Kelsey Smith-Briggs' mother gets no money from lawsuit settlement

Raye Dawn Smith is seen in a Creek County sheriff's patrol car in this 2007 photo by Jim Beckel.

A federal judge ruled today the mother of Kelsey Smith-Briggs will get nothing from the settlement of a lawsuit over her daughter's death.

Raye Dawn Smith wanted half of the $345,097 leftover from the settlement. She is in prison for enabling her daughter's abuse.

The ruling by U.S. District Judge Timothy DeGiusti means that money will go to Kelsey's father.
Kelsey died from abuse Oct. 11, 2005, at her home near Meeker. The case was one of the most highly publicized murder cases in Oklahoma for the next two years.

Smith testified in January she wanted half to repay her family for her legal expenses. She said she would give anything left after that to an infant crisis center in Oklahoma City and a children's hospital.

She is appealing her conviction.

Lance Briggs filed a wrongful-death lawsuit against the state Department of Human Services and others.

Last year, the state paid $525,000 to settle the lawsuit, and a private agency paid $100,000. Attorneys got 40 percent of the settlement plus expenses.

No one was convicted of murder in the child's death.

Kelsey's stepfather, Michael Lee Porter, was charged with first-degree murder and child sexual abuse but pleaded guilty instead to enabling child abuse. He is serving a 30-year prison sentence. He blamed the girl's mother for her death.

The mother was never charged with murder. She was convicted at a 2007 trial of enabling of child abuse and is serving a 27-year prison sentence. She blames Porter for Kelsey's death.
Kelsey died even though DHS workers, a private child-welfare worker and a judge were overseeing her care because of the child's injuries. Her death came four months after the judge returned Kelsey to her mother, despite accusations the mother was the abuser.

Kelsey's father was returning to Oklahoma from military duty when she died. Relatives said Friday he has never recovered from the death. He and Kelsey's mother divorced before she was born.

Kelsey Smith-Briggs' mother gets no money from lawsuit settlement NewsOK.com

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Kelsey Smith-Briggs' mother gets no money from lawsuit settlement 5 hr ago A federal judge ruled today the mother of Kelsey Smith-Briggs will get nothing from the settlement of a lawsuit over her daughter's death. Raye Dawn Smith wanted half of the $345,097 leftover...

Kelsey's mom sentenced to 27 years in prison Tue, Jan 19, 2010 Comments 24 BRISTOW — A judge today sentenced Raye Dawn Smith to 27 years in prison for enabling the abuse of her daughter, Kelsey Smith-Briggs. Kelsey, 2, died Oct. 11, 2005, at her home near Meeker after...

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Mom found guilty; jury hands down 27-year prison term Sun, Aug 23, 2009 BRISTOW — The mother of Kelsey Smith-Briggs sobbed, "I don't understand. Help me,” in court Wednesday after jurors found her guilty of allowing the girl to be abused.

Pastor testifies for defense in Smith's trial Sun, Aug 23, 2009 BRISTOW — A pastor testified today that Raye Dawn Smith cried out to him at the hospital after her daughter died Oct. 11, 2005, asking, "Why did God take my baby?”

Kelsey lost her spirit weeks before death, grandmother testifies Sun, Aug 23, 2009 BRISTOW — The outspoken grandmother of Kelsey Smith-Briggs told jurors today that the 2-year-old had changed for the worse when they were last together weeks before her death.

Smith weeps during testimony about Kelsey's injuries Sun, Aug 23, 2009 BRISTOW — Raye Dawn Smith wept again today as jurors saw autopsy photos and diagrams of the bruises, scrapes and other injuries to her dead daughter’s body.

Defense opens in abuse trial Sun, Aug 23, 2009 BRISTOW — The first defense witness at the child-abuse trial for Raye Dawn Smith said Monday the mother wanted an autopsy to find out why her 2-year-old daughter died in 2005, but her new husband...

Kelsey Smith-Briggs' death lawsuit brings $625K deal Tue, Jun 30, 2009 The state of Oklahoma paid $525,000 Monday to settle a wrongful-death lawsuit over the murder of Kelsey Smith-Briggs, and a private agency paid $100,000. A federal judge Monday approved the...

Lawsuit accusing DHS in toddler's death to move forward Thu, Apr 24, 2008 Comments 26 TULSA -- A lawsuit claiming three Oklahoma Department of Human Services workers contributed to the conditions that led to a 2-year-old girl's death has been allowed to move forward by an appeals...

Judge denies request for shorter sentence in Kelsey case Thu, Feb 7, 2008 CHANDLER--A judge today refused to give a more lenient prison sentence to the stepfather of Kelsey Smith-Briggs. Michael Lee Porter is serving 30 years in prison for enabling child abuse....


