Shirica
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I don't know how much information I can offer you on
Mike Porter. I do know that he is in a prison out of state,
but I cannot recall which state he is in. I do remember
seeing him listed in whatever prison it is that he is in so I
know he is registered. I do not know his family at all. I
spoke with what I thought was Mary Beth on the
telephone right after Kelsey's death to offer her some kind
of condolence for what her family must have been going
through. At one point I did think I was exchanging
emails with her but came to find out after the fact that
they were actually from Porter. I did not meet with Mike
in my home. I thought at one point that I was meeting
with Mary Beth and Mike in a location in OKC and it
turned out that Mary Beth knew nothing about it and
Mike was the only one there. It was in a very public
location. I cannot be sure if anything he said to me was
the truth or if it was to serve his own purpose. I am sorry
that I cannot offer you much insight on this subject. I
know that both of his parents are deceased and he has
two sisters that live here in Oklahoma and then he has the
mothers of his children that live in the area, but I do not
know them. I have not had any contact at all with any of
his family or him since well before his plea agreement. I
cannot tell you if they are keeping him safe. I was told
that the reason he was moved out of state was because
they could not keep him safe in the state of Oklahoma and
I have been told that the prisoners and guards are not
aware of his situation at the prison he is currently at. I
hope I was able to offer some insight into whatever it is
you are seeking. I just do not know a lot about him. I tried
my best to find out what I could, but when you are
dealing with a criminal it is hard to know what is the
truth. I think he is a sorry individual and it does not make
me any difference if he is protected or not. He made his
mistakes, now he must do what he can to live with them.
Shirica
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RE: Comments on OSBI interviews.
During MP's interview, he kept grabbing his heart and acting like he was having
chest pains and he acted like he was going to vomit a time or two and was very
dramatic. I have never seen such a drama queen. His body language was
screaming guilt. He was beyond nervous and then toward the end he says he
wants an attorney and he wants to see his wife. Watching the tape is so different
from reading it. I truly feel that this man is responsible for the death of Kelsey.
Shirica
Kelsey's Aunt Rees
Yesterday 04:45 PM
donnasking
Senior Member
Posts: 290
Group: Registered
RE: Comments on OSBI interviews.
Shirica,
I have no doubt he did it.
Post: #108
Joined: Feb 2006
Status: Offline
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Yesterday 09:28 PM
aunt bean
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RE: Comments on OSBI interviews.
Most of our family members were not allowed in the courtroom during much of
the trial because we were subpoenaed as potential witnesses. My husband and
Lance were able to witness Michael Porter's testimony. I understand that it was
very compelling and he appeared to be genuine and believable. A few KP
members witnessed his testimony. They may be able to give more insight.
Jeanna
Kelsey's Aunt Bean
This post was last modified: Yesterday 07:23 PM by aunt bean.
Yesterday 07:21 PM
LORI9707
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Posts: 245
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Joined: Jan 2006
Status: Online
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Post: #124RE: Comments on OSBI interviews.
There has been a lot of discussion about MP and also his testimony in court. As I
previously mentioned, I had the opportunity to be in the court room while MP
testified against RD. As I said before, I wanted to believe what he said but started
realizing that some things just didnt add up.
I have read the OSBI transcript from MP's interview. After reading it and thinking
about his testimony, it's clear to me that he had rehearsed his testimony for RD's
trial. I think he knew exactly what he was going to say and how to say it. I also
think he had prepared himself for the attack from Huddleston (RD's attorney). I
was always surprised by how calm and collected he remained even though her
attorney was screaming at him and accusing him of murdering and sexual
assaulting Kelsey. I see major differences in the MP giving this OSBI interview and
the man who sat in that court room. The man is obviously consumed by guilt and
fear. His behavior both at the hospital, afterwards and during this interview make
that obvious. I think he was scared to death that he was about to finally be
caught.
I personally think he was lying about the day he says he walked into the bedroom
and found RD punching Kelsey in the stomach. How convenient that she just
happened to be punching her in the stomach and Kelsey died from abdominal
injuries just a few months later. How convenient that she told him all she had to
do was blame everything on him. I call BS on MP!
For the first time in 2 years, I feel more certain than ever that I know what
happened to Kelsey. I think the role that RD played in her death will always
remain a mystery but I think for most of us, we know who killed Kelsey. I find
some small bit of peace in having some questions answered by these interviews. I
am so thankful that the Briggs family has been kind enough to share them with all
of us.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Kelsey's Purpose Consultant
"If we don't stand up for children, then we don't stand for much." - Marian
Wright Edelman
Today 01:52 PM
Sunday, January 24, 2010
More E-mails with Mike Porter and the Briggs
These are more of the e-mails between Mike Porter and the Briggs. Keep in mind that when he pretends to be his sister, it's him. Also, notice Mike Porter is the one who keeps stating he was home alone with Kelsey for 12 to 15 minutes. The timeline suggests 30 to 45 minutes. And Lance's attorney said at the hearing on the 8th that he was home alone with her for 45 minutes. According to the expert, the injuries could have been done to cause her death in just a few minutes.
I'd like to remind everyone that Mike Porter plead the fifth when Raye's attorney asked him questions during his deposition as Lance's attorney objected to the questions and then got tired of it and left after shaking Mike Porter's hand. If it was true, as he suggests in the e-mails, that the truth for Kelsey is what matters, why plead the fifth? Why did he not answer a single question? His and the other depositions are in my book. I'm sure you'll find them very interesting reading.
For those of you who don't know, these e-mails were obtained legally and were meant to be used as evidence at Raye Dawn's trial, but when her attorney tried to bring them up, he was shut down. It's just one more instance of how unfair Raye Dawn's trial was.
Thursday, January 12, 2006 1:58PM
From: John Smith truejustice101105@hotmail.com
To: shirica@hotmail.com
Subject: RE: DA
the only thing I want people to know is the truth. If anyone wants to really know what happened in those nine months – Mike knows. In my opinion, Raye Dawn will tell only up to the point where it makes her look bad, and that is pretty much everything. I know you were not telling me what to do – it is amazing that some people would use this situation for their own personal gain. The site will die out, I agree. The medical report was unbearable. I could not sleep at all last night – I prayed all night that God would allow the DA to hold RD accountable with the findings of the report. I can not imagine what she had to endure. I do not understand how any one could do that to Kelsey – and the thought of Kelsey looking at Raye DAwn and wondering why kills me. He needs to know that here is alot more to this story than whatever he has been told by Raye Dawn. The truth for Kelsey is the most important thing to me – and people need to hear it.
Thursday, January 12, 2006 00:56:42 -0600
From: “shirica howard” shirica@hotmail.com
To: trujustice101105@hotmail.com
Just so you know, you can change your identity all you want on the site but the host of the site knows who you are every time you get on there by your IP address. She lives in Meeker and she as a VERY big mouth. She knows it is you and she is telling people. Her name is Ashley Gilbreth. She used to work at Lewis and her mother in law still does. You should really think before you get on there again.
Shirica
Thursday, January 12, 2006 3:03AM
From: John Smith truejustice101105@hotmial.com
To: shirica@hotmail.com
Subject: RE:
thank you for the info Shirica..if I would have known who she was I never would have gotten on there in the first place. I think her mother-in-law is still a RAye Dawn supporter.
Thursday, January 12, 2006 18:21:12 -0600
From: “shirica howard” shirica@hotmail.com
To: truejustice101105@hotmail.com
Subject: Discouraging news
First, I want to say I think it is great that you want to help by submitting ideas to make changes in this system that was set up to protect. I think you could add a lot of insight. I am proud of you for trying to shift some of that energy to something positive. It is much healthier. With that being said, I must now add a bit of news that you may find somewhat discouraging. Please hold onto the fact that good things come to those who wait. I have news from the DA. There will not be an arrest until the week of your hearing so quit hoping it may be next week. He apparently has another trial on Tuesday he needs to focus on. He does not seem to understand the importance o this case, so I guess it is time to remind him. I am having everyone I know send him a postcard letting him know that this case WILL make or break his career. I will be urging him to get with the program and start making this case a priority. You might suggest doing the same to your supporters. Mom will be on the news at ten on channel 4 and 9 tonight.
Please do not lose your faith. I have this hope for seeing Raye in her stripes being paraded into court they way you were except I hope there are cameras in her face when they do it. I know that hope will come to light. I know it will.
Shirica
Thursday, January 12, 2006 9:06PM
From: John Smith truejustice101105@hotmail.com
To: shirica@hotmail.com
Subject: RE: Discouraging news
Patty would have noticed her toenail – with the bright orange paint – and if she didn’t Kelsey SURE would have pointed it out. She was so proud of her fingernails and toenails. They made her a big girl. The thing is I can’t say for sure if I would have noticed – from the second I saw her I was in panic mode. My worst nightmare had always been one of the kids in that situation. But it seems that someone else might have seen it before the ME??? I don’t know. Knowing the extent of her injuries now kills me. Kelsey had no chance no matter what me or anyone else did. THAT SELFISH BITCH!!! the news about the DA is discouraging. I guess the most discouraging thing is it is hard to believe anything that the DA says anymore. For the last month it has been next week, next week, next week. Now he has everything he said he was waiting on, the OSBI report, the ME report, and he still stalls. If anything the ME report only makes it more obvious to me that Raye DAwn is guilty. How could I have done all that in 12-15 minutes?? Why would I do ANTYHING when HONESTLY thought se was asleep? Why would I do anything to hurt her when I knew Mike would be there any second???? The thing about the DA is if he knows he is going to do it then WHAT IS HE WAITING ON??? The evidence is THERE. Why wait?? Why let her walk free?? I will believe he is going to hold her accountable when he steps up and does it. I can not fathom how hard this must be for your family. The mistakes they made with me and now their reluctance to prosecute Raye Dawn. My supporters have and will contnue to push him to follow through. He has to know that people will not stand for him allowing a person to walk free who even in HIS MIND AT THE VERY LEAS HAS TO BE GUILTY OF FAILURE TO PROTECT AND IN MOST OTHER PEOPLE’S MIND IS GUILTY OF MURDER!!! I have written a whole page of things that I have thought about all day concerning changes that I think would have helped Kelsey by providing hard evidence that Raye DAwn was hurting Kelsey. I will type them up and send them to you, probably later tonight. I have a feeling sleep won’t come tonight either. You continue to give me strength. Thank you. If you believe that the DA will do what is right then I will try to.
January 23, 2006 12:42:06 PM CST
From: letjusticebedone@hotmail.com
To: KJBRIGGS@aol.com
Subj: Not sure if I have sent you this one or not??
Thursday, January 12, 2006 23:24:56 -0600
From: “John Smith” truejustice101105@hotmail.com
To: letjusticebedone@hotmail.com
Subject: RE: Hope
I hope that any information that you recieve from the website will be confidential and not be used in ANY way to jeopardize justice for Kelsey. This CAN NOT happen. I know the IP addresses of those who post are probably available to you. But my point is, I feel your heart is in the right place regarding Kelsey. I think I knew who you are, but the fact is it doesn’t matter. I know that you may know people that are for Raye Dawn, but we all should want justice for Kelsey no matter who it involves. I hope you don’t take this e-mail the wrong way, I just wanted to make sure your intentions were completely honest and you would never exploit any of the things that were said or any of the information obtained from the board to help someone who does not deserve helping. To many people this is our life and not something that is happening to someone else. I am in no way questions your motives, I just want to make my feelings clear. God Bless.
Friday, January 13, 2006 21:02:41 -0600
From: “shirica howard” shirica@hotmail.com
To: trujustice101105@hotmail.com
Subject: Urgent
what do you know about a hand print bruise?
Shirica
Friday, January 13, 2006 9:14PM
From: John Smith truejustice101105@hotmail.com
To: shirica@hotmail.com
Subject: RE: Urgent
when would this bruise have been on Kelsey?
Friday, January 13, 2006 21:23:28 -0600
From: “shirica howard” shirica@hotmail.com
To: truejustice101105@hotmail.com
Subject: RE: Urgent
I am not sure. I really kind of need to talk to you because I am not sure I can tell you what I know in this email. It is just a little too bazarre. I just wondered if a hand print bruise meant anything to you at all.
Shirica
Friday, January 13, 2006 9:26PM
From: John Smith truejustice101105@hotmail.com
To: shirica@hotmail.com
Subject: RE: Urgent
the only thing that I know about a hand print bruise is very very old. Before me. If it is something recent then I have no clue what you mean. If you want you can call me at 602-0877.
Friday, January 13, 2006 11:01:18 -0600
From: “shirica howard” shirica@hotmail.com
To: truejustice101105@hotmail.com
Subject: POSSIBLE GOOD NEWS
I do not mean to tease you with this next piece of information, but we have been told by OSBI that the possible reason for the stall from the DA is that he is not just looking at making ONE arrest. He is looking at making multiple arrests. Now, you know how things are said and they may or may not come to light, but that would be a nice explanation as to why they are not moving quickly. I personally would love to see more than one person arrested. Be patient. I know that is hard to do, but we have to believe that God has heard our prayer and the light has been placed in the right place.
Shirica
I'd like to remind everyone that Mike Porter plead the fifth when Raye's attorney asked him questions during his deposition as Lance's attorney objected to the questions and then got tired of it and left after shaking Mike Porter's hand. If it was true, as he suggests in the e-mails, that the truth for Kelsey is what matters, why plead the fifth? Why did he not answer a single question? His and the other depositions are in my book. I'm sure you'll find them very interesting reading.
For those of you who don't know, these e-mails were obtained legally and were meant to be used as evidence at Raye Dawn's trial, but when her attorney tried to bring them up, he was shut down. It's just one more instance of how unfair Raye Dawn's trial was.
Thursday, January 12, 2006 1:58PM
From: John Smith truejustice101105@hotmail.com
To: shirica@hotmail.com
Subject: RE: DA
the only thing I want people to know is the truth. If anyone wants to really know what happened in those nine months – Mike knows. In my opinion, Raye Dawn will tell only up to the point where it makes her look bad, and that is pretty much everything. I know you were not telling me what to do – it is amazing that some people would use this situation for their own personal gain. The site will die out, I agree. The medical report was unbearable. I could not sleep at all last night – I prayed all night that God would allow the DA to hold RD accountable with the findings of the report. I can not imagine what she had to endure. I do not understand how any one could do that to Kelsey – and the thought of Kelsey looking at Raye DAwn and wondering why kills me. He needs to know that here is alot more to this story than whatever he has been told by Raye Dawn. The truth for Kelsey is the most important thing to me – and people need to hear it.
Thursday, January 12, 2006 00:56:42 -0600
From: “shirica howard” shirica@hotmail.com
To: trujustice101105@hotmail.com
Just so you know, you can change your identity all you want on the site but the host of the site knows who you are every time you get on there by your IP address. She lives in Meeker and she as a VERY big mouth. She knows it is you and she is telling people. Her name is Ashley Gilbreth. She used to work at Lewis and her mother in law still does. You should really think before you get on there again.
Shirica
Thursday, January 12, 2006 3:03AM
From: John Smith truejustice101105@hotmial.com
To: shirica@hotmail.com
Subject: RE:
thank you for the info Shirica..if I would have known who she was I never would have gotten on there in the first place. I think her mother-in-law is still a RAye Dawn supporter.
Thursday, January 12, 2006 18:21:12 -0600
From: “shirica howard” shirica@hotmail.com
To: truejustice101105@hotmail.com
Subject: Discouraging news
First, I want to say I think it is great that you want to help by submitting ideas to make changes in this system that was set up to protect. I think you could add a lot of insight. I am proud of you for trying to shift some of that energy to something positive. It is much healthier. With that being said, I must now add a bit of news that you may find somewhat discouraging. Please hold onto the fact that good things come to those who wait. I have news from the DA. There will not be an arrest until the week of your hearing so quit hoping it may be next week. He apparently has another trial on Tuesday he needs to focus on. He does not seem to understand the importance o this case, so I guess it is time to remind him. I am having everyone I know send him a postcard letting him know that this case WILL make or break his career. I will be urging him to get with the program and start making this case a priority. You might suggest doing the same to your supporters. Mom will be on the news at ten on channel 4 and 9 tonight.
Please do not lose your faith. I have this hope for seeing Raye in her stripes being paraded into court they way you were except I hope there are cameras in her face when they do it. I know that hope will come to light. I know it will.
