
Two funerals, two autopsies, two obituaries and hopefully two in prison. Kelsey's case is long and complicated and has seen hours of news coverage. Several civil suits have been filed on her behalf against the state, state employees, and two doctors.
While her father was in Iraq fighting for our country Kelsey Briggs was here fighting for her life. She lost that battle, but she has not lost the war. Her stepfather has been sentenced to 30 years in prison after a plea negotiation of enabling child abuse. Her mother, Raye Dawn Smith, has been charged with felony child abuse with the alternative of enabling child abuse with injury. She could spend life in prison. Kelsey was two years old suffered months of documented abuse when a Judge sent her back to her mother. She remained in state custody and under their watch. Four months later she was dead with cause of death, blunt force trauma to the abdomen. Only two people were in the home with her the hour before her death. The stepdad had a 20 minute window to commit this horrific act, or did he?
Kelsey's father was just days from returning from the war. He came home to bury his only child. Kelsey has become the poster child for child abuse in Oklahoma. A law named for her will make changes for other children. A grassroots organization has been formed to hold those that fail children accountable. For more on Kelsey's tragic story go to www.kelseyspurpose.org
Two funerals, two autopsies, two obituaries and hopefully two in prison. Kelsey's case is long and complicated and has seen hours of news coverage. Several civil suits have been filed on her behalf against the state, state employees, and two doctors.