Kelsey's mom won't be retried Thu, Dec 6, 2007 Comments 18 BRISTOW — The mother of Kelsey Smith-Briggs has lost her first bid for a new trial. Raye Dawn Smith is serving 27 years in prison for enabling child abuse. Jurors in July found Smith, 28, guilty...

Kelsey's mom loses bid for new trial Wed, Dec 5, 2007 BRISTOW — The mother of Kelsey Smith-Briggs has lost her first bid for a new trial. Raye Dawn Smith is serving 27 years in prison for enabling child abuse. Jurors in July found Smith, 28,...

Kelsey's mom seeks new abuse trial Mon, Oct 22, 2007 Comments 50 Changes made on rim.
Kelsey's dad plans appeal Fri, Oct 12, 2007 Comments 58 Text edit

Kelsey's run aims to prevent child abuse Wed, Oct 3, 2007 Comments 9 Kelsey Smith-Briggs' paternal grandmother and step-grandmother can't do anything to help her now, but they're trying to prevent other children from suffering the same fate. Kathie Briggs, her...

How Kelsey's mother spent her time in courtConvict tells dead girl's grandmother, ‘I forgive you,' which afterward spurs the comment, ‘She's demented' Tue, Sep 11, 2007 Comments 30 BRISTOW — The mother of Kelsey Smith-Briggs passed up her chance Monday to ask a judge for mercy or to again claim she is innocent. Instead, Raye Dawn Smith looked toward her former mother-in-law...

Kelsey's mother gets 27 years in prison Mon, Sep 10, 2007 Comments 39 Send back to write basket when finished, style changes on slot

Your thoughts: Kelsey's mom sentenced to 27 years in prison Mon, Sep 10, 2007 Comments 53 0

‘Conspiracy against me' Fri, Aug 24, 2007 Comments 50 BRISTOW — In her first public
comments since being found guilty, the mother of Kelsey Smith-Briggs denied again that she allowed the girl to be hurt and stated she "would love ... one day (to)...

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Attorney may seek new trial Thu, Aug 16, 2007 Comments 20 Send back to write basket when finished

Well-known attorney will represent Kelsey's mom Wed, Aug 8, 2007 Comments 14 BRISTOW — Well-known attorney Stephen Jones said today he has been hired to represent the mother of Kelsey Smith-Briggs. Jones met with Raye Dawn Smith for an hour Monday in jail in Sapulpa. He...

Court briefs Tue, Aug 7, 2007 Add a comment DENVER Family of dead inmate will keep waiting on $1.1M Family members of Kenneth Trentadue, who died in controversial circumstances at a federal holding cell in Oklahoma City, must wait longer...

Your take: Verdict in the trial of Raye Dawn Smith Wed, Jul 18, 2007 Comments 92 Raye Dawn Smith was found guilty of enabling the abuse of her 2-year-old daughter and was given a 27-year prison sentence, a jury decided Wednesday.

Smith found guilty in abuse trial Wed, Jul 18, 2007 BRISTOW (AP) - A Creek County jury convicted a Meeker woman on Wednesday of enabling child abuse in the death of her 2-year-old daughter. The jury recommended a prison sentence of 27 years for...

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Pastor tells about day Kelsey died Tue, Jul 17, 2007 BRISTOW — A pastor testified Tuesday Raye Dawn Smith cried out to him at a hospital after her daughter died, saying, "Why did God take my baby?” The defense witness, Charles Pearcy, told jurors...

Prosecution rests in child-abuse trial of Kelsey's mother Mon, Jul 16, 2007 BRISTOW — Prosecutors at noon today completed putting on their evidence at the child–abuse trial for the mother of Kelsey Smith-Briggs. Raye Dawn Smith is charged with child abuse or enabling...

Witness testifies mom tossed Kelsey into car Sat, Jul 14, 2007 BRISTOW — Jurors were told Friday that Kelsey Smith-Briggs once blurted out that her new stepfather, "Daddy Mike,” hurt her head but her mother laughed off the toddler's statement. Jurors also...

Smith seemed aggravated before Kelsey's death, welfare worker testifies Fri, Jul 13, 2007 BRISTOW — Raye Dawn Smith was aggravated a few hours before her daughter's death after learning the child's father would be returning soon from military duty, a private child-welfare worker...

Co-workers testify about Kelsey's mother Thu, Jul 12, 2007 BRISTOW — Raye Dawn Smith admitted using a brush to spank her daughter on the diaper after police began investigating suspicious red prickly marks on the child's rear and other injuries, two...

Juror weeps during testimony Wed, Jul 11, 2007 BRISTOW — Jurors heard Wednesday from three relatives of Kelsey Smith-Briggs who said the 2-year-old child was injured over and over in 2005 while she was with her mother. "It was the consistent...

Stepdad testifies against ex-wife Wed, Jul 11, 2007 BRISTOW — The stepfather of Kelsey Smith-Briggs came from prison Tuesday to testify against his ex-wife, telling jurors in a choked voice that he saw the child abused three times and covered it...

