Kelsey's Case Focuses New Attention On Child Abuse In Oklahoma

Thursday, July 19th 2007, 8:15 pm

By: News On 6

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) _ Kelsey Smith-Briggs' death two years ago captured headlines and tugged at heartstrings _ a 2-year-old girl who suffered months of physical abuse while in the custody of her mother and stepfather before a blunt force injury to her abdomen finally took her life.

Kelsey has remained in the public eye ever since thanks to criminal court cases that ended on Wednesday with the conviction of her 27-year-old mother, Raye Dawn Smith, on a felony charge of enabling child abuse. But prevention advocates say the tragedy of Kelsey's life and death is just one example of a much wider child abuse problem in Oklahoma.

``It is an epidemic,'' said Micah Stirling, executive director of Prevent Child Abuse Oklahoma. ``There are extreme stories such as Kelsey's. It is so tragic and it brings the issue to the forefront.''

Kelsey, who died on Oct. 11, 2005, was among 41 Oklahoma children who died due to abuse that year, according to statistics compiled by the National Center on Child Abuse Prevention Research.

The state experienced 4.8 child abuse fatalities per 100,000 children in 2005 _ the highest child abuse death rate in the nation, the center reported. The national average that year was 1.96 fatalities per 100,000 children. The year before, 51 children died from some form of abuse in Oklahoma.

``If one child dies, that's one too many,'' said state Rep. Kris Steele, R-Shawnee, who spearheaded legislation last year that authorized the hiring of an additional 100 state child abuse specialists and gave the Department of Human Services new power to act in child abuse cases.

``It's unfortunate that something like this had to occur for us to have the motivation for us to realize there is a need for improvement,'' Steele said.

Last year, DHS child abuse specialists investigated 63,108 suspected child abuse and neglect cases and confirmed 13,827, about 21 percent of those investigated. About 85 percent of the cases involved neglect, 11 percent physical abuse and the balance, 4 percent, sexual abuse, officials said.

Currently, the agency receives 250 reports of suspected child abuse every day.

A spokesman for DHS, George Johnson, said cases investigated by the state's more than 1,000 child abuse specialists are difficult to bear because of the emotional and psychological scars that are left on young abuse and neglect victims.

``That's how it's affecting the children,'' Johnson said. Case workers who intervene on their behalf are also affected, leading to one of the highest turnover rates in state government.

``They can't go home and turn that off at night,'' Johnson said. ``Once they have dealt with the emotional scars of children, that becomes a part of who they are.''

The agency's dedication to protecting children from abuse did not start with Kelsey's death, Johnson said. Kelsey was under DHS supervision at the time and a child abuse case worker was in her family's home just two hours before she died.

Kelsey's father, Lance Briggs, has accused the Department of Human Services of a systemwide failure for the 2-year-old's death.

``If you ask the 1,000 people who are out there on the front lines everyday, they've always thought this was important,'' Johnson said. ``It only becomes real to the public when the media reports an unusual circumstance.''

Poverty, drug abuse, mental illness, domestic violence and poor parenting skills are principal causes of child abuse, Stirling said.

``Basically, parents that are overburdened,'' she said. ``Women are the most frequent abusers, but we believe that's because they have more frequent contact with the child.''

Typical child neglect cases involve children who have been abandoned by their parents and are living in squalor with no food, clothing or clean place to sleep, she said.

Stirling said identifying risk factors gives prevention advocates a chance to prevent abuse by helping adults become better parents. But stopping abuse is everyone's responsibility, she said.

Since 1982, average citizens have been legally obligated to report suspected cases of child abuse under Oklahoma law.

``There's plenty of blame to go around each time a child dies. We all need to pay attention,'' Stirling said.

That is a point that Lincoln County District Attorney Richard Smothermon stressed during the eight-day trial of Kelsey's mother. Smith was convicted of enabling child abuse in her little girl's death. A jury recommended a 27-year prison sentence.

Smith's then husband, Michael Porter, pleaded guilty to enabling child abuse and was sentenced to 30 years in prison.

Smothermon said the case demonstrates the tragic consequences of ignoring signs of child abuse.

``You can choose a path of inaction. But if you choose that you basically have nobody to blame but yourself,'' Smothermon said.

``One person reporting can save a child's life. You can hire all the DHS workers you want. You can hire all the law enforcement you want. But unless normal, average citizens are going to step up, it's pointless.''

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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 Girlâ€™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

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