Shirica
Thursday, January 12, 2006 9:06PM
From: John Smith truejustice101105@hotmail.com
To: shirica@hotmail.com
Subject: RE: Discouraging news
Patty would have noticed her toenail – with the bright orange paint – and if she didn’t Kelsey SURE would have pointed it out. She was so proud of her fingernails and toenails. They made her a big girl. The thing is I can’t say for sure if I would have noticed – from the second I saw her I was in panic mode. My worst nightmare had always been one of the kids in that situation. But it seems that someone else might have seen it before the ME??? I don’t know. Knowing the extent of her injuries now kills me. Kelsey had no chance no matter what me or anyone else did. THAT SELFISH BITCH!!! the news about the DA is discouraging. I guess the most discouraging thing is it is hard to believe anything that the DA says anymore. For the last month it has been next week, next week, next week. Now he has everything he said he was waiting on, the OSBI report, the ME report, and he still stalls. If anything the ME report only makes it more obvious to me that Raye DAwn is guilty. How could I have done all that in 12-15 minutes?? Why would I do ANTYHING when HONESTLY thought se was asleep? Why would I do anything to hurt her when I knew Mike would be there any second???? The thing about the DA is if he knows he is going to do it then WHAT IS HE WAITING ON??? The evidence is THERE. Why wait?? Why let her walk free?? I will believe he is going to hold her accountable when he steps up and does it. I can not fathom how hard this must be for your family. The mistakes they made with me and now their reluctance to prosecute Raye Dawn. My supporters have and will contnue to push him to follow through. He has to know that people will not stand for him allowing a person to walk free who even in HIS MIND AT THE VERY LEAS HAS TO BE GUILTY OF FAILURE TO PROTECT AND IN MOST OTHER PEOPLE’S MIND IS GUILTY OF MURDER!!! I have written a whole page of things that I have thought about all day concerning changes that I think would have helped Kelsey by providing hard evidence that Raye DAwn was hurting Kelsey. I will type them up and send them to you, probably later tonight. I have a feeling sleep won’t come tonight either. You continue to give me strength. Thank you. If you believe that the DA will do what is right then I will try to.
January 23, 2006 12:42:06 PM CST
From: letjusticebedone@hotmail.com
To: KJBRIGGS@aol.com
Subj: Not sure if I have sent you this one or not??
Thursday, January 12, 2006 23:24:56 -0600
From: “John Smith” truejustice101105@hotmail.com
To: letjusticebedone@hotmail.com
Subject: RE: Hope
I hope that any information that you recieve from the website will be confidential and not be used in ANY way to jeopardize justice for Kelsey. This CAN NOT happen. I know the IP addresses of those who post are probably available to you. But my point is, I feel your heart is in the right place regarding Kelsey. I think I knew who you are, but the fact is it doesn’t matter. I know that you may know people that are for Raye Dawn, but we all should want justice for Kelsey no matter who it involves. I hope you don’t take this e-mail the wrong way, I just wanted to make sure your intentions were completely honest and you would never exploit any of the things that were said or any of the information obtained from the board to help someone who does not deserve helping. To many people this is our life and not something that is happening to someone else. I am in no way questions your motives, I just want to make my feelings clear. God Bless.
Friday, January 13, 2006 21:02:41 -0600
From: “shirica howard” shirica@hotmail.com
To: trujustice101105@hotmail.com
Subject: Urgent
what do you know about a hand print bruise?
Shirica
Friday, January 13, 2006 9:14PM
From: John Smith truejustice101105@hotmail.com
To: shirica@hotmail.com
Subject: RE: Urgent
when would this bruise have been on Kelsey?
Friday, January 13, 2006 21:23:28 -0600
From: “shirica howard” shirica@hotmail.com
To: truejustice101105@hotmail.com
Subject: RE: Urgent
I am not sure. I really kind of need to talk to you because I am not sure I can tell you what I know in this email. It is just a little too bazarre. I just wondered if a hand print bruise meant anything to you at all.
Shirica
Friday, January 13, 2006 9:26PM
From: John Smith truejustice101105@hotmail.com
To: shirica@hotmail.com
Subject: RE: Urgent
the only thing that I know about a hand print bruise is very very old. Before me. If it is something recent then I have no clue what you mean. If you want you can call me at 602-0877.
Friday, January 13, 2006 11:01:18 -0600
From: “shirica howard” shirica@hotmail.com
To: truejustice101105@hotmail.com
Subject: POSSIBLE GOOD NEWS
I do not mean to tease you with this next piece of information, but we have been told by OSBI that the possible reason for the stall from the DA is that he is not just looking at making ONE arrest. He is looking at making multiple arrests. Now, you know how things are said and they may or may not come to light, but that would be a nice explanation as to why they are not moving quickly. I personally would love to see more than one person arrested. Be patient. I know that is hard to do, but we have to believe that God has heard our prayer and the light has been placed in the right place.
Shirica
Saturday, January 23, 2010
Raye of Hope
Wrongful convictions do exist.
Video by Sherri Heath, cousin to Raye Dawn Smith.
Video by Sherri Heath, cousin to Raye Dawn Smith.
Friday, January 22, 2010
Proof of the hate
My good friend in London, Laura, made this video to show some of the hate these people have spread just in the last few weeks. Thank you Laura! Big hugs to you.
Monday, January 18, 2010
Kelsey's Purpose
I guess some missed this in my post from yesterday. Kathie told people on Kelsey's Purpose to contact the district attorney and the judge regarding Raye Dawn's bond.
Sunday, January 17, 2010
Seekingtruth aka Mike Porter and the upcoming biased book
The following are private messages between seekingtruth (Mike Porter) and Kelsey's Purpose members. (Yes, if you're a member of Kelsey's Purpose, they can read your private messages. Terri Sigman shared that information with one of my friends.)
Mike Porter was still a member of Kelsey's Purpose as of the time we investigated his status. In fact, he visited Kelsey's Purpose 711 times from the time he was released on bond to the time of his plea deal. His last log in was just before he went to prison - this would have been from approximately December 2005 to February 2007 - 711 visits. He joined the Web site in March of 2006, just after Kathie stopped communicating with him via e-mail.
From id Tinam told seekingtruth Subject no subject utc timestamp 10/6/06 2:26am
message I liked your post on the letter that sad little Gayla wrote.
Fromid seekingtruth told Tinam subject re: no subject utc timestamp 10/6/06 2:44am
[quote-Tinam] I liked your post on the letter that sad little Gayla wrote.
I tried my hardest to bite my tongue but I just could not. I read this site daily and for family member to come on here and accuse people of hatred was just too much. Ultimately it is a waste of time to try to tell people like that anything. Supporting loved ones is one thing, but to lay blame at the feet of people that tried to help Kelsey is just plain wrong. If they would have cared about Kelsey half as much as they care about Raye Dawn things would be different right now. Some of the things they say like saying that they were trying to figure out where the abuse was coming from just makes you shake your head. Raye Dawn had abuse confirmed on her. In my opinion that is the point when if she did not abuse her child she would have stopped protecting whoever did it. I am sick of them playing the victim role, but that is all they know I guess. It makes me angry and sad at the same time. Kelsey never stood a chance with those people. Didn’t mean to vent but those people make me so upset.
Fromid Tinam told seekingtruth re: no subject utc timestamp 10/6/2006 2:56am
{quote=seeking truth} {quote=Tinam} I liked your post on the letter that sad little Gayla wrote. {quote} I tried my hardest to bite my tongue but I just could not. I read this site daily and for family member to come on here and accuse people of hatred was just too much. Ultimately it is a waste of time to try to tell people like that anything. Supporting loved ones is one thing, but to lay blame at the feet of people that tried to help Kelsey is just plain wrong. If they would have cared about Kelsey half as much as they care about Raye Dawn things would be different right now. Some of the things they say like saying that they were trying to figure out where the abuse was coming from just makes you shake your head. Raye Dawn had abuse confirmed on her. In my opinion that is the point when if she did not abuse her child she would have stopped protecting whoever did it. I am sick of them playing the victim role, but that is all they know I guess. It makes me angry and sad at the same time. Kelsey never stood a chance with those people. Didn’t mean to vent but those people make me so upset. {quote}
Well, your reply is a lot nicer than I would like to be. I will never believe for one second that RD is innocent of anything!!! Personally, after hearing on the news what she said in court in Mike’s prelim, I feel that the charges should be reversed!!!! But that’s just my opinion!!! I’m very hard on her when it comes to talking about Kelsey, because she was the mother and for that child to be dead is a reflection of her character!!!!!!
Fromid seekingtruth told Tinam subject re: no subject utc timestamp 10/6/2006 12:26pm
{quote} Well, your reply is a lot nicer than I would like to be. I will never believe for one second that RD is innocent of anything!!! Personally, after hearing on the news what she said in court in Mike’s prelim, I feel that the charges should be reversed!!!! But that’s just my opinion!!! I’m very hard on her when it comes to talking about Kelsey, because she was the mother and for that child to be dead is a reflection of her character!!!!!! {quote}
I will always believe that she is responsible for Kelsey’s death too. Too may things do not add up. I heard about some of the things that were said in court and it sounded like she didn’t help herself at all. You would think if anyone should have loved Kelsey enough to tell the truth it should have been her “mother”. I have heard too many people say that they saw her mistreat and abuse Kelsey to think it was all the step-dad. I just have to shake my head when I seem them continue to embarrass themselves by bashing the Briggs and supporting the people who failed Kelsey. Talk about going down with the ship, my gosh.
Fromid MistyLT told seekingtruth subject fw: no subject utc timestamp 10/7/06 6:18am
He’s standing over the top of me so I can’t answer you. R.D. knows just how to get people to like her. She was in no telling how many beauty pageants in her life and up on the state taking dance for over 12 years. She knows just how to smile and win people over. She’s very good at it. Very Good. FYI Before Lance had the DNA test for Kelsey’s paternity, R.D. was wanting to move to Florida and be a topless dancer. Yeh, I laughed at that one too…she’s flat on top…or was. Her mom, along with Carl Randall’s mom (Dorothy Randall, Mildred’s sister) had already checked into her staying with Carl’s dads brother in Florida. They were going to run away and Gayla was going to help hide R.D. She never did this, but she was very close to it. I’m sure that if it was brought up now, they’d deny anything about it…but it did happen this way. I’d heard that R.D. danced down at the Earlsboro nudie bars for awhile. Don’t know for that sure. Her cousin (Justin’s dad) told me that.{quote}
Fromid MistyLT told seekingtruth subject fw: no subject utc timestamp 10/15/06 11:03pm
{quote=Debbie Hammons} Maybe the pregnancy made her boobs grow! Haha who knows, but she used to be flat. That was what was so funny about the fact that she wanted to be a stripper. The whole thing about going to Florida was to hide from Lance and his family. Then Gayla thought about hiding her out at another part of the state. They were really planning on getting her away and keeping her “protected” from Lance. Shoot, the whole time she was married to Lance, she was very violent towards him. Ray went over there many times in the middle of the night because she would be drunk and hitting and screaming towards Lance. One time she even put her hand thru a glass door and shattered it. She’s one wild and wicked person, I’m telling you. I’m sure that Mike doesn’t know all what happened with Lance because Raye Dawn isn’t going to tell him what SHE did. It’s always the other way around. Back when I still lived in Meeker, I was on my way home from work in the middle of the day & Gayla called me (she knew that I was going home) and asked me to stop in there to see what was happening between R.D. & Lance. They lived in the R.D.’s grandpa Smiths old house just south of where Mildred lives. Anyways, I pulled in there & R.D. was out in the yard just having one of her fits & Lance was just sitting there. Course, at the time they had me believing everything that they told me about Lance (I found out the truth later) & R.D. got in the car & sat there talking to me for a very long time. Now, Gayla was at work, Mildred was at work at Lewis Mfg. & both of them were really upset that Lance was going to “hurt” R.D. (because that’s what she had told them) yet neither bothered to even take off work to go check it out, so I went by there. Lance was calm, R.D. wasn’t. I told her if the marriage wasn’t working out, etc., to get out of it. I had figured out by this time that she was drinking heavily again, (she did that before they got together too) and she was totally out of control. She would throw things in the creek behind their house (household things) & then say that he broke all her collectables (I had bought quite a few of them & they weren’t cheap, for her for her sr. graduation). She was just totally nuts. She needed psychiatric help & I’d even told Gayla that before she even met Mike. She was out to get Mike & marry him from the first time she met him. She thought he had money & Gayla ALWAYS told R.D. it was just as easy to marry a rich man & fall in love later. Did you see her at Mike’s & her arraignment? I haven’t went to any of that stuff so I haven’t seen her in person since I was at court in 6/05. Are you going to be at the walk this afternoon? I’m going to try to be there…me and my flag chair! Haha{quote}
Fromid Seekingjustice told seekingtruth subject no subject utc timestamp 10/22/06 2:02am
Actually my opinion on the whole situation is that Mike was set up to be the one found alone with Kelsey when she died and that Raye Dawn actually is the one who killed Kelsey. In my opinion and I repeat MY opinion, the charges are flip flopped and Mike should be the one charged with Enabling Child Abuse and Raye should be the one charged with murder. I am, however, a witness in the case so I can not go into detail about the evidence I have seen and heard-on which my opinion is based! I didn’t want to post this on the main board simply because I know no one will agree with me and I don’t expect them to because we all are entitled to our own opinions. But you are right, everyone on the maternal side who saw Kelsey often should be charged and punished with at least failure to protect!
Fromid seekingtruth told MistyLT subject Fw: no subject utc timestamp 10/22/06 2:26am
{quote=SeekingJustice} Actually my opinion on the whole situation is that Mike was set up to be the one found alone with Kelsey when she died and that Raye Dawn actually is the one who killed Kelsey. In my opinion and I repeat MY opinion, the charges are flip flopped and Mike should be the one charged with Enabling Child Abuse and Raye should be the one charged with murder. I am, however, a witness in the case so I can not go into detail about the evidence I have seen and heard-on which my opinion is based! I didn’t want to post this on the main board simply because I know no one will agree with me and I don’t expect them to because we all are entitled to our own opinions. But you are right, everyone on the maternal side who saw Kelsey often should be charged and punished with at least failure to protect!{quote}
Fromid seekingtruth told SeekingJustice subject Fw: no subject utc timestamp 10/22/06 3:17pm
{quote=SeekingJustice} Actually my opinion on the whole situation is that Mike was set up to be the one found alone with Kelsey when she died and that Raye Dawn actually is the one who killed Kelsey. In my opinion and I repeat MY opinion, the charges are flip flopped and Mike should be the one charged with Enabling Child Abuse and Raye should be the one charged with murder. I am, however, a witness in the case so I can not go into detail about the evidence I have seen and heard-on which my opinion is based! I didn’t want to post this on the main board simply because I know no one will agree with me and I don’t expect them to because we all are entitled to our own opinions. But you are right, everyone on the maternal side who saw Kelsey often should be charged and punished with at least failure to protect!{quote}
Sorry I just saw this PM. I completely agree with you. I know several people involved and I also will never believe that Mike killed Kelsey. Everything I have seen has pointed at Raye Dawn. I do think you would be surprised how many people think that. I know that in the town of Meeker many people think Raye Dawn is responsible and also in Shawnee where Mike is from most people believe that Raye Dawn did it. In my opinion he should be punished but not for something he did not do.
Fromid SeekingJustice told seekingtruth subject Re: no subject utc timestamp 10/22/06 7:06pm
I’m glad that you can see where I’m coming from. And yes, both Mike and Raye dawn should be punished but they should be punished for what they did-he should not go to jail for murder but for failure to protect. She should not go for child abuse but for murder! I also think Gayla should go to jail with her since she supposedly saw Kelsey so much yet she somehow didn’t see all of the signs of abuse or else she saw them and chose not to report them because she knew her daughter was the one who did it and she didn’t want to get her into trouble. I used to babysit Mike’s kids and NEVER EVER saw anything on either of them. They were two of the happiest kids I had ever met in my life and they had a GREAT dad and they still do. The only thing Mike did wrong was not help Kelsey. He should have tried to help her even if it meant upsetting Raye Dawn. I’m sure now he realizes that. Another thing that bothers me is that she didn’t go file for divorce. If they arrested my husband and said that he killed my son or daughter I would be a the court house before the police even had him there and I would be filing those papers-but I think she was too worried on covering her own butt to even think about filing for divorce. I’m sorry but none of the things she has done add up to me. But don’t get me wrong I do believe Mike should be in trouble also but like you said she should not be in trouble for something he didn’t do. Are you from Meeker? Or Shawnee?
Fromid seekingtruth told SeekingJustice subject Fw: no subject utc timestamp 10/22/06 7:33pm
{quote} I’m glad that you can see where I’m coming from. And yes, both Mike and Raye dawn should be punished but they should be punished for what they did-he should not go to jail for murder but for failure to protect. She should not go for child abuse but for murder! I also think Gayla should go to jail with her since she supposedly saw Kelsey so much yet she somehow didn’t see all of the signs of abuse or else she saw them and chose not to report them because she knew her daughter was the one who did it and she didn’t want to get her into trouble. I used to babysit Mike’s kids and NEVER EVER saw anything on either of them. They were two of the happiest kids I had ever met in my life and they had a GREAT dad and they still do. The only thing Mike did wrong was not help Kelsey. He should have tried to help her even if it meant upsetting Raye Dawn. I’m sure now he realizes that. Another thing that bothers me is that she didn’t go file for divorce. If they arrested my husband and said that he killed my son or daughter I would be a the court house before the police even had him there and I would be filing those papers-but I think she was too worried on covering her own butt to even think about filing for divorce. I’m sorry but none of the things she has done add up to me. But don’t get me wrong I do believe Mike should be in trouble also but like you said she should not be in trouble for something he didn’t do. Are you from Meeker? Or Shawnee? {quote}
I could not agree with you more. I know Mike very well. I am from Shawnee. I know he was and is a good father. I saw him with Kelsey and his own kids. I think that there are a lot of people that know that this case doesn’t add up. I know for a fact that Mike wishes he would have helped Kelsey. I truly believe that if he was charged with failure to protect he probably would have plead guilty because that’s how he feels. Like I said, I know him very well and he is not the person that so many people want to make him out to be. I think he should be punished but not for the things he is accused of. I truly believe that it is so obvious that Raye Dawn did it. I just can’t see what the DA sees, and I know a lot of other people can not see how anyone could not see straight through her. I think it is sad, sad, sad, most of all for Kelsey and also for the other kids involved. Mike’s kids are probably going to lose a father just because he is an easier target for a conviction. Like I said, no one will ever be able to convince me that Mike killed Kelsey. The evidence is just not there. I will always know that Raye Dawn got mad at Kelsey that day and went too far. Plus she knew Lance was coming back and he would take Kelsey from her.
