Conviction Focuses New Attention On Child Abuse In Oklahoma
OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) -- Child abuse prevention advocates say the tragedy of the life and death of a two-year-old Meeker girl is just one example of the child abuse problem in Oklahoma. Kelsey Smith-Briggs'Friday, July 20th 2007, 6:23 am
By:
News On 6
OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) -- Child abuse prevention advocates say the tragedy of the life and death of a two-year-old Meeker girl is just one example of the child abuse problem in Oklahoma. Kelsey Smith-Briggs' mother, Raye Dawn Smith was convicted of enabling child abuse on Wednesday in a Bristow court room. Kelsey, who died in October 2005, was just one of 41 children who died of abuse in the state that year.
Micah Stirling of Prevent Child Abuse Oklahoma says the number of children dying of abuse in Oklahoma is at epidemic levels.
According to statistics from the National Center on Child Abuse Prevention Research, there were 4.8 child abuse fatalities per 100,000 children in Oklahoma in 2005. The center says that's the highest rate in the nation, which averaged 1.96 fatalities per 100,000 children that year.
Last year, Department of Human Services child abuse specialists investigated 63,108 suspected child abuse and neglect cases and confirmed 13,827.
The agency receives 250 reports of suspected child abuse every day.
Related stories:
10/14/2005 Medical Examiner Rules A Meeker Child's Death A Homicide
10/15/2005 Funeral Services Held For 2 Year Old Meeker Girl
11/18/2005 DHS Increases Security After Threats In Chandler
12/5/2005 Father Of Slain Meeker Girl Sues State For $15 Million
12/22/2005 Meeker Man Accused In Toddler's Death Released From The Lincoln County Jail After Making Bail
2/16/2006 Grand Jury To Investigate Death Of Lincoln County 2-Year-Old
2/23/2006 Multi-County Grand Jury Hears Testimony In Case Of Child Killed
2/23/2006 Charges Filed Against Mother Of 2 Year Old Meeker Girl Who Died Last Year
3/3/2006 State House passes child abuse, neglect measure
5/2/2006 Body Of 2 Year Old Meeker Girl Returned After Second Autopsy
5/20/2006 Father Of Slain Toddler Sues DHS
5/27/2006 Governor Signs 'Kelsey's Law' Child Abuse And Neglect Measure
6/27/2006 DHS Attorney Seeking To Move Lawsuit To Federal Court
6/30/2006 Father Of Slain Meeker Girl Arrested On Abuse Count
7/8/2006 Misdemeanor Charges Filed Against Father Of Dead Toddler
8/1/2006 Kelsey's Law Signed By Governor
8/23/2006 Stepfather Ordered To Stand Trial In 2-Year-Old Meeker Girl’s Death
9/6/2006 Stepfather Charged In 2-Year-Old Meeker Girl's Death Is Arraigned
9/22/2006 Mother Of Slain Meeker Girl Waives Hearing
11/30/2006 Chandler Man Accused In Stepdaughter's Death Gets Trial Date
1/12/2007 Kelsey's Father Gets Deferred Sentence In Assault Case
1/30/2007 Stepfather Agrees To Plea Deal In Meeker Toddler's Death
2/2/2007 Stepfather Gets 30 Years In Toddler's Death
4/27/2007 - Mother Of Slain Toddler Ordered To Stand Trial On Abuse Charges
6/12/2007 Trial For Mother Of Dead Toddler Moved
6/20/2007 Judge In Kelsey Smith-Briggs Case To Speak
6/21/2007 Judge Defends Actions
7/1/2007 Report Cites Numerous Problems With DHS Probe
7/3/2007 - Prosecutors Have New Witness In Kelsey Smith-Briggs Case
7/9/2007 - Trial To Begin For Mother Of Slain Girl
7/10/2007 - Stepfather Testifies In Ex-Wife's Child-Abuse Trial
7/11/2007 Grandmother Of Slain 2-Year-Old Testifies
7/12/2007 Testimony Says Smith Called Daughter "Jealous"
7/14/2007 - Toddler: `Daddy Mike Hurt My Head'
7/16/2007 - State Rests Its Case In Child Abuse Trial
7/17/2007 - Defense Calls Slain Toddler's Grandmother To The Stand
7/18/2007 - Mother Convicted Of Enabling Child Abuse In Death Of Daughter
Get The Daily Update!
Be among the first to get breaking news, weather, and general news updates from News on 6 delivered right to your inbox!
More Like This
July 20th, 2007
September 29th, 2024
September 17th, 2024
Top Headlines
December 11th, 2024
December 11th, 2024
December 11th, 2024
December 11th, 2024