KWTV Channel 9 News Coverage
Tulsa KOTV Channel 6 News Report
By Dan Bewley, The News On 6
TULSA, OK -- A new book follows the tragic story of a two-year-old Oklahoma girl who suffered abuse most of her life.
This week, the little girl's mother goes back to court, asking for a new trial.
Home video shows Kelsey Briggs being a typical toddler. But the images hide the truth of her short, violent life. Kelsey died in 2005. She was two-and-a-half-years-old.
"The cause of death was ruled blunt force trauma to the stomach. So someone either punched or kicked her to death at not even quite three-years-old," said Cherokee Ballard, author.
Ballard and Britten Follett were journalists in Oklahoma City covering the tragic story. They've co-authored a book, trying to get to the bottom of the mystery. The book is called, "Who Killed Kelsey?"
"I think that's a tough question... many people," Ballard said.
"You hear one piece of evidence and you think, 'oh, well the mother did it.' Then you hear another piece of evidence and think, 'oh, the stepfather must have done it,'" said Britten Follett, author.
Kelsey lived at home in Meeker with her mother, Raye Dawn Smith, and stepfather, Michael Porter. Both are serving time in prison for enabling child abuse, but no one has been convicted of killing Kelsey.
"It's just wrong and shameful that she's gone," said Ballard.
This week, Kelsey's mother is asking for a new trial. Her attorneys are accusing one juror in her child abuse trial of reading information online during the course of the trial. Ballard and Follett say the juror denies the charge.
The authors also say their book details 10 months of documented child abuse against Kelsey -- a broken collarbone, bruises and, at one point, both legs broken at the same time. They even learned that 12 DHS caseworkers were assigned to Kelsey.
They say they wrote the book for one simple reason.
"Accountability," said Follett.
As for the question everyone wants answered, who killed Kelsey, the authors say it goes beyond the mother and stepfather and falls on the system.
"The child was in state custody at the time of her death and, to a certain extent, the state of Oklahoma is responsible for failing to protect Kelsey," said Follett.
"Who Killed Kelsey?" can purchased in Tulsa at Steve's Sundry Books & Magazines at 2612 South Harvard Avenue or online.
TULSA, OK -- A new book follows the tragic story of a two-year-old Oklahoma girl who suffered abuse most of her life.
This week, the little girl's mother goes back to court, asking for a new trial.
Home video shows Kelsey Briggs being a typical toddler. But the images hide the truth of her short, violent life. Kelsey died in 2005. She was two-and-a-half-years-old.
"The cause of death was ruled blunt force trauma to the stomach. So someone either punched or kicked her to death at not even quite three-years-old," said Cherokee Ballard, author.
Ballard and Britten Follett were journalists in Oklahoma City covering the tragic story. They've co-authored a book, trying to get to the bottom of the mystery. The book is called, "Who Killed Kelsey?"
"I think that's a tough question... many people," Ballard said.
"You hear one piece of evidence and you think, 'oh, well the mother did it.' Then you hear another piece of evidence and think, 'oh, the stepfather must have done it,'" said Britten Follett, author.
Kelsey lived at home in Meeker with her mother, Raye Dawn Smith, and stepfather, Michael Porter. Both are serving time in prison for enabling child abuse, but no one has been convicted of killing Kelsey.
"It's just wrong and shameful that she's gone," said Ballard.
This week, Kelsey's mother is asking for a new trial. Her attorneys are accusing one juror in her child abuse trial of reading information online during the course of the trial. Ballard and Follett say the juror denies the charge.
The authors also say their book details 10 months of documented child abuse against Kelsey -- a broken collarbone, bruises and, at one point, both legs broken at the same time. They even learned that 12 DHS caseworkers were assigned to Kelsey.
They say they wrote the book for one simple reason.
"Accountability," said Follett.
As for the question everyone wants answered, who killed Kelsey, the authors say it goes beyond the mother and stepfather and falls on the system.
"The child was in state custody at the time of her death and, to a certain extent, the state of Oklahoma is responsible for failing to protect Kelsey," said Follett.
"Who Killed Kelsey?" can purchased in Tulsa at Steve's Sundry Books & Magazines at 2612 South Harvard Avenue or online.
Tulsa KJRH Channel 2 News Report
Tulsa Fox 23 News Report
A child died in the hands of her mother and stepfather and the Oklahoma Department of Human Services knew about the abuse.
A new book reveals about what happened to two-year-old Kelsey Briggs who died in 2005 inMeeker, Oklahoma. Her mother now wants a new trial after being convicted of child abuse and sentenced to 27-years in prison.
The stepfather, Michael Porter, pleaded guilty and will spend 30 years in prison.
FOX23’s Abbie Alford spoke with authors former TV anchor Cherokee Ballard andFOX25’s in Oklahoma City Britten Follet on writing “Who Killed Kelsey?”
"The system failed Kelsey," says Follet.
Heartbreaking details about Kelsey’s months possibly years of abuse by her mother Raye Dawn Smith and stepfather Michael Porter.
It’s too painful for Kelsey’s biological father Lance Briggs to read.
"Reliving the injuries for her, not being able to comprehend how terrified or scared she was and the pain she went through, reading about it just kills me, it tears me up,” says Briggs.
A broken collarbone, DHS concluded Kelsey’s mother was responsible.
“She was failed she should not be dead. She should not be dead. It's shameful, this case is shameful," says Ballard.
A judge let Kelsey return to her mother and the abuse didn’t stop.
A sprained ankle, then two broken legs. The book says Kelsey told a family member it was “Daddy Mike” who pushed her off the bed.