Fromid seekingtruth told MistyLT subject Fw: no subject utc timestamp 10/22/06 7:39pm
Now this is getting interesting lol
{quote=SeekingJustice} I’m glad that you can see where I’m coming from. And yes, both Mike and Raye dawn should be punished but they should be punished for what they did-he should not go to jail for murder but for failure to protect. She should not go for child abuse but for murder! I also think Gayla should go to jail with her since she supposedly saw Kelsey so much yet she somehow didn’t see all of the signs of abuse or else she saw them and chose not to report them because she knew her daughter was the one who did it and she didn’t want to get her into trouble. I used to babysit Mike’s kids and NEVER EVER saw anything on either of them. They were two of the happiest kids I had ever met in my life and they had a GREAT dad and they still do. The only thing Mike did wrong was not help Kelsey. He should have tried to help her even if it meant upsetting Raye Dawn. I’m sure now he realizes that. Another thing that bothers me is that she didn’t go file for divorce. If they arrested my husband and said that he killed my son or daughter I would be a the court house before the police even had him there and I would be filing those papers-but I think she was too worried on covering her own butt to even think about filing for divorce. I’m sorry but none of the things she has done add up to me. But don’t get me wrong I do believe Mike should be in trouble also but like you said she should not be in trouble for something he didn’t do. Are you from Meeker? Or Shawnee? {quote}
Fromid MistyLT told SeekingTruth subject Fw: no subject utc timestamp 10/22/06 4:55am
{quote=mommy_of_an_angel} Carolyn has never said much, the only thing she has said is that Kayla was sick, she gave her some Dimetapp and put her to sleep. Or at least that’s what she said to the Detective. She had numerous stories she told to different people before she was arrested and they all have something to do with Kayla being deathly ill.
{quote=MistyLT} I just wanted to tell you that I know it’s obvious by some of the posts that people didn’t really read the case close enough. I read everything on both sites and I think your theory about her putting the poison in the medicine is right on the money. Has Carolyn given any explanation as to why the poison was there or what happened? {quote}
In August of 2006, the district attorney, Richard Smothermon, asked that Mike Porter's bond be increased due to the addition of the sexual assault charge against Mike Porter after the second autopsy. This request was denied since Mike Porter had been out on bond since December, 2005, even though Mike Porter had been communicating with the Briggs after his bond. Kelsey's Purpose members never spoke of their disappointment that his bond amount was not changed and they did not picket or write or call to have it changed, knowing that the district attorney fully believe that Mike Porter sexually assaulted Kelsey.
This is Mike Porter's profile on Kelsey's Purpose. As of July, 2009, he was still a member. You'll notice that it says he only posted four times on the forum, and below are three of his posts, but in another thread the members responded to his posts that had been removed.
In the following thread, you'll see what Kelsey's Purpose does. They find a case, form an opinion based on media reports, jump in and defend one side and then start contacting officials, media, family members, and so on. In this thread, as always they bring the other child's case back to that of Kelsey's and begin complaining about Raye Dawn and how they aren't happy with her bond or how she was treated, yet no mention at all of Mike Porter. Although Mike Porter's posts were deleted, they respond to him and their posts take on a different tone. (The posts are just a few from the thread)
As it was at Kelsey's Purpose from the beginning, the focus has been and remains on Raye Dawn, the mother who loved her child and was not home at the time of her child's death. Not only has the public been deceived into thinking that Kelsey's Purpose is about helping children when it was in fact about trashing Raye Dawn, her family, and others, but now the public is being told that two journalists are writing an investigative piece that explores the question of who killed Kelsey.
Their Facebook page that is filled with only negative comments about Raye Dawn coupled with the relationship the journalists have with the Briggs, i.e. Cherokee Ballard had Thanksgiving dinner at the Briggs home and Britten Follet published trial notes during Raye Dawn's trial that were incomplete and one-sided while reporting only the negative side of the story, illustrate to us the true nature and intent of the book. I believe this picture of Kathie Briggs with the authors says it all.
As for me, I get paid to investigate and research for my clients when working on projects. At times, clients come to me with a title or a sentence and I create a fully researched book. This is what I do. I research, investigate, get to the heart of the matter, and write about it. I find the truth about the subject and expose it and I'm good at it. If I were a liar, as the Briggs wish the public to believe, why do they waste energy on me? Food for thought.
Have a blessed day and more of the secret e-mails and my investigations that cannot fit into the book will be posted at a later date.
Mike Porter was still a member of Kelsey's Purpose as of the time we investigated his status. In fact, he visited Kelsey's Purpose 711 times from the time he was released on bond to the time of his plea deal. His last log in was just before he went to prison - this would have been from approximately December 2005 to February 2007 - 711 visits. He joined the Web site in March of 2006, just after Kathie stopped communicating with him via e-mail.
From id Tinam told seekingtruth Subject no subject utc timestamp 10/6/06 2:26am
message I liked your post on the letter that sad little Gayla wrote.
Fromid seekingtruth told Tinam subject re: no subject utc timestamp 10/6/06 2:44am
[quote-Tinam] I liked your post on the letter that sad little Gayla wrote.
I tried my hardest to bite my tongue but I just could not. I read this site daily and for family member to come on here and accuse people of hatred was just too much. Ultimately it is a waste of time to try to tell people like that anything. Supporting loved ones is one thing, but to lay blame at the feet of people that tried to help Kelsey is just plain wrong. If they would have cared about Kelsey half as much as they care about Raye Dawn things would be different right now. Some of the things they say like saying that they were trying to figure out where the abuse was coming from just makes you shake your head. Raye Dawn had abuse confirmed on her. In my opinion that is the point when if she did not abuse her child she would have stopped protecting whoever did it. I am sick of them playing the victim role, but that is all they know I guess. It makes me angry and sad at the same time. Kelsey never stood a chance with those people. Didn’t mean to vent but those people make me so upset.
Fromid Tinam told seekingtruth re: no subject utc timestamp 10/6/2006 2:56am
{quote=seeking truth} {quote=Tinam} I liked your post on the letter that sad little Gayla wrote. {quote} I tried my hardest to bite my tongue but I just could not. I read this site daily and for family member to come on here and accuse people of hatred was just too much. Ultimately it is a waste of time to try to tell people like that anything. Supporting loved ones is one thing, but to lay blame at the feet of people that tried to help Kelsey is just plain wrong. If they would have cared about Kelsey half as much as they care about Raye Dawn things would be different right now. Some of the things they say like saying that they were trying to figure out where the abuse was coming from just makes you shake your head. Raye Dawn had abuse confirmed on her. In my opinion that is the point when if she did not abuse her child she would have stopped protecting whoever did it. I am sick of them playing the victim role, but that is all they know I guess. It makes me angry and sad at the same time. Kelsey never stood a chance with those people. Didn’t mean to vent but those people make me so upset. {quote}
Well, your reply is a lot nicer than I would like to be. I will never believe for one second that RD is innocent of anything!!! Personally, after hearing on the news what she said in court in Mike’s prelim, I feel that the charges should be reversed!!!! But that’s just my opinion!!! I’m very hard on her when it comes to talking about Kelsey, because she was the mother and for that child to be dead is a reflection of her character!!!!!!
Fromid seekingtruth told Tinam subject re: no subject utc timestamp 10/6/2006 12:26pm
{quote} Well, your reply is a lot nicer than I would like to be. I will never believe for one second that RD is innocent of anything!!! Personally, after hearing on the news what she said in court in Mike’s prelim, I feel that the charges should be reversed!!!! But that’s just my opinion!!! I’m very hard on her when it comes to talking about Kelsey, because she was the mother and for that child to be dead is a reflection of her character!!!!!! {quote}
I will always believe that she is responsible for Kelsey’s death too. Too may things do not add up. I heard about some of the things that were said in court and it sounded like she didn’t help herself at all. You would think if anyone should have loved Kelsey enough to tell the truth it should have been her “mother”. I have heard too many people say that they saw her mistreat and abuse Kelsey to think it was all the step-dad. I just have to shake my head when I seem them continue to embarrass themselves by bashing the Briggs and supporting the people who failed Kelsey. Talk about going down with the ship, my gosh.
Fromid MistyLT told seekingtruth subject fw: no subject utc timestamp 10/7/06 6:18am
He’s standing over the top of me so I can’t answer you. R.D. knows just how to get people to like her. She was in no telling how many beauty pageants in her life and up on the state taking dance for over 12 years. She knows just how to smile and win people over. She’s very good at it. Very Good. FYI Before Lance had the DNA test for Kelsey’s paternity, R.D. was wanting to move to Florida and be a topless dancer. Yeh, I laughed at that one too…she’s flat on top…or was. Her mom, along with Carl Randall’s mom (Dorothy Randall, Mildred’s sister) had already checked into her staying with Carl’s dads brother in Florida. They were going to run away and Gayla was going to help hide R.D. She never did this, but she was very close to it. I’m sure that if it was brought up now, they’d deny anything about it…but it did happen this way. I’d heard that R.D. danced down at the Earlsboro nudie bars for awhile. Don’t know for that sure. Her cousin (Justin’s dad) told me that.{quote}
Fromid MistyLT told seekingtruth subject fw: no subject utc timestamp 10/15/06 11:03pm
{quote=Debbie Hammons} Maybe the pregnancy made her boobs grow! Haha who knows, but she used to be flat. That was what was so funny about the fact that she wanted to be a stripper. The whole thing about going to Florida was to hide from Lance and his family. Then Gayla thought about hiding her out at another part of the state. They were really planning on getting her away and keeping her “protected” from Lance. Shoot, the whole time she was married to Lance, she was very violent towards him. Ray went over there many times in the middle of the night because she would be drunk and hitting and screaming towards Lance. One time she even put her hand thru a glass door and shattered it. She’s one wild and wicked person, I’m telling you. I’m sure that Mike doesn’t know all what happened with Lance because Raye Dawn isn’t going to tell him what SHE did. It’s always the other way around. Back when I still lived in Meeker, I was on my way home from work in the middle of the day & Gayla called me (she knew that I was going home) and asked me to stop in there to see what was happening between R.D. & Lance. They lived in the R.D.’s grandpa Smiths old house just south of where Mildred lives. Anyways, I pulled in there & R.D. was out in the yard just having one of her fits & Lance was just sitting there. Course, at the time they had me believing everything that they told me about Lance (I found out the truth later) & R.D. got in the car & sat there talking to me for a very long time. Now, Gayla was at work, Mildred was at work at Lewis Mfg. & both of them were really upset that Lance was going to “hurt” R.D. (because that’s what she had told them) yet neither bothered to even take off work to go check it out, so I went by there. Lance was calm, R.D. wasn’t. I told her if the marriage wasn’t working out, etc., to get out of it. I had figured out by this time that she was drinking heavily again, (she did that before they got together too) and she was totally out of control. She would throw things in the creek behind their house (household things) & then say that he broke all her collectables (I had bought quite a few of them & they weren’t cheap, for her for her sr. graduation). She was just totally nuts. She needed psychiatric help & I’d even told Gayla that before she even met Mike. She was out to get Mike & marry him from the first time she met him. She thought he had money & Gayla ALWAYS told R.D. it was just as easy to marry a rich man & fall in love later. Did you see her at Mike’s & her arraignment? I haven’t went to any of that stuff so I haven’t seen her in person since I was at court in 6/05. Are you going to be at the walk this afternoon? I’m going to try to be there…me and my flag chair! Haha{quote}
Fromid Seekingjustice told seekingtruth subject no subject utc timestamp 10/22/06 2:02am
Actually my opinion on the whole situation is that Mike was set up to be the one found alone with Kelsey when she died and that Raye Dawn actually is the one who killed Kelsey. In my opinion and I repeat MY opinion, the charges are flip flopped and Mike should be the one charged with Enabling Child Abuse and Raye should be the one charged with murder. I am, however, a witness in the case so I can not go into detail about the evidence I have seen and heard-on which my opinion is based! I didn’t want to post this on the main board simply because I know no one will agree with me and I don’t expect them to because we all are entitled to our own opinions. But you are right, everyone on the maternal side who saw Kelsey often should be charged and punished with at least failure to protect!
Fromid seekingtruth told MistyLT subject Fw: no subject utc timestamp 10/22/06 2:26am
{quote=SeekingJustice} Actually my opinion on the whole situation is that Mike was set up to be the one found alone with Kelsey when she died and that Raye Dawn actually is the one who killed Kelsey. In my opinion and I repeat MY opinion, the charges are flip flopped and Mike should be the one charged with Enabling Child Abuse and Raye should be the one charged with murder. I am, however, a witness in the case so I can not go into detail about the evidence I have seen and heard-on which my opinion is based! I didn’t want to post this on the main board simply because I know no one will agree with me and I don’t expect them to because we all are entitled to our own opinions. But you are right, everyone on the maternal side who saw Kelsey often should be charged and punished with at least failure to protect!{quote}
Fromid seekingtruth told SeekingJustice subject Fw: no subject utc timestamp 10/22/06 3:17pm
{quote=SeekingJustice} Actually my opinion on the whole situation is that Mike was set up to be the one found alone with Kelsey when she died and that Raye Dawn actually is the one who killed Kelsey. In my opinion and I repeat MY opinion, the charges are flip flopped and Mike should be the one charged with Enabling Child Abuse and Raye should be the one charged with murder. I am, however, a witness in the case so I can not go into detail about the evidence I have seen and heard-on which my opinion is based! I didn’t want to post this on the main board simply because I know no one will agree with me and I don’t expect them to because we all are entitled to our own opinions. But you are right, everyone on the maternal side who saw Kelsey often should be charged and punished with at least failure to protect!{quote}
Sorry I just saw this PM. I completely agree with you. I know several people involved and I also will never believe that Mike killed Kelsey. Everything I have seen has pointed at Raye Dawn. I do think you would be surprised how many people think that. I know that in the town of Meeker many people think Raye Dawn is responsible and also in Shawnee where Mike is from most people believe that Raye Dawn did it. In my opinion he should be punished but not for something he did not do.
Fromid SeekingJustice told seekingtruth subject Re: no subject utc timestamp 10/22/06 7:06pm
I’m glad that you can see where I’m coming from. And yes, both Mike and Raye dawn should be punished but they should be punished for what they did-he should not go to jail for murder but for failure to protect. She should not go for child abuse but for murder! I also think Gayla should go to jail with her since she supposedly saw Kelsey so much yet she somehow didn’t see all of the signs of abuse or else she saw them and chose not to report them because she knew her daughter was the one who did it and she didn’t want to get her into trouble. I used to babysit Mike’s kids and NEVER EVER saw anything on either of them. They were two of the happiest kids I had ever met in my life and they had a GREAT dad and they still do. The only thing Mike did wrong was not help Kelsey. He should have tried to help her even if it meant upsetting Raye Dawn. I’m sure now he realizes that. Another thing that bothers me is that she didn’t go file for divorce. If they arrested my husband and said that he killed my son or daughter I would be a the court house before the police even had him there and I would be filing those papers-but I think she was too worried on covering her own butt to even think about filing for divorce. I’m sorry but none of the things she has done add up to me. But don’t get me wrong I do believe Mike should be in trouble also but like you said she should not be in trouble for something he didn’t do. Are you from Meeker? Or Shawnee?