Smith weeps during testimony about Kelsey's injuries Tue, Jul 10, 2007 BRISTOW — Raye Dawn Smith wept silently Monday during opening statements in her child-abuse trial as the district attorney told jurors her 2-year-old daughter was murdered. Jurors will begin...

Child-abuse trial begins Mon, Jul 9, 2007 BRISTOW — The child-abuse trial for the mother of Kelsey Smith-Briggs is set to begin today, almost two years after the child died at her home near Meeker. Jury selection in the largely...

Witness to describe Kelsey's treatment Mon, Jul 2, 2007 CHANDLER — Prosecutors in the Kelsey Smith-Briggs case have a new witness — a man who claims he saw her mother yell at and spank the screaming 2-year-old girl, then throw her over a car's front...

Secret report rips DHS Sun, Jul 1, 2007 A secret report on the Kelsey Smith-Briggs tragedy reveals the Oklahoma Department of Human Services made a series of mistakes in the abused child's case, such as failing to contact police when she...

Former judge defends choice to return girl Fri, Jun 22, 2007 CHANDLER — The former judge in the Kelsey Smith-Briggs case has written a book and on Thursday again defended his decision to return the abused child to her mother four months before the...

Ex-judge's book defends actions in Kelsey's death Thu, Jun 21, 2007 CHANDLER — Former Lincoln County Associate District Judge Craig Key wrote a book blaming the death of Kelsey Smith-Briggs on her feuding family and defending authorities who handled her child...

Kelsey's mother ordered to trialCrime: Child safetyFive witnesses spoke at preliminary hearing. Sat, Apr 28, 2007 CHANDLER — The mother of Kelsey Smith-Briggs was bound over for trial today in connection with the 2-year-old Meeker girl's death. Raye Dawn Smith, 27, faces charges in Lincoln County District...

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DA adds charge against Kelsey's mom Sat, Mar 17, 2007 CHANDLER — Lincoln County prosecutors Friday amended felony charges against the mother of a toddler who died from child abuse in 2005. Raye Dawn Smith was charged in February 2006 with enabling...

Stepfather gets 30 years in toddler's death Fri, Feb 2, 2007 CHANDLER (AP) - A Meeker man charged with first-degree murder in the killing of his 2-year-old stepdaughter pleaded guilty Friday to a lesser charge in Lincoln County District Court and was...

Plea deal in Kelsey caseStepfather reportedly will get 30-year term Mon, Jan 29, 2007 Comments 17 CHANDLER — Prosecutors have agreed to drop the murder and child sexual abuse case against the stepfather of Kelsey Smith-Briggs, and he has agreed to a 30-year prison sentence for enabling child...

1-year deferred sentence givenKelsey Smith-Briggs case: Father pleads no contest in incident involving ex-girlfriend Thu, Jan 11, 2007 SHAWNEE — The father of Kelsey Smith-Briggs pleaded no contest Wednesday to a misdemeanor charge filed after a reported incident with a former girlfriend. Lance Briggs, 29, of Meeker was given a...

Trial set in slaying of girl, 2 Wed, Nov 29, 2006 CHANDLER Trial set in slaying of girl, 2 Michael Lee Porter's murder trial is set to begin Feb. 12 in Chandler. Porter, 26, is accused of sexually abusing and killing his stepdaughter, Kelsey...

Trial set in Kelsey's death Wed, Nov 29, 2006 CHANDLER — Michael Lee Porter's murder trial is set to begin Feb. 12. Porter, 26, is accused of sexually abusing and murdering his stepdaughter, Kelsey Smith-Briggs, last year at their home east...

Counselor to testify on child’s abuse Tue, Nov 14, 2006 Testimony to relate comments made by defendant’s daughter. CHANDLER — A school counselor will testify that murder defendant Michael Lee Porter’s daughter said he spanked Kelsey...

2-year-old's death becomes part of judicial campaign Fri, Nov 3, 2006 Sheila Kirk Craig Key CHANDLER - On a rural highway approaching Meeker is a billboard of cherub-faced Kelsey Smith-Briggs, the 2-year-old who has become the state's poster child for child-abuse...

Judge wants trial for girl's mom Thu, Oct 5, 2006 CHANDLER -- A judge said Wednesday he intends to have a trial for Kelsey Smith-Briggs' mother after the trial for the child's stepfather. Kelsey, 2, died Oct. 11 at her home east of Meeker.... Read more: http://newsok.com/news/kelseysmith?search_what=newsok&page=3#ixzz0f6a6CbjV

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Kelsey's mother waives hearing Fri, Sep 22, 2006 CHANDLER -- The mother of Kelsey Smith-Briggs waived her preliminary hearing Friday and is set to be back in court next on Oct. 4. Raye Dawn Smith, 26, is charged with enabling child...

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