Kelsey's mom, Raye Dawn Smith (Raye) divorced Kelsey's dad, Lance Briggs, before Kelsey was born. Raye suffered physical and emotional abuse at the hands of Lance, and Kelsey's older sibling detached from the uterus and died after a blow to Raye's stomach.

Raye started dating Mike Porter in the fall of 2004, at the same time that Kathie Briggs, Kelsey's paternal grandmother was awarded grandparent visitation. Bruises began appearing on Kelsey, and Raye assumed it was Kathie or that Kelsey had a medical problem and Kathie assumed it was Raye.

Kelsey broke her clavicle in January, 2005 after a fall from her crib while she was climbing out. She fell on a plastic slide next to the crib. On her next visit with Kathie, after Kathie and Lance Briggs had Kelsey for four hours, they noticed bruises on Kelsey's bottom and took her to the emergency room. The police said it wasn't abuse, and DHS said it was. A judge ruled to have Kelsey removed from Raye's home and Raye took several classes, working toward getting Kelsey back.

In April of 2005, the same month Raye married Mike Porter, Kelsey sprained her ankle at the zoo while with her aunt. Raye took Kelsey to the doctor and the doctor confirmed a sprain. Raye then took Kelsey to Kathie's home with a doctor's note and when she picked Kelsey up a few days later, Kelsey wasn't walking. Kathie said Kelsey took a few steps in Wal-Mart at the beginning of the week and didn't walk anymore. Raye took Kelsey to the doctor and he put her legs in casts. He said her legs were broken. Raye took Kelsey back to Kathie's home and Kathie took her to a doctor and told the doctor that Raye had abused Kelsey. The doctor made a note of the abuse and took the casts off. When Kathie reported the abuse to DHS, for several reasons DHS looked at Kathie as a suspect in Kelsey's legs being broken. They removed Kelsey from Kathie's home and put her in their care and allowed Kathie and Raye supervised visitation. They noted how Kelsey responded lovingly to Raye Dawn and acted out toward Kathie and placed Kelsey with her maternal Grandmother, Gayla. At Gayla's home, Kelsey thrived and gained back the weight and the hair she had lost while in Kathie's care.

In June, 2005, a judge ruled that Raye had completed all the necessary requirements to regain custody of Kelsey. DHS wanted Kelsey phased in. The judge placed Kelsey in Raye's home immediately with three services to watch her progress and well-being, nobody appealed. Kathie wanted Kelsey back in her home, but DHS said they would not recommend she return to Kathie.

In August, 2005, a drunk driver hit Mike Porter's truck and totaled it with Mike, Raye, and Kelsey in it. Kelsey suffered lacerations and injuries that have been shown in pictures and videos on the Internet as abuse. Kelsey started to deteriorate, and on September 8, 2005, the DA and Kelsey's doctor asked that all paternal visitation be stopped so that Kelsey could be monitored in one place. The paternal family was sent notice of the hearing, but nobody showed up. The DA and Kelsey's attorney asked at that hearing for all charges against Raye to be dropped since Kelsey was doing so well, and the judge reminded them of the Ryan Luke Law that says that services are to remain in the child's home for six months after their return to their parents.

On October 11, 2005, Raye left the home for 30 to 40 minutes to pick up her step-daughter from school. Mike Porter was expecting a friend to pick up some tires and Kelsey was sleeping so Raye went to pick up the child and left Kelsey in bed with Mike Porter watching after her. When Raye Dawn returned home, an ambulance was there and Kelsey was unresponsive. Kelsey died later that day.

Raye has been convicted of enabling child abuse with a recommended sentence of 27 years. Raye shared a special bond with Kelsey. She would have never allowed anyone to harm her child.

Crosspost from Shawnee News-Star

Story last updated at 12:09 a.m. Sunday, March 14, 2004

Miss Personality
 

One-year-old Kelsey Shelton Smith-Briggs of Meeker was a contestant in the Most Beautiful Baby Pageant held Jan. 28, at the Shawnee Mall.

She won Best Personality and she won in her age group of 8-14 months. She qualified to go to state May 15-16, in Kansas.

Parents are Raye Dawn Smith of Meeker and Lance Briggs of Shawnee.

Grandparents are Ray and Gayla Smith and Royce and Kathie Briggs all of Meeker.

Kelsey

 Kelsey was a girl who is now loved by many around the world. This page is dedicated to her memory and to poems and sentiments from our forum members.

MOMMY, IT'S KELSEY

Guess what mommy
Heaven is great.
When you still didn't know I was gone,
My angel put his hand in mine,
And I was no longer hurt, I felt so happy & fine.
I saw you crying from above.
And I knew how much you loved me.
I saw you walk into the ER.
I saw the look on your face
It looked like you'd never go on.
I seen you holding me tight.
I kissed you good-bye with my love,
And tried to tell you I was alright.
There's no more pain,
You can go on with your life,
And not feel so drained.
I'll watch you all your days through.
And be like your guardian angel,
Just because, I LOVE YOU!! - Valérie, Canada
 

If Only You Could See

If Only you could see what you're still doing to me
I loved my mommy and she loved me
we'd play for hours happily
we'd laugh and nap and cry together,
I know she loved me, she'll love me forever

Why is it so hard for others to see,
my mommy is innocent, she should be free
you think it's fair for her to pay,
but you wasn't with us every day,
you didn't see my mommy hurt me,
because she didn't, she should be free.