Fromid seekingtruth told SeekingJustice subject Fw: no subject utc timestamp 10/22/06 7:33pm
{quote} I’m glad that you can see where I’m coming from. And yes, both Mike and Raye dawn should be punished but they should be punished for what they did-he should not go to jail for murder but for failure to protect. She should not go for child abuse but for murder! I also think Gayla should go to jail with her since she supposedly saw Kelsey so much yet she somehow didn’t see all of the signs of abuse or else she saw them and chose not to report them because she knew her daughter was the one who did it and she didn’t want to get her into trouble. I used to babysit Mike’s kids and NEVER EVER saw anything on either of them. They were two of the happiest kids I had ever met in my life and they had a GREAT dad and they still do. The only thing Mike did wrong was not help Kelsey. He should have tried to help her even if it meant upsetting Raye Dawn. I’m sure now he realizes that. Another thing that bothers me is that she didn’t go file for divorce. If they arrested my husband and said that he killed my son or daughter I would be a the court house before the police even had him there and I would be filing those papers-but I think she was too worried on covering her own butt to even think about filing for divorce. I’m sorry but none of the things she has done add up to me. But don’t get me wrong I do believe Mike should be in trouble also but like you said she should not be in trouble for something he didn’t do. Are you from Meeker? Or Shawnee? {quote}
I could not agree with you more. I know Mike very well. I am from Shawnee. I know he was and is a good father. I saw him with Kelsey and his own kids. I think that there are a lot of people that know that this case doesn’t add up. I know for a fact that Mike wishes he would have helped Kelsey. I truly believe that if he was charged with failure to protect he probably would have plead guilty because that’s how he feels. Like I said, I know him very well and he is not the person that so many people want to make him out to be. I think he should be punished but not for the things he is accused of. I truly believe that it is so obvious that Raye Dawn did it. I just can’t see what the DA sees, and I know a lot of other people can not see how anyone could not see straight through her. I think it is sad, sad, sad, most of all for Kelsey and also for the other kids involved. Mike’s kids are probably going to lose a father just because he is an easier target for a conviction. Like I said, no one will ever be able to convince me that Mike killed Kelsey. The evidence is just not there. I will always know that Raye Dawn got mad at Kelsey that day and went too far. Plus she knew Lance was coming back and he would take Kelsey from her.
Fromid seekingtruth told MistyLT subject Fw: no subject utc timestamp 10/22/06 7:39pm
Now this is getting interesting lol
{quote=SeekingJustice} I’m glad that you can see where I’m coming from. And yes, both Mike and Raye dawn should be punished but they should be punished for what they did-he should not go to jail for murder but for failure to protect. She should not go for child abuse but for murder! I also think Gayla should go to jail with her since she supposedly saw Kelsey so much yet she somehow didn’t see all of the signs of abuse or else she saw them and chose not to report them because she knew her daughter was the one who did it and she didn’t want to get her into trouble. I used to babysit Mike’s kids and NEVER EVER saw anything on either of them. They were two of the happiest kids I had ever met in my life and they had a GREAT dad and they still do. The only thing Mike did wrong was not help Kelsey. He should have tried to help her even if it meant upsetting Raye Dawn. I’m sure now he realizes that. Another thing that bothers me is that she didn’t go file for divorce. If they arrested my husband and said that he killed my son or daughter I would be a the court house before the police even had him there and I would be filing those papers-but I think she was too worried on covering her own butt to even think about filing for divorce. I’m sorry but none of the things she has done add up to me. But don’t get me wrong I do believe Mike should be in trouble also but like you said she should not be in trouble for something he didn’t do. Are you from Meeker? Or Shawnee? {quote}
Fromid MistyLT told SeekingTruth subject Fw: no subject utc timestamp 10/22/06 4:55am
{quote=mommy_of_an_angel} Carolyn has never said much, the only thing she has said is that Kayla was sick, she gave her some Dimetapp and put her to sleep. Or at least that’s what she said to the Detective. She had numerous stories she told to different people before she was arrested and they all have something to do with Kayla being deathly ill.
{quote=MistyLT} I just wanted to tell you that I know it’s obvious by some of the posts that people didn’t really read the case close enough. I read everything on both sites and I think your theory about her putting the poison in the medicine is right on the money. Has Carolyn given any explanation as to why the poison was there or what happened? {quote}
In August of 2006, the district attorney, Richard Smothermon, asked that Mike Porter's bond be increased due to the addition of the sexual assault charge against Mike Porter after the second autopsy. This request was denied since Mike Porter had been out on bond since December, 2005, even though Mike Porter had been communicating with the Briggs after his bond. Kelsey's Purpose members never spoke of their disappointment that his bond amount was not changed and they did not picket or write or call to have it changed, knowing that the district attorney fully believe that Mike Porter sexually assaulted Kelsey.
This is Mike Porter's profile on Kelsey's Purpose. As of July, 2009, he was still a member. You'll notice that it says he only posted four times on the forum, and below are three of his posts, but in another thread the members responded to his posts that had been removed.
In the following thread, you'll see what Kelsey's Purpose does. They find a case, form an opinion based on media reports, jump in and defend one side and then start contacting officials, media, family members, and so on. In this thread, as always they bring the other child's case back to that of Kelsey's and begin complaining about Raye Dawn and how they aren't happy with her bond or how she was treated, yet no mention at all of Mike Porter. Although Mike Porter's posts were deleted, they respond to him and their posts take on a different tone. (The posts are just a few from the thread)
As it was at Kelsey's Purpose from the beginning, the focus has been and remains on Raye Dawn, the mother who loved her child and was not home at the time of her child's death. Not only has the public been deceived into thinking that Kelsey's Purpose is about helping children when it was in fact about trashing Raye Dawn, her family, and others, but now the public is being told that two journalists are writing an investigative piece that explores the question of who killed Kelsey.
Their Facebook page that is filled with only negative comments about Raye Dawn coupled with the relationship the journalists have with the Briggs, i.e. Cherokee Ballard had Thanksgiving dinner at the Briggs home and Britten Follet published trial notes during Raye Dawn's trial that were incomplete and one-sided while reporting only the negative side of the story, illustrate to us the true nature and intent of the book. I believe this picture of Kathie Briggs with the authors says it all.
As for me, I get paid to investigate and research for my clients when working on projects. At times, clients come to me with a title or a sentence and I create a fully researched book. This is what I do. I research, investigate, get to the heart of the matter, and write about it. I find the truth about the subject and expose it and I'm good at it. If I were a liar, as the Briggs wish the public to believe, why do they waste energy on me? Food for thought.
Have a blessed day and more of the secret e-mails and my investigations that cannot fit into the book will be posted at a later date.
Friday, January 15, 2010
Wrongful Convictions in Oklahoma
We met Senator Connie Johnson in early 2008 on a trip to the State Capitol as we passed out informational packets about Raye Dawn's wrongful conviction. We ran into the Senator again when we joined the Coalition to Abolish the Death Penalty here in Oklahoma. She's a passionate woman who cares about wrongful convictions in our state and she marched with us in the summer of 2009 in our state's freedom march, a concept that a wonderful friend in a state just to the north and I created and then my friend along with Sherri Heath and myself enlisted 16 to 20 states to march with us - www.freedommarchusa.org.
Senator Johnson has now introduced a bill against wrongful convictions to create the Oklahoma Commission on Wrongful Convictions. It's part of the Senator's plan to end the death penalty in our state within the next four years, something many of us have been praying for considering the number of proven wrongful convictions; ten have been exonerated from death row.
Oklahoma currently has no innocent project and has relied on the Midwestern Innocence Project for all of our wrongful conviction cases. Senator Johnson's bill introduction is the first of many steps that will make some positive changes in our state.
To find out more about wrongful convictions, you can visit www.Rayeofhope.org. This is a cause that has become near and dear to my heart as I've gotten to know families from every part of the United States who are suffering with their loved ones who they believe are wrongfully convicted, just as Raye Dawn Smith.
Senator Johnson has now introduced a bill against wrongful convictions to create the Oklahoma Commission on Wrongful Convictions. It's part of the Senator's plan to end the death penalty in our state within the next four years, something many of us have been praying for considering the number of proven wrongful convictions; ten have been exonerated from death row.
Oklahoma currently has no innocent project and has relied on the Midwestern Innocence Project for all of our wrongful conviction cases. Senator Johnson's bill introduction is the first of many steps that will make some positive changes in our state.
To find out more about wrongful convictions, you can visit www.Rayeofhope.org. This is a cause that has become near and dear to my heart as I've gotten to know families from every part of the United States who are suffering with their loved ones who they believe are wrongfully convicted, just as Raye Dawn Smith.
Monday, January 11, 2010
Other Trial Notes
Key things that need to be noted about the depositions are as follows:
1. Lance didn't know Kelsey's birthday or anything about her. He told Raye's attorney, "Ask my mom."
2. The "broken man" the Briggs described who doesn't smile anymore laughed as he sat through Raye Dawn's deposition and held up his fingers for 27, the number of years that Raye was sentenced. He laughed during a deposition about the abuse and murder of his daughter.
3. Kathie stated that she didn't make a single call to DHS concerning Kelsey. The grandmother who "fought so hard for her grandchild" didn't even call in a single report to DHS, according to her.
4. Ashley was unreachable and didn't show up to testify for Lance
5. Richard Smothermon threatened to file a restraining order against Jones if he asked any questions about the case
6. Mike Porter plead the fifth and was defended by Lance's attorney and Lance's attorney shook his hand
Who's hiding something? It sounds like a few people are hiding things.
Further notes on the hearing -
Gayla was listed on Raye Dawn's witness list but Raye Dawn did such a wonderful job that Jones didn't need Gayla.
Plus, Lance's attorney who sounded like a preacher giving a sermon instead of asking questions took up most of the time with his repetitious double talk
Jones wanted to add two more witnesses to Raye Dawn's list but Lance's attorneys threw a fit about it
Lance's attorneys, three middle-aged men high-fived each other after the hearing, which looked almost as silly as Lance's attorney looked on New Year's Eve at the piano bar with his little hat and his horn, ordering drinks, dancing, and carrying on like he was 21
After the hearing, a reporter walked up to Sherri and asked her if she wanted to talk to the media. Sherri stated that she would and as we walked to the elevator I asked the reporter what channel he was with. He stated, "Fox 25." I told Sherri, "He's with Britten's channel." Sherri turned around and told him that she did not have anything to say to any news channel that is associated with Britten Follet. We went outside and a few cameras were there. Sherri made a statement and afterward realized that the channel 25 camera was there. Sherri told the cameraman, "You do not have my permission to use my interview." In a very rude tone he told her, "It's way too late for that lady." Sherri then called the station and told them not to air her interview and they did it anyway. She explained to them that Britten Follet has been reporting biased reports against Raye Dawn and her family since the start of the case and now she's writing a biased book and she did not want to have anything to do with the channel. They stated that she was on a public street so she couldn't do anything about it.
It's so upsetting how the media has treated this case and how everything has been tilted in the favor of the Briggs, a family that has repeatedly lied. The hate will not end until the liars are no longer given a platform. I'm praying for that day to come soon!
1. Lance didn't know Kelsey's birthday or anything about her. He told Raye's attorney, "Ask my mom."
2. The "broken man" the Briggs described who doesn't smile anymore laughed as he sat through Raye Dawn's deposition and held up his fingers for 27, the number of years that Raye was sentenced. He laughed during a deposition about the abuse and murder of his daughter.
3. Kathie stated that she didn't make a single call to DHS concerning Kelsey. The grandmother who "fought so hard for her grandchild" didn't even call in a single report to DHS, according to her.
4. Ashley was unreachable and didn't show up to testify for Lance
5. Richard Smothermon threatened to file a restraining order against Jones if he asked any questions about the case
6. Mike Porter plead the fifth and was defended by Lance's attorney and Lance's attorney shook his hand
Who's hiding something? It sounds like a few people are hiding things.
Further notes on the hearing -
Gayla was listed on Raye Dawn's witness list but Raye Dawn did such a wonderful job that Jones didn't need Gayla.
Plus, Lance's attorney who sounded like a preacher giving a sermon instead of asking questions took up most of the time with his repetitious double talk
Jones wanted to add two more witnesses to Raye Dawn's list but Lance's attorneys threw a fit about it
Lance's attorneys, three middle-aged men high-fived each other after the hearing, which looked almost as silly as Lance's attorney looked on New Year's Eve at the piano bar with his little hat and his horn, ordering drinks, dancing, and carrying on like he was 21
After the hearing, a reporter walked up to Sherri and asked her if she wanted to talk to the media. Sherri stated that she would and as we walked to the elevator I asked the reporter what channel he was with. He stated, "Fox 25." I told Sherri, "He's with Britten's channel." Sherri turned around and told him that she did not have anything to say to any news channel that is associated with Britten Follet. We went outside and a few cameras were there. Sherri made a statement and afterward realized that the channel 25 camera was there. Sherri told the cameraman, "You do not have my permission to use my interview." In a very rude tone he told her, "It's way too late for that lady." Sherri then called the station and told them not to air her interview and they did it anyway. She explained to them that Britten Follet has been reporting biased reports against Raye Dawn and her family since the start of the case and now she's writing a biased book and she did not want to have anything to do with the channel. They stated that she was on a public street so she couldn't do anything about it.
It's so upsetting how the media has treated this case and how everything has been tilted in the favor of the Briggs, a family that has repeatedly lied. The hate will not end until the liars are no longer given a platform. I'm praying for that day to come soon!
Raye Dawn's Testimony
I didn't proof this because it took so long to type. I apologize for any typos.
Raye Dawn was called to the stand.
The marshal moved to the chair beside the witness stand. His handcuffs and gun were visible underneath his suit jacket.
Raye Dawn’s hands were not cuffed, but the shackles on her feet jingled as she walked to the stand. The jingle sound, each time I heard it as she sat at the table and walked to the stand, went through my heart. It was like nails on a chalkboard.
Jones asked about Raye’s education and employment. Raye Dawn stated that she had attended Seminole college and listed the areas of study. Raye Dawn then listed her employers, including two nursing homes.
Jones asked about her conviction of enabling child abuse and stated that her case was still in appeals.
Jones asked Raye Dawn when she learned of her pregnancy. She stated that she found out she was pregnant in August of 2002.
Jones asked Raye Dawn who named Kelsey and where her name came from. Raye Dawn explained that her grandma had seen the name Kelsey and liked it. Shelton is Raye Dawn’s father’s middle name.
Jones asked Raye Dawn questions about where she lived and she answered.
Jones asked Raye Dawn if she worked after Kelsey was born. Raye Dawn stated that she was home with Kelsey for eight months while she took care of her dad. Raye Dawn stated that she went to Seminole State at night.
Jones asked Raye Dawn about Kelsey’s pediatrician. Raye Dawn stated that Kelsey went to Mary Mahoney Clinic for immunizations or for check-ups.
Jones asked Raye Dawn who took Kelsey to the doctor. Raye Dawn stated that she did.
Jones asked Raye Dawn if she took pictures of Kelsey to document their relationship. Raye Dawn stated, “I took pictures because I was proud of her.”
Jones asked about Kelsey.
Raye Dawn stated that she had a little doll that was a Precious Moments doll and it would say “Amen” and Kelsey would repeat it and say “Amen.”
My note: During Raye’s stories, her voice is full of love. The audience members are laughing at the things Kelsey did.
Raye Dawn stated that she had an old razor that she was finished with so she took the blade out of it and gave it to Kelsey and she would tell Kelsey that it was time to get out of the bathtub and Kelsey said, “Mommy, I haf to shave my legs.”
My note: Laughter from everyone
Jones asked Raye Dawn about her dad dying. Raye stated that he died on April 15, 2004. Raye stated he was sick with cancer.
Jones asked Raye Dawn where she worked. Raye stated that she went back to work at Lewis Manufacturing.
Jones asked what Raye Dawn did at Lewis.
Raye Dawn stated that she made grips for oilfields. She braided the grips.
Jones asked Raye Dawn what her hours were. Raye Dawn stated that her hours were 7am to 4pm, 5 days a week.
Jones asked Raye Dawn when she moved out. Raye Dawn stated that she moved into an apartment in meeker in August, 2004.
Jones asked where Kelsey went while Raye Dawn was at work. Raye Dawn stated that Miss Julie looked after Kelsey. Raye Dawn stated that she was highly recommended.
Jones asked who else watched Kelsey. Raye Dawn stated that her mom, her sisters, or [I believe she said something about a family.]
Jones asked Raye Dawn why she switched Kelsey from formula. Raye Dawn stated that she switched her because she threw up the formula and was constipated. Raye Dawn stated that Kelsey did fine on vitamin D milk. Raye Dawn stated that when they switched that she was no longer constipated and didn’t throw up.
Jones asked Raye Dawn what types of foods Kelsey liked to eat. Raye Dawn stated that she liked mashed potatoes, goulash, grapes, cherry tomatoes, frozen custard, and milk. Raye Dawn stated that Kelsey would say, “I haf to have my milk.”
Jones asked Raye Dawn what were Kelsey’s first words. Raye Dawn stated, “Momma and duck.”
Jones asked about Kelsey walking. Raye Dawn stated that Kelsey was standing at eight months and that she walked at nine or ten months. Raye Dawn stated that Kelsey started walking by pushing a laundry basket.
Jones asked Raye Dawn about Lance’s visitation. Raye Dawn stated that the visitation started in March or April of 2003.
Jones confirmed with Raye Dawn that Lance never filed for joint custody. Raye Dawn agreed that he didn’t.
Jones asked Raye Dawn about Kathie filing for guardianship in January, 2005. Raye Dawn stated that she had dropped Kelsey off with Kathie and that Kelsey had a broken collarbone.
Jones asked Raye Dawn about Lance’s visits. Raye Dawn stated that before Lance’s deployment he had supervised visits and then he had Kelsey every other weekend.