A judge let Kelsey return to her mother and
"She abused Kelsey and my family was fighting for her safety and her well being and no one was listening, no one was listening until she was dead and it was too late," says Briggs.
Her father was in Iraq fighting for our country while his mother and family were fighting for the little girl.
"Kelsey's story epitomizes the levels of failure on behalf of child welfare systems across the country," says Follett.
About an hour before Kelsey too a blow so hard to the stomach she died, her caseworker had just left the house.
Authorities say only her mother and stepfather were the only people home at the time of Kelsey’s non-accidental injuries.
"Kids continue to die who are in custody of the state. I don't know what the answer is,” says Ballard. “Because of Kelsey some other child's life will be spared."
Her death highlighting a problem that’s not going away.
"If one case worker or one parent or one teacher takes that bruise more seriously maybe we can prevent another children from suffering the same horrible death at the hands of Michael Porter or Raye Dawn Smith,” says Follet.
Now a child is gone but Kelsey’s father says he’ll continue to fight to help save other children from abuse.
"Kelsey should not be dead. People should have listened. I am hoping her story will spare children in the future," says Briggs.
Since Kelsey’s death in October 2005, “Kelsey’s Law” was enacted. It boosts the power of DHS as well as other state agencies and judges to intervene on behalf of children in abusive homes. The law also makes judges accountable for their rulings in child placement cases.
Smith will be asking a judge on September 1st for a new trial. If granted she could be freed from prison.
Porter made a plea deal so he does not have the right for an appeal.
Both are required to serve at least 85% of their sentence.
Ballard and Tollet will be in Tulsa on Saturday for a booking signing at Steve's Sundry bookstore at 2612 S. Harvard Avenue from 1pm to 3pm.
A portion of the profits will benefit the Kelsey Briggs Foundation that her grandmother started to help prevent future child abuse.
A new book reveals about what happened to two-year-old Kelsey Briggs who died in 2005 inMeeker, Oklahoma. Her mother now wants a new trial after being convicted of child abuse and sentenced to 27-years in prison.
The stepfather, Michael Porter, pleaded guilty and will spend 30 years in prison.
FOX23’s Abbie Alford spoke with authors former TV anchor Cherokee Ballard andFOX25’s in Oklahoma City Britten Follet on writing “Who Killed Kelsey?”
"The system failed Kelsey," says Follet.
Heartbreaking details about Kelsey’s months possibly years of abuse by her mother Raye Dawn Smith and stepfather Michael Porter.
It’s too painful for Kelsey’s biological father Lance Briggs to read.
"Reliving the injuries for her, not being able to comprehend how terrified or scared she was and the pain she went through, reading about it just kills me, it tears me up,” says Briggs.
A broken collarbone, DHS concluded Kelsey’s mother was responsible.
“She was failed she should not be dead. She should not be dead. It's shameful, this case is shameful," says Ballard.
A judge let Kelsey return to her mother and the abuse didn’t stop.
A sprained ankle, then two broken legs. The book says Kelsey told a family member it was “Daddy Mike” who pushed her off the bed.
A judge let Kelsey return to her mother and
"She abused Kelsey and my family was fighting for her safety and her well being and no one was listening, no one was listening until she was dead and it was too late," says Briggs.
Her father was in Iraq fighting for our country while his mother and family were fighting for the little girl.
"Kelsey's story epitomizes the levels of failure on behalf of child welfare systems across the country," says Follett.
About an hour before Kelsey too a blow so hard to the stomach she died, her caseworker had just left the house.
Authorities say only her mother and stepfather were the only people home at the time of Kelsey’s non-accidental injuries.
"Kids continue to die who are in custody of the state. I don't know what the answer is,” says Ballard. “Because of Kelsey some other child's life will be spared."
Her death highlighting a problem that’s not going away.
"If one case worker or one parent or one teacher takes that bruise more seriously maybe we can prevent another children from suffering the same horrible death at the hands of Michael Porter or Raye Dawn Smith,” says Follet.
Now a child is gone but Kelsey’s father says he’ll continue to fight to help save other children from abuse.
"Kelsey should not be dead. People should have listened. I am hoping her story will spare children in the future," says Briggs.
Since Kelsey’s death in October 2005, “Kelsey’s Law” was enacted. It boosts the power of DHS as well as other state agencies and judges to intervene on behalf of children in abusive homes. The law also makes judges accountable for their rulings in child placement cases.
Smith will be asking a judge on September 1st for a new trial. If granted she could be freed from prison.
Porter made a plea deal so he does not have the right for an appeal.
Both are required to serve at least 85% of their sentence.
Ballard and Tollet will be in Tulsa on Saturday for a booking signing at Steve's Sundry bookstore at 2612 S. Harvard Avenue from 1pm to 3pm.
A portion of the profits will benefit the Kelsey Briggs Foundation that her grandmother started to help prevent future child abuse.
Tulsa KTUL Channel 8 Coverage
Tulsa World Article
Northwest Herald Article
Reporter Returns for Book Signing
The View Article
Author Britten Follett's hometown newspaper features "Who Killed Kelsey?"
| kelsey.pdf |
Junior League Article
The Junior League of Oklahoma City highlights member and co-author Britten Follett. Check out page 12 of this issue!
| league_link_article.pdf |
Cherokee Ballard on KTOK
KFOR Covers Book Launch Party
Fox 25 Covers Kelsey Saturday Event
First book signing news coverage
Shawnee News Star Promotes WKK?
First Photo Shoot
Britten and Cherokee with the newly released book.
Kelsey's Story is the most watched child video on YouTube
This story aired on KOKH Fox 25 the night before Raye Dawn's trial.
This song was written about Kelsey's story.