And now I'm gone, and watching over her.
I wonder why this has occurred,
you thought you were helping
but you made matters worse
you make me sad and cause me hurt

I wonder why my mommy's in pain
and why she's not with my brother Blaine?
So when you judge on what you see,
do some research on my mommy and me.
We shared a bond as clear as day,
my name is Kelsey and if I were here
that's what I'd say ...
-H.Mack, United Kingdom  

FROM MOMMY TO KELSEY

FOREVER AND ALWAYS

Another holiday without you
It never gets easier
Passing time saddening tears
Makes me miss you all the more

Hear me Kelsey hear your mommy
As you live eternally
I love you more than I can say
I ache to hold you close to me

I can see you flying in my dreams
You pick me up and we fly away
My heart will always have a hole
That only your life could fit into. - Valérie, Canada

Posted by Miss Fun Shine, United Kingdom

happy birthday baby girl.

Birthdays do not end with death,
But last as long as love,
A maelstrom of memories
That grace and honor move.
And so we celebrate your day
By visiting your grave,
A place that you have left long since,
But is all that we have.

Dear spirit, come and join us here,
Your loved ones by your stone!
Come sweep across the barrier
To claim us as your own!

Happy birthday, dearest one!
Oh, happy, happy day!
Not even the most bitter night
Can take this joy away

Posted by Becca77, United States

Author Unknown

To my dearest family, some things I'd like to say.
But first of all, to let you know, that I arrived okay.
I'm writing this from heaven.
Here I dwell with God above.
Here, there's no more tears of sadness; Here is just eternal love.
Please do not be unhappy just because I'm out of sight.
Remember that I am with you every morning, noon and night.
That day I had to leave you when my life on earth was through.
God picked me up and hugged me and He said, "I welcome you.
It's good to have you back again, you were missed while you were gone.
As for your dearest family, They'll be here later on.
I need you here badly, you're part of my plan.
There's so much that we have to do, to help our mortal man."
God gave me a list of things, that he wished for me to do.
And foremost on the list, was to watch and care for you.
And when you lie in bed at night the day's chores put to flight.
God and I are closest to you....in the middle of the night.
When you think of my life on earth, and all those loving years.
Because you are only human, they are bound to bring you tears.
But do not be afraid to cry: it does relieve the pain.
Remember there would be no flowers, unless there was some rain.
I wish that I could tell you all that God has planned.

If I were to tell you, you wouldn't understand.
But one thing is for certain, though my life on earth is over.
I'm closer to you now, than I ever was before.
There are many rocky roads ahead of you and many hills to climb;
But together we can do it by taking one day at a time.
It was always my philosophy and I'd like it for you too;
That as you give unto the world, the world will give to you.

If you can help somebody who's in sorrow and pain;
Then you can say to God at night......"My day was not in vain."
And now I am contented....that my life was worthwhile.
Knowing as I passed along the way I made somebody smile.
So if you meet somebody who is sad and feeling low;
Just lend a hand to pick him up, as on your way you go.
When you're walking down the street and you've got me on your mind;
I'm walking in your footsteps only half a step behind.
And when it's time for you to go....from that body to be free.
Remember you're not going.....you're coming here to me

 

Posted by Becca77, United States

I am pretty sure if Raye could convey ANYTHING, it would be THIS!


Please Let Me Mourn
Author Unknown
I've never lost a child before, and I don't
understand all these emotions I am feeling.
Will you try to understand and help me?
PLEASE LET ME MOURN

I may act and appear together, but I am not.
Often it hurts so much I can hardly bear it.
PLEASE LET ME MOURN

Don't expect too much from me. I will try
to help you know what I can and cannot handle.
Sometimes I am not always sure.
PLEASE LET ME MOURN

Let me talk about my child. I need to talk,
it's part of the healing. Don't pretend nothing
has happened, it hurts terribly when you do.
I love my child very much, and my memories
are all I have now. They are very precious to me.
PLEASE LET ME MOURN

Sometimes I cry and act differently,
but it's all part of grieving. My tears are
necessary and needed and should not be held back.
It even helps when you cry with me.
Please don't fear my tears.
PLEASE LET ME MOURN

What I need most is your friendship, your sympathy,
your prayers, your support, and your understanding love.
I am not the same person I was before my child died
and I never will be again.
Hopefully we can all grow from this tragedy.
PLEASE LET ME MOURN

God gives me the strength to face each day
and the hope that I will survive with His help
and yours. Time will heal some of the pain,
but there will always be an empty place in my heart.
PLEASE LET ME MOURN

And Thank You for helping me through the most
difficult time of my life.
 

Posted by Nicks Momom, United States

"I'll lend you for a little time a child of mine," He said.
For you to love - while she lives
And mourn for when she's dead.
It may be six or seven years
Or twenty-two or three,
But will you, till I call her back,
Take care of her for Me?
she'll bring her smiles to gladden you,
And should this stay be brief
You'll have her lovely memories as solace for your grief.
I cannot promise she will stay,
Since all from earth return,
But there are lessons taught down there
I want this child to learn.
I've looked this world over
In search for teachers true,
And from the throngs that crowd
Life's lanes, I have selected you.
Now will you give her all your love,
Nor count the labor vain,
Nor hate Me when I come to call to
Take her back again?"
I fancied that I heard then say,
"Dear Lord, Thy will be done,
For all the joy Thy child shall bring,
The risk of grief we'll run.
We'll shelter her with tenderness,
We'll love her while we may,
And for the happiness we've known
Forever grateful stay.
But should the angels call for her
Much sooner than we've planned,
We'll brave the bitter grief that come
And try to understand."

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