Jones asked when Kelsey was removed from Kathie’s home. Raye Dawn stated that she was removed in May, 2005 and placed with her mom, Gayla.
Raye Dawn stated that she asked Kathie why she didn’t call and tell her that DHS was taking Kelsey.
My note: Kathie shaking her head
Lance’s counsel objected
Objection was sustained
Jones asked Raye Dawn how long Kelsey was with Gayla. Raye Dawn stated that she was with her for over a month.
Jones asked Raye Dawn what she had to do to regain custody of Kelsey. Raye Dawn stated that she took parenting classes for a month that were 3 to 4 hours once a week. Raye Dawn stated that she took anger management classes. Raye Dawn stated that she took a domestic violence inventory that showed that she was being truthful and she passed.
Jones confirmed with Raye Dawn that she took everything asked of her and completed all of her classes and screenings and Raye Dawn stated that she did.
Jones asked Raye Dawn what she called Kelsey. Raye Dawn stated that she called her “Kels” “Kelser” or “Little Row”
My note: Raye Dawn is crying
Raye Dawn stated, “She was my best friend. She was a part of me.”
My note: Raye Dawn is sobbing
Raye Dawn stated, “When she was happy, she would gallop down the hallway. She was just happy.”
Jones established with Raye Dawn that she took her to the doctor when necessary.
Jones established with Raye Dawn that she was responsive to doctors and trusted their diagnosis.
Jones established with Raye Dawn that in 2005 that Kelsey stayed with Raye Dawn and then Raye Dawn and Mike and also with Kathie and Ashley.
Raye Dawn stated that every other day she was at a different house.
Jones asked Raye Dawn when she married Mike Porter. Raye Dawn stated it was April 18, 2005.
Jones asked if there was a picture of Kelsey on that day standing on the courthouse steps. Raye Dawn stated there was.
Jones asked Raye Dawn about the supervised visits. Raye Dawn stated that in January of 2005 that Kathie got guardianship and Raye asked for a visit and had to see Kelsey at Kathie’s house.
Jones established the timeframe that Raye Dawn began having unsupervised visits with Kelsey in 2005.
Jones asked Raye Dawn about the visits to her home once she got custody of Kelsey. Raye Dawn stated that DHS made both announced and unannounced visits.
Raye Dawn stated that she never refused a visit to any of the agencies.
Raye Dawn stated that CASA, CHBS, and DHS workers were in and out constantly.
Jones asked Raye Dawn for the name of the CASA worker and Raye Dawn stated that it was Carla Lynch.
Jones asked Raye Dawn for the name of the CHBS worker and Raye Dawn stated that it was Jean Bonner.
Jones asked Raye Dawn how often the CHBS worker visited. Raye Dawn stated that she visited at least once a week.
Jones asked Raye Dawn if any of the workers stated to her that Mike Porter was abusing Kelsey. Raye Dawn stated, “No.”
Jones asked Raye Dawn if Kathie ever stated that Mike Porter was abusing Kelsey. Raye Dawn stated, “No.”
Jones asked Raye Dawn if she thought that Mike Porter was abusing Kelsey. Raye Dawn stated, “No.”
Jones asked Raye Dawn about the incident with tape over Kelsey’s eyes. Raye Dawn stated that Kelsey was the in bedroom with Mike Porter and his two children and they had Scotch tape on Kelsey. Raye Dawn stated that the other children were laughing and that they said they were playing. Raye Dawn stated that Kelsey wasn’t crying and that she was “kind of grinning.”
Raye Dawn stated that she didn’t appreciate it because of everything that had happened.
Raye Dawn stated that she filled out paperwork for the child study center and scheduled an EEG to find out about the seizures. Raye Dawn stated, “If someone was hurting her. I wanted to talk to them.”
Jones asked Raye Dawn about the seizures that Kelsey had. Raye Dawn stated that she witnessed one seizure. Raye Dawn stated that she walked into the room and “he” (Mike Porter) had Kelsey and Raye Dawn rushed in and held Kelsey and tapped on her face to try to get her to respond.
My note: Raye Dawn continuously referred to Mike Porter as “him” or “he.” She only said his name once and called him “Porter.”
Raye Dawn stated that she asked for a round table discussion to find out what was happening to Kelsey and to talk to the Briggs and it was denied by DHS.
Jones asked Raye Dawn about the day that Kelsey died. Raye Dawn stated that she got up and called Gayla, DHS, and the attorneys. Raye Dawn stated that she was concerned that Lance was coming home and concerned with Kelsey’s mental state. Raye Dawn stated that she made several phone calls regarding that.
Raye Dawn stated that the CHBS worker called to say that she was running late.
Raye Dawn stated that she woke Kelsey up and that Kelsey ate cream of chicken soup and drank a sippee cup of tea.
Raye Dawn stated that Kelsey sat on Raye Dawn’s bed while Raye Dawn put on her makeup and Kelsey picked at her toenails and fingernails while watching the movie Stuart Little 2, a movie “she calls ‘Mouse.’”
Raye Dawn stated that as the CHBS worker was leaving that she saw and turtle and showed it to Kelsey and Kelsey was afraid of the turtle and stated that there was a snake in it.
Raye Dawn stated that Kelsey then had an accident and that she put a t-shirt on Kelsey.
Raye Dawn stated that Kelsey went to timeout in her bedroom because she wouldn’t eat. Raye Dawn stated that soon she heard Kelsey’s feet on the stairs and Kelsey said, “Mommy, I want some berries.” Raye Dawn stated that she asked Kelsey if she meant raisins and Kelsey said yes.
My note: Raye Dawn sobbing
Raye Dawn stated that she told Kelsey that she was tired and going to take a nap and Kelsey said she’s lie down with her so she had her box of raisins and Kelsey kept opening the box and getting them out and she told Raye Dawn, “I haf to get some.”
Raye Dawn stated that Kelsey told her, “Mommy, I love you so much.” Raye Dawn stated that she told Kelsey, “Kelsey, I love you too.”
Raye Dawn stated that they both dozed off.
My note: Raye Dawn sobbing. Everyone on the Smith side crying. Some of the Briggs are smiling.
Raye Dawn stated that she woke up and he (Mike Porter) was standing there.
Raye Dawn stated that she didn’t want to wake Kelsey up because she’d be cranky when she went with her mom later that night.
Raye Dawn stated that she left and she stated, “I rolled down my window and said ‘take care of my baby.’ I never saw my baby again!”
My note: Notes are smudged here. Everyone on Smith side crying loudly. Horrible, horrible.
Jones asked Raye Dawn where she went. Raye Dawn stated that she left to go get her stepdaughter.
Jones asked her how long it took her to go get her. Raye Dawn stated that it took 20 minutes. Jones clarified with Raye Dawn that it took 20 minutes one-way.
Raye Dawn stated that when she got back home the ambulance was there and she asked her mom what was wrong and nobody would tell her anything. Raye Dawn stated that she tried to get in the back of the ambulance and they wouldn’t let her. Raye Dawn stated that she rode in the ambulance to the hospital.
Jones asked Raye Dawn, “How long after you were at the hospital did your daughter die?” Raye Dawn stated that she didn’t know.
Jones asked Raye Dawn more questions about hospital but I didn’t get the questions. I was wiping tears from my face.
Jones asked Raye Dawn about the two funerals. Raye Dawn stated that the Briggs funeral was at the funeral home in Prague and the Smith funeral was at the Meeker Assembly of God Church.
Jones asked Raye Dawn about the obituaries. Raye Dawn stated that she put her own and the Briggs put their own.
Jones asked Raye Dawn about her pregnancy. Raye Dawn stated that she had a suspicion that she might be pregnant but that she still had her menstrual cycle and she took a pregnancy test and it was negative. Raye Dawn stated that an ultrasound in August confirmed the pregnancy.
Jones asked about Raye Dawn not telling Lance about Kelsey. Raye Dawn stated, “I had already lost one baby to the hands of him. He was mean and abusive.”
Jones asked Raye Dawn about her miscarriage. Raye Dawn stated that he hit her in the stomach and she miscarried.
Jones asked Raye Dawn if it was because she didn’t supersize his french fries. Raye Dawn stated it was.
Raye Dawn stated that at the time she didn’t put the punch in the stomach and the miscarriage together. She didn’t know. Raye Dawn stated that a nurse pulled her into a separate room and told her that the uterus was detached. Raye Dawn stated that at the time she didn’t know what the nurse was implying, but she knows now.
Jones asked Raye Dawn about her marriage to Lance. Raye Dawn stated that it was good and bad.
Jones asked Raye Dawn if Lance used drugs during their marriage. Raye Dawn stated, "We both did."
Jones asked if they argued and fought. Raye Dawn stated they did. Raye Dawn stated, “He did more than just slap me.”
Jones asked if Raye Dawn was the one who kept up the baby book. Raye Dawn stated that she was.
My note: It was Raye Dawn’s baby book that convinced me of her innocence more than anything else. She has a lock of Kelsey’s hair in it when it was turning from brown to blonde. She has the first flower that Kelsey ever picked for her. She has all of Kelsey’s firsts in it and the dates that all of her teeth came in. It’s a book that was filled out by a mother who loved her daughter very much.
Jones showed pictures of Raye Dawn and Kelsey. Jones showed the picture of Raye Dawn sitting in the floor and kissing Kelsey. Raye stated, “Me and Kelsey were at a friend’s house. She was probably four months old.”
Jones showed the picture of Raye Dawn and Kelsey sleeping on the couch together. Raye Dawn stated, “That was during a supervised visitation at my grandma’s house. We were sleeping together and Kelsey had just opened her eyes.”
Jones showed a picture of Kelsey with her arms around Raye Dawn. Raye Dawn stated that it was from a visitation in February, 2005 at Joe’s Crab Shack.
Jones showed a picture of Raye Dawn leaning down beside Kelsey outside of a building.
Raye Dawn stated that it was at Branson in the late summer of 2005 and they were waiting outside a restaurant. Raye Dawn stated, “That’s the first time she had crawfish and I couldn’t get them open fast enough.”
Jones showed the picture of Raye Dawn and Kelsey in hard hats. Raye Dawn stated that it was at Branson and they were getting ready to go into a cave.
Jones showed the picture of Raye Dawn and Kelsey with green stuff on their noses. Raye Dawn stated, “We were at the apartment, just hanging out and playing with Play Doh. Those were our prosthetic noses.”
Jones showed a picture of Kelsey as a newborn sleeping on Raye Dawn. Raye Dawn stated that Kelsey slept on her for a long time.
My note: Raye Dawn knew everything about all of the pictures. Lance only knew about one of his.
Jones showed a picture of Raye Dawn and Kelsey smiling at each other. Raye Dawn stated that it was at her mom’s 50th birthday.
Jones showed the picture of Raye Dawn and Kelsey in a cave. Raye Dawn stated that it was the cave in Branson and her stepdaughter was in the picture with her. (The stepdaughter was cut out of the picture that’s on the Web site.)
Jones showed a picture of Kelsey in a ladybug costume. Raye Dawn stated that it was her first Halloween.
Jones showed the picture of Kelsey on Santa’s lap. Raye Dawn stated that it was taken at her daycare with the dog Garth.
Jones showed the picture of Rachelle holding Kelsey in the pool. Raye Dawn stated that the picture was from August of 2005.
(I’m not sure which picture I missed here.)
Raye Dawn stated, “I wanted her to be as close to my grandma as I was.”
Jones showed a picture of Kelsey smiling with a brightly colored t-shirt. Raye Dawn stated that it was from March of 2005.
Jones showed a picture of Kelsey with her cousins on a saddle. Raye Dawn started sobbing again and told the court the names of the other children.
Jones showed a picture of Raye Dawn looking at Kelsey at the table. Raye Dawn stated that it was at Joe’s Crab Shack.
Jones showed a picture of Raye Dawn with a bump on her stomach. Raye Dawn stated that she was just barely pregnant.
Jones showed a picture of Kelsey with a corn dog. Raye Dawn stated that Kelsey ate the corndog just like she did. Raye Dawn stated, “Kelsey would tear the bread off and eat it like that.”
Jones showed a picture of Kelsey’s first birthday cake. Raye Dawn stated that her grandma Mildred had made it.
Jones showed a picture from Kelsey’s second pageant. Raye Dawn stated that Kelsey won prettiest hair, best personality, and first runner up.
My note: Lance shaking his head.
Jones presented the baby book.
Jones asked Raye Dawn how the loss of Kelsey impacted Raye Dawn. Raye Dawn stated, “It’s so hard to get into words. The other half of me is no longer here. At visitation (in prison), girls hug moms and tell them how much they love them. I hope they don’t take it for granted.”
My note: Raye sobbing
Raye Dawn spoke of how Kelsey would sleep with her legs in between Raye Dawn’s and how close they were.
Raye Dawn stated, “It’s like I tell my family. Just let me go.”
My note: When I first started talking to Raye Dawn, she told me that if it wasn’t for Blaine that she would have already killed herself.
Raye Dawn stated, “I talk to her every day. I won’t watch movies we watched together because she was supposed to do that with me.” Raye Dawn spoke of a movie that she and Kelsey had been anticipating but I didn’t catch the title. Raye Dawn stated that she refused to watch the movie when it came on because Kelsey was supposed to watch it with her.
Jones asked Raye Dawn how she felt about how she had been treated. Raye Dawn stated, “On TV people say ‘I did that’ and I can’t believe they have the audacity.”
Cross-examination by Lance’s counsel
Lance’s counsel told Raye Dawn, “Someone murdered Kelsey.” Raye Dawn stated, “Not me.”
Lance’s counsel asked, “Mike murdered Kelsey?” Raye Dawn agreed.
Lance’s counsel asked why Raye Dawn filed a VPO after Kelsey’s death against Kathie and Lance. Raye Dawn stated that Carla Lynch told her to file a VPO because there had been death threats against her.
Lance’s counsel stated that in Raye’s deposition that she stated she had no evidence that Lance ever harmed Kelsey. Raye Dawn agreed that she had no evidence, but that she didn’t know if he hurt her or not.
Lance’s counsel stated that Raye Dawn didn’t allow Lance to go to the funeral.
My note: Kathie stated on her forum that it was the Briggs’s idea to have their own funeral.
Lance’s counsel stated that the OSBI informed Raye Dawn that Mike murdered Kelsey so why would she allow him to go to the funeral. Raye Dawn stated that she didn’t allow him at the funeral and that she didn’t go with him.
Raye Dawn stated that she didn’t know that Mike Porter had murdered Kelsey beforehand. Raye Dawn stated that they said that Kelsey had a grand mal seizure so Raye Dawn didn’t know that she was murdered.
Lance’s counsel asked Raye Dawn where she went after Kelsey’s death. Raye Dawn stated that she went to her older sister’s house.
Lance’s counsel asked Raye Dawn if Mike Porter called and asked her to take care of his children. Raye Dawn stated that he asked her mom, Gayla to take care of the children.
Lance’s counsel asked Raye Dawn, “At any time have you ever asked Mike Porter why?” Raye Dawn stated, “No.”
Lance’s counsel showed the list of injuries to Kelsey from the OCCY report. He brought up bruises, knot, another knot, sprained ankle and two broken legs.
Lance’s counsel stated that Mike Porter said that he saw Raye Dawn swat Kelsey in excess of 15 times and punched her with a closed fist into the stomach.
Raye Dawn stated, "He's a liar."
Jones objected to Mike Porter’s testimony from Raye Dawn’s trial.
Objection was sustained.
Lance’s counsel showed the pictures of the BRIGHT RED “bruises” on Kelsey’s bottom from January, 2005 and asked Raye Dawn where Kelsey got the “bruises.” Raye Dawn stated, “Not with me.”
Lance’s counsel showed a picture of a hair brush in the floor of Raye Dawn’s apartment and a picture of the slide.
Lance’s counsel stated that Kelsey seemed fine after she fell out of the bed and that Raye Dawn just assumed she had fallen out of the bed.
Lance’s counsel again showed the BRIGHT RED “bruises.” Raye Dawn stated that the injury (rash) did not happen with her.
Lance’s counsel asked Raye Dawn who was around when Kelsey fell out of the screen door. Raye Dawn stated she was and so were Mike Porter and Wendell Kelley.
Lance’s counsel showed the Valentine picture that Raye Dawn had made of Kelsey with the bear and then the picture of Kelsey from August after the car accident. Lance’s counsel asked Raye Dawn, “Were you beginning to see Kelsey not grow or be happy?” Raye Dawn stated “No.”
Lance’s counsel stated, “She looked malnourished.” Raye Dawn stated, “No she did not.”
Raye Dawn stated, “She got taller and slimmer.”
Lance’s counsel showed the automobile accident pictures again. Raye Dawn stated, “I didn’t do anything to my baby.”
Lance’s counsel asked Raye Dawn how she got the red spot in her eye after the automobile accident. Raye Dawn stated, “I’m not medical personnel. Children get bruises and stuff. She was under a microscope.”
Lance’s counsel asked Raye Dawn if she knew who was injuring Kelsey. Raye Dawn stated that she did not.
My note: Lance’s counsel continued to state phrases like “in prison” and “convicted”
Lance’s counsel asked about Kelsey’s bruises. Raye Dawn stated, “Her doctor stated that her skin was so fair that bruises seem darker and last longer.”
Lance’s counsel asked Raye Dawn about Kelsey saying, “Daddy Mike hurt my head.” Raye Dawn stated that Kathie had just left her visit with Kelsey and before Raye Dawn got into the room the first thing that Kelsey said was “Daddy Mike hurt my head.” Raye Dawn stated that Kelsey hadn’t seen Mike Porter for over a month.
Lance’s counsel asked Raye Dawn if she used crank while she was with Kelsey. Raye Dawn stated that she didn’t know when she was pregnant so she could have used it while pregnant.
Lance’s counsel asked Raye Dawn why she was intervening in the settlement. Raye Dawn stated, “I don’t know how anyone can put a price on Kelsey and then settle for any amount of money.”
Redirect by Jones
Jones showed the picture from August of Rachelle in the pool with Kelsey.
Jones asked Raye Dawn if she wanted money from the lawsuit. Raye Dawn stated that she didn’t want any of the money. Raye Dawn stated that she would use it to pay back her family for her legal fees and donate to St. Jude’s Hospital and to the Infant Crisis Center.
Jones presented evidence from a DHS book of the description of a closed head injury that had been introduced by Lance’s counsel when he tried to make it seem like an additional injury. Jones stated that according to DHS, a closed head injury is when a child’s nose is injured, which was already listed on the injuries.
My note: Lance is twitching in chair
Lance’s counsel tried again to submit the entire OCCY report.
Jones objected
Objection sustained, only page 5 was submitted because the rest of the report was double hearsay
Recross by Lance’s counsel
Lance’s counsel stated to Raye Dawn, “You want to pay back family to pay for your criminal defense in which you were convicted of enabling child abuse.”
Raye Dawn stated, “My family has helped me a lot and I think it’s only right.”
Jones made a motion
Court took judicial notice that Raye’s appeal has not been decided
No further witnesses
The judge stated that both counsels have 21 days to submit a brief and then 7 days to answer each other.
Lance’s counsels summary
Lance’s counsel stated that Lance had a special, loving relationship with Kelsey
Lance’s counsel stated that Lance could not protect Kelsey while in Iraq
Lance’s counsel stated that at no time did Raye Dawn protect Kelsey
Lance’s counsel promoted the book of biased reporters when he stated, “Who killed Kelsey will forever be a mystery.”
Lance’s counsel stated, “In observing his testimony, how real it is.” (talking about Lance)
Lance’s counsel stated that Raye Dawn had the burden of proof. The judge disputed that statement.
Jones’s summary
Jones stated, “When you point a finger at someone, four fingers point back to you.”
The judge stated that he was not using Raye Dawn’s invoking the fifth when Lance filed for executor as part of his decision.
Jones stated, “It is not true that Lance couldn’t protect Kelsey. It is not true that Raye Dawn killed Kelsey.”
Jones pointed out that this was an issue of two families not coming together and that two obituaries and two funerals proved it.
No more witnesses
Raye Dawn was called to the stand.
The marshal moved to the chair beside the witness stand. His handcuffs and gun were visible underneath his suit jacket.
Raye Dawn’s hands were not cuffed, but the shackles on her feet jingled as she walked to the stand. The jingle sound, each time I heard it as she sat at the table and walked to the stand, went through my heart. It was like nails on a chalkboard.
Jones asked about Raye’s education and employment. Raye Dawn stated that she had attended Seminole college and listed the areas of study. Raye Dawn then listed her employers, including two nursing homes.
Jones asked about her conviction of enabling child abuse and stated that her case was still in appeals.
Jones asked Raye Dawn when she learned of her pregnancy. She stated that she found out she was pregnant in August of 2002.
Jones asked Raye Dawn who named Kelsey and where her name came from. Raye Dawn explained that her grandma had seen the name Kelsey and liked it. Shelton is Raye Dawn’s father’s middle name.
Jones asked Raye Dawn questions about where she lived and she answered.
Jones asked Raye Dawn if she worked after Kelsey was born. Raye Dawn stated that she was home with Kelsey for eight months while she took care of her dad. Raye Dawn stated that she went to Seminole State at night.
Jones asked Raye Dawn about Kelsey’s pediatrician. Raye Dawn stated that Kelsey went to Mary Mahoney Clinic for immunizations or for check-ups.
Jones asked Raye Dawn who took Kelsey to the doctor. Raye Dawn stated that she did.
Jones asked Raye Dawn if she took pictures of Kelsey to document their relationship. Raye Dawn stated, “I took pictures because I was proud of her.”
Jones asked about Kelsey.
Raye Dawn stated that she had a little doll that was a Precious Moments doll and it would say “Amen” and Kelsey would repeat it and say “Amen.”
My note: During Raye’s stories, her voice is full of love. The audience members are laughing at the things Kelsey did.
Raye Dawn stated that she had an old razor that she was finished with so she took the blade out of it and gave it to Kelsey and she would tell Kelsey that it was time to get out of the bathtub and Kelsey said, “Mommy, I haf to shave my legs.”
My note: Laughter from everyone
Jones asked Raye Dawn about her dad dying. Raye stated that he died on April 15, 2004. Raye stated he was sick with cancer.
Jones asked Raye Dawn where she worked. Raye stated that she went back to work at Lewis Manufacturing.
Jones asked what Raye Dawn did at Lewis.
Raye Dawn stated that she made grips for oilfields. She braided the grips.
Jones asked Raye Dawn what her hours were. Raye Dawn stated that her hours were 7am to 4pm, 5 days a week.
Jones asked Raye Dawn when she moved out. Raye Dawn stated that she moved into an apartment in meeker in August, 2004.
Jones asked where Kelsey went while Raye Dawn was at work. Raye Dawn stated that Miss Julie looked after Kelsey. Raye Dawn stated that she was highly recommended.
Jones asked who else watched Kelsey. Raye Dawn stated that her mom, her sisters, or [I believe she said something about a family.]
Jones asked Raye Dawn why she switched Kelsey from formula. Raye Dawn stated that she switched her because she threw up the formula and was constipated. Raye Dawn stated that Kelsey did fine on vitamin D milk. Raye Dawn stated that when they switched that she was no longer constipated and didn’t throw up.
Jones asked Raye Dawn what types of foods Kelsey liked to eat. Raye Dawn stated that she liked mashed potatoes, goulash, grapes, cherry tomatoes, frozen custard, and milk. Raye Dawn stated that Kelsey would say, “I haf to have my milk.”
Jones asked Raye Dawn what were Kelsey’s first words. Raye Dawn stated, “Momma and duck.”
Jones asked about Kelsey walking. Raye Dawn stated that Kelsey was standing at eight months and that she walked at nine or ten months. Raye Dawn stated that Kelsey started walking by pushing a laundry basket.
Jones asked Raye Dawn about Lance’s visitation. Raye Dawn stated that the visitation started in March or April of 2003.
Jones confirmed with Raye Dawn that Lance never filed for joint custody. Raye Dawn agreed that he didn’t.
Jones asked Raye Dawn about Kathie filing for guardianship in January, 2005. Raye Dawn stated that she had dropped Kelsey off with Kathie and that Kelsey had a broken collarbone.
Jones asked Raye Dawn about Lance’s visits. Raye Dawn stated that before Lance’s deployment he had supervised visits and then he had Kelsey every other weekend.
Jones asked when Kelsey was removed from Kathie’s home. Raye Dawn stated that she was removed in May, 2005 and placed with her mom, Gayla.
Raye Dawn stated that she asked Kathie why she didn’t call and tell her that DHS was taking Kelsey.
My note: Kathie shaking her head
Lance’s counsel objected
Objection was sustained
Jones asked Raye Dawn how long Kelsey was with Gayla. Raye Dawn stated that she was with her for over a month.
Jones asked Raye Dawn what she had to do to regain custody of Kelsey. Raye Dawn stated that she took parenting classes for a month that were 3 to 4 hours once a week. Raye Dawn stated that she took anger management classes. Raye Dawn stated that she took a domestic violence inventory that showed that she was being truthful and she passed.
Jones confirmed with Raye Dawn that she took everything asked of her and completed all of her classes and screenings and Raye Dawn stated that she did.
Jones asked Raye Dawn what she called Kelsey. Raye Dawn stated that she called her “Kels” “Kelser” or “Little Row”
My note: Raye Dawn is crying
Raye Dawn stated, “She was my best friend. She was a part of me.”
My note: Raye Dawn is sobbing
Raye Dawn stated, “When she was happy, she would gallop down the hallway. She was just happy.”
Jones established with Raye Dawn that she took her to the doctor when necessary.
Jones established with Raye Dawn that she was responsive to doctors and trusted their diagnosis.
Jones established with Raye Dawn that in 2005 that Kelsey stayed with Raye Dawn and then Raye Dawn and Mike and also with Kathie and Ashley.
Raye Dawn stated that every other day she was at a different house.
Jones asked Raye Dawn when she married Mike Porter. Raye Dawn stated it was April 18, 2005.
Jones asked if there was a picture of Kelsey on that day standing on the courthouse steps. Raye Dawn stated there was.
Jones asked Raye Dawn about the supervised visits. Raye Dawn stated that in January of 2005 that Kathie got guardianship and Raye asked for a visit and had to see Kelsey at Kathie’s house.
Jones established the timeframe that Raye Dawn began having unsupervised visits with Kelsey in 2005.
Jones asked Raye Dawn about the visits to her home once she got custody of Kelsey. Raye Dawn stated that DHS made both announced and unannounced visits.
Raye Dawn stated that she never refused a visit to any of the agencies.
Raye Dawn stated that CASA, CHBS, and DHS workers were in and out constantly.
Jones asked Raye Dawn for the name of the CASA worker and Raye Dawn stated that it was Carla Lynch.
Jones asked Raye Dawn for the name of the CHBS worker and Raye Dawn stated that it was Jean Bonner.
Jones asked Raye Dawn how often the CHBS worker visited. Raye Dawn stated that she visited at least once a week.
Jones asked Raye Dawn if any of the workers stated to her that Mike Porter was abusing Kelsey. Raye Dawn stated, “No.”
Jones asked Raye Dawn if Kathie ever stated that Mike Porter was abusing Kelsey. Raye Dawn stated, “No.”
Jones asked Raye Dawn if she thought that Mike Porter was abusing Kelsey. Raye Dawn stated, “No.”
Jones asked Raye Dawn about the incident with tape over Kelsey’s eyes. Raye Dawn stated that Kelsey was the in bedroom with Mike Porter and his two children and they had Scotch tape on Kelsey. Raye Dawn stated that the other children were laughing and that they said they were playing. Raye Dawn stated that Kelsey wasn’t crying and that she was “kind of grinning.”
Raye Dawn stated that she didn’t appreciate it because of everything that had happened.
Raye Dawn stated that she filled out paperwork for the child study center and scheduled an EEG to find out about the seizures. Raye Dawn stated, “If someone was hurting her. I wanted to talk to them.”
Jones asked Raye Dawn about the seizures that Kelsey had. Raye Dawn stated that she witnessed one seizure. Raye Dawn stated that she walked into the room and “he” (Mike Porter) had Kelsey and Raye Dawn rushed in and held Kelsey and tapped on her face to try to get her to respond.
My note: Raye Dawn continuously referred to Mike Porter as “him” or “he.” She only said his name once and called him “Porter.”
Raye Dawn stated that she asked for a round table discussion to find out what was happening to Kelsey and to talk to the Briggs and it was denied by DHS.
Jones asked Raye Dawn about the day that Kelsey died. Raye Dawn stated that she got up and called Gayla, DHS, and the attorneys. Raye Dawn stated that she was concerned that Lance was coming home and concerned with Kelsey’s mental state. Raye Dawn stated that she made several phone calls regarding that.
Raye Dawn stated that the CHBS worker called to say that she was running late.
Raye Dawn stated that she woke Kelsey up and that Kelsey ate cream of chicken soup and drank a sippee cup of tea.
Raye Dawn stated that Kelsey sat on Raye Dawn’s bed while Raye Dawn put on her makeup and Kelsey picked at her toenails and fingernails while watching the movie Stuart Little 2, a movie “she calls ‘Mouse.’”
Raye Dawn stated that as the CHBS worker was leaving that she saw and turtle and showed it to Kelsey and Kelsey was afraid of the turtle and stated that there was a snake in it.
Raye Dawn stated that Kelsey then had an accident and that she put a t-shirt on Kelsey.
Raye Dawn stated that Kelsey went to timeout in her bedroom because she wouldn’t eat. Raye Dawn stated that soon she heard Kelsey’s feet on the stairs and Kelsey said, “Mommy, I want some berries.” Raye Dawn stated that she asked Kelsey if she meant raisins and Kelsey said yes.
My note: Raye Dawn sobbing
Raye Dawn stated that she told Kelsey that she was tired and going to take a nap and Kelsey said she’s lie down with her so she had her box of raisins and Kelsey kept opening the box and getting them out and she told Raye Dawn, “I haf to get some.”
Raye Dawn stated that Kelsey told her, “Mommy, I love you so much.” Raye Dawn stated that she told Kelsey, “Kelsey, I love you too.”
Raye Dawn stated that they both dozed off.
My note: Raye Dawn sobbing. Everyone on the Smith side crying. Some of the Briggs are smiling.
Raye Dawn stated that she woke up and he (Mike Porter) was standing there.
Raye Dawn stated that she didn’t want to wake Kelsey up because she’d be cranky when she went with her mom later that night.
Raye Dawn stated that she left and she stated, “I rolled down my window and said ‘take care of my baby.’ I never saw my baby again!”
My note: Notes are smudged here. Everyone on Smith side crying loudly. Horrible, horrible.
Jones asked Raye Dawn where she went. Raye Dawn stated that she left to go get her stepdaughter.
Jones asked her how long it took her to go get her. Raye Dawn stated that it took 20 minutes. Jones clarified with Raye Dawn that it took 20 minutes one-way.
Raye Dawn stated that when she got back home the ambulance was there and she asked her mom what was wrong and nobody would tell her anything. Raye Dawn stated that she tried to get in the back of the ambulance and they wouldn’t let her. Raye Dawn stated that she rode in the ambulance to the hospital.
Jones asked Raye Dawn, “How long after you were at the hospital did your daughter die?” Raye Dawn stated that she didn’t know.
Jones asked Raye Dawn more questions about hospital but I didn’t get the questions. I was wiping tears from my face.
Jones asked Raye Dawn about the two funerals. Raye Dawn stated that the Briggs funeral was at the funeral home in Prague and the Smith funeral was at the Meeker Assembly of God Church.
Jones asked Raye Dawn about the obituaries. Raye Dawn stated that she put her own and the Briggs put their own.
Jones asked Raye Dawn about her pregnancy. Raye Dawn stated that she had a suspicion that she might be pregnant but that she still had her menstrual cycle and she took a pregnancy test and it was negative. Raye Dawn stated that an ultrasound in August confirmed the pregnancy.
Jones asked about Raye Dawn not telling Lance about Kelsey. Raye Dawn stated, “I had already lost one baby to the hands of him. He was mean and abusive.”
Jones asked Raye Dawn about her miscarriage. Raye Dawn stated that he hit her in the stomach and she miscarried.
Jones asked Raye Dawn if it was because she didn’t supersize his french fries. Raye Dawn stated it was.
Raye Dawn stated that at the time she didn’t put the punch in the stomach and the miscarriage together. She didn’t know. Raye Dawn stated that a nurse pulled her into a separate room and told her that the uterus was detached. Raye Dawn stated that at the time she didn’t know what the nurse was implying, but she knows now.
Jones asked Raye Dawn about her marriage to Lance. Raye Dawn stated that it was good and bad.
Jones asked Raye Dawn if Lance used drugs during their marriage. Raye Dawn stated, "We both did."
Jones asked if they argued and fought. Raye Dawn stated they did. Raye Dawn stated, “He did more than just slap me.”
Jones asked if Raye Dawn was the one who kept up the baby book. Raye Dawn stated that she was.
My note: It was Raye Dawn’s baby book that convinced me of her innocence more than anything else. She has a lock of Kelsey’s hair in it when it was turning from brown to blonde. She has the first flower that Kelsey ever picked for her. She has all of Kelsey’s firsts in it and the dates that all of her teeth came in. It’s a book that was filled out by a mother who loved her daughter very much.
Jones showed pictures of Raye Dawn and Kelsey. Jones showed the picture of Raye Dawn sitting in the floor and kissing Kelsey. Raye stated, “Me and Kelsey were at a friend’s house. She was probably four months old.”
Jones showed the picture of Raye Dawn and Kelsey sleeping on the couch together. Raye Dawn stated, “That was during a supervised visitation at my grandma’s house. We were sleeping together and Kelsey had just opened her eyes.”
Jones showed a picture of Kelsey with her arms around Raye Dawn. Raye Dawn stated that it was from a visitation in February, 2005 at Joe’s Crab Shack.
Jones showed a picture of Raye Dawn leaning down beside Kelsey outside of a building.
Raye Dawn stated that it was at Branson in the late summer of 2005 and they were waiting outside a restaurant. Raye Dawn stated, “That’s the first time she had crawfish and I couldn’t get them open fast enough.”
Jones showed the picture of Raye Dawn and Kelsey in hard hats. Raye Dawn stated that it was at Branson and they were getting ready to go into a cave.
Jones showed the picture of Raye Dawn and Kelsey with green stuff on their noses. Raye Dawn stated, “We were at the apartment, just hanging out and playing with Play Doh. Those were our prosthetic noses.”
Jones showed a picture of Kelsey as a newborn sleeping on Raye Dawn. Raye Dawn stated that Kelsey slept on her for a long time.
My note: Raye Dawn knew everything about all of the pictures. Lance only knew about one of his.
Jones showed a picture of Raye Dawn and Kelsey smiling at each other. Raye Dawn stated that it was at her mom’s 50th birthday.
Jones showed the picture of Raye Dawn and Kelsey in a cave. Raye Dawn stated that it was the cave in Branson and her stepdaughter was in the picture with her. (The stepdaughter was cut out of the picture that’s on the Web site.)
Jones showed a picture of Kelsey in a ladybug costume. Raye Dawn stated that it was her first Halloween.
Jones showed the picture of Kelsey on Santa’s lap. Raye Dawn stated that it was taken at her daycare with the dog Garth.
Jones showed the picture of Rachelle holding Kelsey in the pool. Raye Dawn stated that the picture was from August of 2005.
(I’m not sure which picture I missed here.)
Raye Dawn stated, “I wanted her to be as close to my grandma as I was.”
Jones showed a picture of Kelsey smiling with a brightly colored t-shirt. Raye Dawn stated that it was from March of 2005.
Jones showed a picture of Kelsey with her cousins on a saddle. Raye Dawn started sobbing again and told the court the names of the other children.
Jones showed a picture of Raye Dawn looking at Kelsey at the table. Raye Dawn stated that it was at Joe’s Crab Shack.
Jones showed a picture of Raye Dawn with a bump on her stomach. Raye Dawn stated that she was just barely pregnant.
Jones showed a picture of Kelsey with a corn dog. Raye Dawn stated that Kelsey ate the corndog just like she did. Raye Dawn stated, “Kelsey would tear the bread off and eat it like that.”
Jones showed a picture of Kelsey’s first birthday cake. Raye Dawn stated that her grandma Mildred had made it.
Jones showed a picture from Kelsey’s second pageant. Raye Dawn stated that Kelsey won prettiest hair, best personality, and first runner up.
My note: Lance shaking his head.
Jones presented the baby book.
Jones asked Raye Dawn how the loss of Kelsey impacted Raye Dawn. Raye Dawn stated, “It’s so hard to get into words. The other half of me is no longer here. At visitation (in prison), girls hug moms and tell them how much they love them. I hope they don’t take it for granted.”
My note: Raye sobbing
Raye Dawn spoke of how Kelsey would sleep with her legs in between Raye Dawn’s and how close they were.
Raye Dawn stated, “It’s like I tell my family. Just let me go.”
My note: When I first started talking to Raye Dawn, she told me that if it wasn’t for Blaine that she would have already killed herself.
Raye Dawn stated, “I talk to her every day. I won’t watch movies we watched together because she was supposed to do that with me.” Raye Dawn spoke of a movie that she and Kelsey had been anticipating but I didn’t catch the title. Raye Dawn stated that she refused to watch the movie when it came on because Kelsey was supposed to watch it with her.
Jones asked Raye Dawn how she felt about how she had been treated. Raye Dawn stated, “On TV people say ‘I did that’ and I can’t believe they have the audacity.”
Cross-examination by Lance’s counsel
Lance’s counsel told Raye Dawn, “Someone murdered Kelsey.” Raye Dawn stated, “Not me.”
Lance’s counsel asked, “Mike murdered Kelsey?” Raye Dawn agreed.
Lance’s counsel asked why Raye Dawn filed a VPO after Kelsey’s death against Kathie and Lance. Raye Dawn stated that Carla Lynch told her to file a VPO because there had been death threats against her.
Lance’s counsel stated that in Raye’s deposition that she stated she had no evidence that Lance ever harmed Kelsey. Raye Dawn agreed that she had no evidence, but that she didn’t know if he hurt her or not.
Lance’s counsel stated that Raye Dawn didn’t allow Lance to go to the funeral.
My note: Kathie stated on her forum that it was the Briggs’s idea to have their own funeral.
Lance’s counsel stated that the OSBI informed Raye Dawn that Mike murdered Kelsey so why would she allow him to go to the funeral. Raye Dawn stated that she didn’t allow him at the funeral and that she didn’t go with him.
Raye Dawn stated that she didn’t know that Mike Porter had murdered Kelsey beforehand. Raye Dawn stated that they said that Kelsey had a grand mal seizure so Raye Dawn didn’t know that she was murdered.
Lance’s counsel asked Raye Dawn where she went after Kelsey’s death. Raye Dawn stated that she went to her older sister’s house.
Lance’s counsel asked Raye Dawn if Mike Porter called and asked her to take care of his children. Raye Dawn stated that he asked her mom, Gayla to take care of the children.
Lance’s counsel asked Raye Dawn, “At any time have you ever asked Mike Porter why?” Raye Dawn stated, “No.”
Lance’s counsel showed the list of injuries to Kelsey from the OCCY report. He brought up bruises, knot, another knot, sprained ankle and two broken legs.
Lance’s counsel stated that Mike Porter said that he saw Raye Dawn swat Kelsey in excess of 15 times and punched her with a closed fist into the stomach.
Raye Dawn stated, "He's a liar."
Jones objected to Mike Porter’s testimony from Raye Dawn’s trial.
Objection was sustained.
Lance’s counsel showed the pictures of the BRIGHT RED “bruises” on Kelsey’s bottom from January, 2005 and asked Raye Dawn where Kelsey got the “bruises.” Raye Dawn stated, “Not with me.”
Lance’s counsel showed a picture of a hair brush in the floor of Raye Dawn’s apartment and a picture of the slide.
Lance’s counsel stated that Kelsey seemed fine after she fell out of the bed and that Raye Dawn just assumed she had fallen out of the bed.
Lance’s counsel again showed the BRIGHT RED “bruises.” Raye Dawn stated that the injury (rash) did not happen with her.
Lance’s counsel asked Raye Dawn who was around when Kelsey fell out of the screen door. Raye Dawn stated she was and so were Mike Porter and Wendell Kelley.
Lance’s counsel showed the Valentine picture that Raye Dawn had made of Kelsey with the bear and then the picture of Kelsey from August after the car accident. Lance’s counsel asked Raye Dawn, “Were you beginning to see Kelsey not grow or be happy?” Raye Dawn stated “No.”
Lance’s counsel stated, “She looked malnourished.” Raye Dawn stated, “No she did not.”
Raye Dawn stated, “She got taller and slimmer.”
Lance’s counsel showed the automobile accident pictures again. Raye Dawn stated, “I didn’t do anything to my baby.”
Lance’s counsel asked Raye Dawn how she got the red spot in her eye after the automobile accident. Raye Dawn stated, “I’m not medical personnel. Children get bruises and stuff. She was under a microscope.”
Lance’s counsel asked Raye Dawn if she knew who was injuring Kelsey. Raye Dawn stated that she did not.
My note: Lance’s counsel continued to state phrases like “in prison” and “convicted”
Lance’s counsel asked about Kelsey’s bruises. Raye Dawn stated, “Her doctor stated that her skin was so fair that bruises seem darker and last longer.”
Lance’s counsel asked Raye Dawn about Kelsey saying, “Daddy Mike hurt my head.” Raye Dawn stated that Kathie had just left her visit with Kelsey and before Raye Dawn got into the room the first thing that Kelsey said was “Daddy Mike hurt my head.” Raye Dawn stated that Kelsey hadn’t seen Mike Porter for over a month.
Lance’s counsel asked Raye Dawn if she used crank while she was with Kelsey. Raye Dawn stated that she didn’t know when she was pregnant so she could have used it while pregnant.
Lance’s counsel asked Raye Dawn why she was intervening in the settlement. Raye Dawn stated, “I don’t know how anyone can put a price on Kelsey and then settle for any amount of money.”
Redirect by Jones
Jones showed the picture from August of Rachelle in the pool with Kelsey.
Jones asked Raye Dawn if she wanted money from the lawsuit. Raye Dawn stated that she didn’t want any of the money. Raye Dawn stated that she would use it to pay back her family for her legal fees and donate to St. Jude’s Hospital and to the Infant Crisis Center.
Jones presented evidence from a DHS book of the description of a closed head injury that had been introduced by Lance’s counsel when he tried to make it seem like an additional injury. Jones stated that according to DHS, a closed head injury is when a child’s nose is injured, which was already listed on the injuries.
My note: Lance is twitching in chair
Lance’s counsel tried again to submit the entire OCCY report.
Jones objected
Objection sustained, only page 5 was submitted because the rest of the report was double hearsay
Recross by Lance’s counsel
Lance’s counsel stated to Raye Dawn, “You want to pay back family to pay for your criminal defense in which you were convicted of enabling child abuse.”
Raye Dawn stated, “My family has helped me a lot and I think it’s only right.”
Jones made a motion
Court took judicial notice that Raye’s appeal has not been decided
No further witnesses
The judge stated that both counsels have 21 days to submit a brief and then 7 days to answer each other.
Lance’s counsels summary
Lance’s counsel stated that Lance had a special, loving relationship with Kelsey
Lance’s counsel stated that Lance could not protect Kelsey while in Iraq
Lance’s counsel stated that at no time did Raye Dawn protect Kelsey
Lance’s counsel promoted the book of biased reporters when he stated, “Who killed Kelsey will forever be a mystery.”
Lance’s counsel stated, “In observing his testimony, how real it is.” (talking about Lance)
Lance’s counsel stated that Raye Dawn had the burden of proof. The judge disputed that statement.
Jones’s summary
Jones stated, “When you point a finger at someone, four fingers point back to you.”
The judge stated that he was not using Raye Dawn’s invoking the fifth when Lance filed for executor as part of his decision.
Jones stated, “It is not true that Lance couldn’t protect Kelsey. It is not true that Raye Dawn killed Kelsey.”
Jones pointed out that this was an issue of two families not coming together and that two obituaries and two funerals proved it.
No more witnesses
Sunday, January 10, 2010
Dr.Bux's Testimony
Expert’s Testimony
Dr. Robert Charles Bux was called to the stand and gave his long list of credentials.
He is a Chief Medical Examiner.
Lance’s counsel was asked if they wanted to do a vore dire (sp?) and the counsel stated that they would “hold”
Jones asked Dr. Bux if he had reviewed Kelsey’s autopsy that was performed by the Oklahoma doctor (the first autopsy). Dr. Bux stated that he had.
My note: Lance glaring at Raye Dawn
Jones asked what his analysis was of it.
Dr. Bux stated that Kelsey would have been symptomatic. Dr. Bux described the symptoms that I could not write down. Too hard to hear the description.
Dr. Bux stated that she would have been symptomatic immediately after the assault and then would continue the symptoms until she was unconscious, just before death. Dr. Bux stated that she would not have been unconscious until right before death.
Cross-examination by Lance’s counsel
Lance’s counsel asked Dr. Bux, “You don’t know who punched Kelsey?”
Dr. Bux stated, “No.”
Dr. Bux stated, “She wouldn’t be asleep after her injury.”
Dr. Bux stated, “There is no way she would be sleeping after that injury.”
The judge asked Dr. Bux how long it would have taken Kelsey to die.
Dr. Bux stated that tests weren’t done in the autopsy to determine time. Dr. Bux stated that it would have taken minutes to hours to bleed to death.
Lance’s counsel stated that Mike Porter was with Kelsey for “only 45 minutes.”
Dr. Bux stated, “Forty-five minutes would have been plenty of time for her to die from the injury.”
Lance’s counsel tried to introduce Mike Porter’s testimony from Raye Dawn’s trial.
Jones objected to counselor “testifying for Mike Porter.”
The objection was sustained
The witness was dismissed
(The full report will be in the submission to the court. They kept the testimony short to save the families from hearing the details.)
Dr. Robert Charles Bux was called to the stand and gave his long list of credentials.
He is a Chief Medical Examiner.
Lance’s counsel was asked if they wanted to do a vore dire (sp?) and the counsel stated that they would “hold”
Jones asked Dr. Bux if he had reviewed Kelsey’s autopsy that was performed by the Oklahoma doctor (the first autopsy). Dr. Bux stated that he had.
My note: Lance glaring at Raye Dawn
Jones asked what his analysis was of it.
Dr. Bux stated that Kelsey would have been symptomatic. Dr. Bux described the symptoms that I could not write down. Too hard to hear the description.
Dr. Bux stated that she would have been symptomatic immediately after the assault and then would continue the symptoms until she was unconscious, just before death. Dr. Bux stated that she would not have been unconscious until right before death.
Cross-examination by Lance’s counsel
Lance’s counsel asked Dr. Bux, “You don’t know who punched Kelsey?”
Dr. Bux stated, “No.”
Dr. Bux stated, “She wouldn’t be asleep after her injury.”
Dr. Bux stated, “There is no way she would be sleeping after that injury.”
The judge asked Dr. Bux how long it would have taken Kelsey to die.
Dr. Bux stated that tests weren’t done in the autopsy to determine time. Dr. Bux stated that it would have taken minutes to hours to bleed to death.
Lance’s counsel stated that Mike Porter was with Kelsey for “only 45 minutes.”
Dr. Bux stated, “Forty-five minutes would have been plenty of time for her to die from the injury.”
Lance’s counsel tried to introduce Mike Porter’s testimony from Raye Dawn’s trial.
Jones objected to counselor “testifying for Mike Porter.”
The objection was sustained
The witness was dismissed
(The full report will be in the submission to the court. They kept the testimony short to save the families from hearing the details.)
Shirica's Testimony
Shirica was called to the stand.
Shirica is Lance’s sister.
Shirica spoke about Lance finding out that he was a father on his birthday. Shirica stated, “He was anxious to meet her. He was very excited.”
Lance’s counsel asked Shirica if Lance changed Kelsey’s diaper. Shirica stated that he did.
Shirica stated, “He had her quite spoiled.”
Shirica then spoke about the death of Kelsey and sobbed.
My note: Her testimony was short, but moving. I felt her pain.
Shirica stated, “We not only lost Kelsey, we lost Lance.”
Shirica stated, “He doesn’t come to birthday parties anymore.”
My note: Raye Dawn stated that Lance didn’t go to the parties when she was married to him. He made Raye Dawn go.
My note: Lance is no longer sitting at his table crying and hanging his head down. Now he’s continually staring at Raye Dawn.
Lance’s counsel was making a leading statement about Lance’s well-being.
Jones objected
Objection was sustained
Shirica stated that during the summer they were in Wisconsin and that Lance was on his own and they had a hard time checking on him.
Jones had no questions
Shirica was dismissed
Plaintiff rested
Shirica is Lance’s sister.
Shirica spoke about Lance finding out that he was a father on his birthday. Shirica stated, “He was anxious to meet her. He was very excited.”
Lance’s counsel asked Shirica if Lance changed Kelsey’s diaper. Shirica stated that he did.
Shirica stated, “He had her quite spoiled.”
Shirica then spoke about the death of Kelsey and sobbed.
My note: Her testimony was short, but moving. I felt her pain.
Shirica stated, “We not only lost Kelsey, we lost Lance.”
Shirica stated, “He doesn’t come to birthday parties anymore.”
My note: Raye Dawn stated that Lance didn’t go to the parties when she was married to him. He made Raye Dawn go.
My note: Lance is no longer sitting at his table crying and hanging his head down. Now he’s continually staring at Raye Dawn.
Lance’s counsel was making a leading statement about Lance’s well-being.
Jones objected
Objection was sustained
Shirica stated that during the summer they were in Wisconsin and that Lance was on his own and they had a hard time checking on him.
Jones had no questions
Shirica was dismissed
Plaintiff rested
Lance's Testimony
Lance was called to the stand.
Lance stated that he knew Raye through high school, but they didn’t start dating until after high school.
My note: Lance is shaking and wiggling like he does – blinking a lot!
Lance’s counsel asked Lance when Raye Dawn became pregnant. Lance stated that Raye didn’t become pregnant before their marriage.
Lance’s counsel asked Lance how his marriage was to Raye Dawn. Lance stated that the “first year, plus, it was a great marriage.”
Lance stated that he had trust issues with Raye Dawn and that she would come home late at night after being out with other guys. Lance stated that he felt Raye Dawn was cheating on him.
Lance’s counsel asked Lance about the abuse in their marriage. Lance stated, “I did slap her one time.” Lance described Raye Dawn ranting and raving in front of other people and how he didn’t like it so he slapped her during a camping trip.
Lance’s counsel asked Lance if he abused Raye Dawn at any other time. Lance stated, “I took keys away from her because she was going out that night and she tried to get them from me and I restrained her.” Still referring to the camping trip where there were witnesses.
Lance’s counsel asked if Raye Dawn had indicated to him that she might be pregnant. Lance stated, “No.”
Lance’s counsel asked if there was any hint that Raye Dawn might be pregnant before their divorce to which Lance answered there was not.
Lance’s counsel asked when Lance learned that Raye Dawn was pregnant. Lance stated that he heard after their divorce that she was pregnant.
Lance stated, “I drove by the house that she was living in and she was outside and she was showing.”
Lance’s counsel asked Lance when he realized that the baby might be his. Lance stated, “I put the math together and the baby had to have been conceived while we were together and I wanted to know 100% if it was mine.”
Lance stated that he and Raye split up before Kelsey was born.
Lance stated that he asked Raye Dawn if she would have ever told him that he was the father and she said, “No.”
Lance stated that after the paternity test he got visitation through mediation and that the terms of the mediation were not followed by Raye Dawn.
Lance’s counsel asked Lance about his marriage to Ashley. Lance stated that he married Ashley in 2003.
Lance’s counsel asked Lance about his new family. Lance stated, “It was new to me having a baby, a new baby, we had a great family setting.”
Lance’s counsel asked Lance about his military career. Lance stated that he went into the Army Reserves in 1998 and got out of the reserves after two years. Lance stated that he was called to active duty on September 11, 2004.
Lance’s counsel asked Lance if he had any concerns about Raye Dawn as a parent. Lance stated that when Kelsey was eight months-old that Raye Dawn took Kelsey off of formula and put her on milk and Lance called the pediatrician to see if that was a good idea and he said, “No.”
Lance stated, “I knew she just did not like Ashley because Ashley was such a wonderful mother to Kelsey.”
My note: Gasps throughout the courtroom
Lance’s counsel showed pictures of Lance with Kelsey.
Lance’s counsel asked Lance about his mother getting his visitation. Lance stated, “I wanted my mother to have my visitation because I wanted my family to see Kelsey while I was gone.”
My note: Raye is crying while pictures of Kelsey are being shown
Lance was asked when he deployed to Iraq. Lance stated that he had two swelling discs in his neck so he didn’t go to Iraq when scheduled. Lance stated that he “stepped foot in Kuwait on May 3, 2005” and that he was there for approximately 5 months.
My note: May to August or September – That’s four months or less. According to his sister and friend, he lost it when Ashley wanted a divorce. That would have been in July or August when she told the DHS worker of her plans to divorce. She had met someone else.
Lance’s counsel asked Lance if there were any restrictions on his calls. Lance stated that he had to make calls through a pay phone or buy a phone card.
My note: DHS stated on more than one occasion that they spoke with him while he was “driving around Shawnee” on weekdays while he was allegedly "deployed" to Ft. Leonard Wood. To be “driving around,” he had a cell phone.
Lance’s counsel stated, “Did you have concerns after you left.”
Lance stated, “They fought very, very hard for her and her safety.”
Lance’s counsel showed a picture of Lance in his fatigues with Kelsey. Lance stated, “That’s my little baby.”
Lance’s counsel asked Lance about the picture. Lance was in fatigues holding Kelsey in white shirt and pink pants. Lance stated that the picture was taken at Will Rogers Airport on April 4, 2005 and that they were very happy to see each other.
Lance’s counsel asked Lance if that was the last time that he had seen Kelsey. Lance stated it was the last trip home.
Lance’s counsel asked if Lance had spoken to Kelsey and Lance said he did on the phone.
Lance’s counsel asked Lance how he found out that his daughter was dead. Lance stated that he had called home on October 11, 2005 and found out that Kelsey was gone.
My note: Lance sobbing and has been sniffling and tears throughout testimony
Lance stated, “She [Raye Dawn] thought I would be home on October 12th.”
Lance’s counsel stated to Lance, “Your child was murdered on October 11, 2005.”
Lance’s counsel then asked about Lance filing to be executor of Kelsey’s estate and stated that Raye had plead the fifth and not taken the stand even though there were no charges against her at the time. Lance agreed.
Lance’s counsel asked Lance how Kelsey’s death had affected him. Lance stated, “I feel miserable. I feel like I lost my best friend.”
My note: Raye Dawn has been highly criticized by the Briggs supporters for stating that Kelsey was her “best friend”
Lance described how he had one picture inside his locker in Iraq and that it was of Kelsey and that every day he thought of coming home to her.
Lance stated that he had lost his appetite and that he had not eaten in 4 years.
Lance stated, “I look at the families and I’m jealous. I want that. I want what they have.”
Lance’s counsel stated that Lance had counseling while in rehab. Lance stated, “I’m still lost.”
Lance’s counsel asked Lance about his opinion of Raye Dawn intervening in the lawsuit. Lance’s voice became angry and loud as he stated through clenched teeth, “She doesn’t deserve a penny!”
Cross-examination by Jones
Lance stated that he had heard that Raye Dawn thought he was returning on the 12th and he was not.
Jones asked Lance for the names of the men who were in Iraq serving with him since he didn’t remember a single name during his deposition.
Lance couldn’t remember names of any of his commanding officers.
Lance’s counsel objected
Judge overruled the objection
Lance stated that he now remembered one name of a man who was killed on his birthday.
Jones stated that Lance would have remembered the name of a soldier who was killed.
Lance stated, “I was having a hard time remembering things.”
Jones stated, “Are you asking the court to believe that Raye Dawn and Mike Porter murdered the child because you were coming home?” Jones stated that there was no evidence or factual basis of that theory.
Lance stated, “I have an opinion. I have no fact.”
Jones asked Lance about Ashley being with Kelsey while he was gone. Lance stated that Ashley was there for Kelsey.
Jones asked Lance, “Where is Ashley today?”
Lance stated, “I don’t know where she is. She’s probably at home.”
My note: Raye’s attorneys tried to deposition Ashley but she hid in her home with no trespassing signs and it would have cost too much to serve her through the sheriff. The Briggs did not add her to their witness list even though she was the main person who saw Lance interact with Kelsey.
Jones stated, “Ashley sued you for divorce and got a divorce. Was that a matter of trust?”
Lance stated, “She got a new husband while I was in Iraq.” Lance stated that he had been gone too long and that he didn’t have a trust issue with Ashley even though she found a new husband while married to him.
Jones stated that Ashley showed her affection for Kelsey and that Lance had testified that she loved Kelsey and was a good mother to her but hat she was not there now.
Jones stated, “Repeatedly, your testimony is of love and devotion from Ashley to Kelsey but you didn’t subpoena her to testify that Raye Dawn was abusing Kelsey because of it.”
Lance stated, “She thought she was being abused because she was in the picture so she found someone else and moved on.”
Jones asked Lance about the time that he slapped Raye Dawn while camping at the river. Lance stated that he slapped her with an open hand while then were alone in the tent.
Jones stated that the police were called. Jones stated that when Lance took Raye Dawn’s keys that the police were called.
Jones stated that Lance had abused multiple women, including Marie Larson.
Lance stated that Marie Larson “claimed” he abused her.
Jones stated that Lance was “in a night club brandishing a knife” and then later jumped by four men in the parking lot.
Judge summoned attorneys to the bench
Jones redirected his questioning and asked when Lance’s divorce with Raye Dawn was finalized. Lance stated that it was finalized in August.
Jones asked for Lance’s definition of finalized. Lance stated that he wasn’t sure when it was finalized because he did not go to court.
Jones asked Lance when the DNA test was given to Kelsey. Lance stated that it was one week after Kelsey was born.
Jones asked Lance about Kelsey’s birthday. Lance stated, “December 28, 2002.”
My note: In Lance’s deposition, he did not know Kelsey’s birthday or where she attended daycare or anything else about Kelsey. Lance stated that Raye’s attorney would have to “ask my mom.”
Jones asked Lance when Raye Dawn was pregnant or when she knew she was pregnant. Lance did not know.
Jones asked Lance if Raye Dawn asked for support during pregnancy. Lance stated she did not. Jones asked if Raye Dawn asked for support before the DNA test that Lance had requested. Lance stated she did not.
Jones asked Lance if Raye Dawn opposed the DNA test. Lance stated, “I don’t think she had a chance to. It was court ordered.”
Jones stated, “You were asked by counsel if you could think of any reason that Raye Dawn [kept her child from you].”
Lance stated, “There was no reason she would think I would endanger her or the child.”
Jones asked Lance about Raye Dawn’s first pregnancy and her miscarriage. Jones asked about Lance punching Raye Dawn in the stomach the day of her miscarriage. Lance stated, “I had not hit her.”
Jones asked Lance about his drinking problem. Lance stated that he did not have a drinking problem.
Jones asked Lance how Raye Dawn has miscarried. Lance stated that it was a “tubal pregnancy.”
Jones asked Lance “Did you two use drugs?”
Lance stated, “No.”
Jones asked Lance, “You don’t claim that Raye Dawn used drugs?”
Lance stated, “No.”
Jones stated that Lance had abused multiple women and that he had been arrested more than once for domestic violence.
Lance’s counsel objected.
Judge sustained the objection
Jones asked Lance if he had taken anger management after he found out that he was Kelsey’s father. Lance stated, “No.”
Jones asked about the date when Lance took anger management and it was after Kelsey’s birth.
Jones asked if Lance went to rehab in Maude. Lance thought he did.
Jones asked about Lance’s rehab at St. Anthony that was a one-week detox program.
Lance tried to remember when and where he attended rehab centers.
Jones asked Lance if he spoke to Kelsey while he was in Iraq. Lance stated that he did.
Jones asked Lance about the police being called multiple times to his home for domestic violence calls. Lance stated that was not true.
Lance stated that the police were only called one time to escort him to get his belongings.
Jones stated that the court had denied Lance joint custody.
Jones asked Lance about Raye Dawn’s relationship with Kathie. Lance agreed that Raye Dawn got along better with Kathie than with him. Lance stated that Raye Dawn took Kelsey to Kathie’s before he met her.
Jones asked Lance about being behind on child support at the time of Kelsey’s death in the amount of over $1,000. (Didn’t get full amount.) Lance stated he was behind $20.
Lance was excused.
I didn't write this down because at times the testimony was going very fast and now I understand why biased reporter Britten Follet's trial notes of Raye Dawn's trial were incomplete, but I just remembered something else from Jeanna's testimony.
During Jeanna’s testimony, Jones asked Jeanna about Raye Dawn marrying Lance and the fact that there was a conversation before the marriage that Lance would never hit Raye Dawn again after punching her in the stomach and causing her miscarriage. Jeanna stated, as she did to most questions, that she didn’t know about that because she tried to stay neutral.
Lance stated that he knew Raye through high school, but they didn’t start dating until after high school.
My note: Lance is shaking and wiggling like he does – blinking a lot!
Lance’s counsel asked Lance when Raye Dawn became pregnant. Lance stated that Raye didn’t become pregnant before their marriage.
Lance’s counsel asked Lance how his marriage was to Raye Dawn. Lance stated that the “first year, plus, it was a great marriage.”
Lance stated that he had trust issues with Raye Dawn and that she would come home late at night after being out with other guys. Lance stated that he felt Raye Dawn was cheating on him.
Lance’s counsel asked Lance about the abuse in their marriage. Lance stated, “I did slap her one time.” Lance described Raye Dawn ranting and raving in front of other people and how he didn’t like it so he slapped her during a camping trip.
Lance’s counsel asked Lance if he abused Raye Dawn at any other time. Lance stated, “I took keys away from her because she was going out that night and she tried to get them from me and I restrained her.” Still referring to the camping trip where there were witnesses.
Lance’s counsel asked if Raye Dawn had indicated to him that she might be pregnant. Lance stated, “No.”
Lance’s counsel asked if there was any hint that Raye Dawn might be pregnant before their divorce to which Lance answered there was not.
Lance’s counsel asked when Lance learned that Raye Dawn was pregnant. Lance stated that he heard after their divorce that she was pregnant.
Lance stated, “I drove by the house that she was living in and she was outside and she was showing.”
Lance’s counsel asked Lance when he realized that the baby might be his. Lance stated, “I put the math together and the baby had to have been conceived while we were together and I wanted to know 100% if it was mine.”
Lance stated that he and Raye split up before Kelsey was born.
Lance stated that he asked Raye Dawn if she would have ever told him that he was the father and she said, “No.”
Lance stated that after the paternity test he got visitation through mediation and that the terms of the mediation were not followed by Raye Dawn.
Lance’s counsel asked Lance about his marriage to Ashley. Lance stated that he married Ashley in 2003.
Lance’s counsel asked Lance about his new family. Lance stated, “It was new to me having a baby, a new baby, we had a great family setting.”
Lance’s counsel asked Lance about his military career. Lance stated that he went into the Army Reserves in 1998 and got out of the reserves after two years. Lance stated that he was called to active duty on September 11, 2004.
Lance’s counsel asked Lance if he had any concerns about Raye Dawn as a parent. Lance stated that when Kelsey was eight months-old that Raye Dawn took Kelsey off of formula and put her on milk and Lance called the pediatrician to see if that was a good idea and he said, “No.”
Lance stated, “I knew she just did not like Ashley because Ashley was such a wonderful mother to Kelsey.”
My note: Gasps throughout the courtroom
Lance’s counsel showed pictures of Lance with Kelsey.
Lance’s counsel asked Lance about his mother getting his visitation. Lance stated, “I wanted my mother to have my visitation because I wanted my family to see Kelsey while I was gone.”
My note: Raye is crying while pictures of Kelsey are being shown
Lance was asked when he deployed to Iraq. Lance stated that he had two swelling discs in his neck so he didn’t go to Iraq when scheduled. Lance stated that he “stepped foot in Kuwait on May 3, 2005” and that he was there for approximately 5 months.
My note: May to August or September – That’s four months or less. According to his sister and friend, he lost it when Ashley wanted a divorce. That would have been in July or August when she told the DHS worker of her plans to divorce. She had met someone else.
Lance’s counsel asked Lance if there were any restrictions on his calls. Lance stated that he had to make calls through a pay phone or buy a phone card.
My note: DHS stated on more than one occasion that they spoke with him while he was “driving around Shawnee” on weekdays while he was allegedly "deployed" to Ft. Leonard Wood. To be “driving around,” he had a cell phone.
Lance’s counsel stated, “Did you have concerns after you left.”
Lance stated, “They fought very, very hard for her and her safety.”
Lance’s counsel showed a picture of Lance in his fatigues with Kelsey. Lance stated, “That’s my little baby.”
Lance’s counsel asked Lance about the picture. Lance was in fatigues holding Kelsey in white shirt and pink pants. Lance stated that the picture was taken at Will Rogers Airport on April 4, 2005 and that they were very happy to see each other.
Lance’s counsel asked Lance if that was the last time that he had seen Kelsey. Lance stated it was the last trip home.
Lance’s counsel asked if Lance had spoken to Kelsey and Lance said he did on the phone.
Lance’s counsel asked Lance how he found out that his daughter was dead. Lance stated that he had called home on October 11, 2005 and found out that Kelsey was gone.
My note: Lance sobbing and has been sniffling and tears throughout testimony
Lance stated, “She [Raye Dawn] thought I would be home on October 12th.”
Lance’s counsel stated to Lance, “Your child was murdered on October 11, 2005.”
Lance’s counsel then asked about Lance filing to be executor of Kelsey’s estate and stated that Raye had plead the fifth and not taken the stand even though there were no charges against her at the time. Lance agreed.
Lance’s counsel asked Lance how Kelsey’s death had affected him. Lance stated, “I feel miserable. I feel like I lost my best friend.”
My note: Raye Dawn has been highly criticized by the Briggs supporters for stating that Kelsey was her “best friend”
Lance described how he had one picture inside his locker in Iraq and that it was of Kelsey and that every day he thought of coming home to her.
Lance stated that he had lost his appetite and that he had not eaten in 4 years.
Lance stated, “I look at the families and I’m jealous. I want that. I want what they have.”
Lance’s counsel stated that Lance had counseling while in rehab. Lance stated, “I’m still lost.”
Lance’s counsel asked Lance about his opinion of Raye Dawn intervening in the lawsuit. Lance’s voice became angry and loud as he stated through clenched teeth, “She doesn’t deserve a penny!”
Cross-examination by Jones
Lance stated that he had heard that Raye Dawn thought he was returning on the 12th and he was not.
Jones asked Lance for the names of the men who were in Iraq serving with him since he didn’t remember a single name during his deposition.
Lance couldn’t remember names of any of his commanding officers.
Lance’s counsel objected
Judge overruled the objection
Lance stated that he now remembered one name of a man who was killed on his birthday.
Jones stated that Lance would have remembered the name of a soldier who was killed.
Lance stated, “I was having a hard time remembering things.”
Jones stated, “Are you asking the court to believe that Raye Dawn and Mike Porter murdered the child because you were coming home?” Jones stated that there was no evidence or factual basis of that theory.
Lance stated, “I have an opinion. I have no fact.”
Jones asked Lance about Ashley being with Kelsey while he was gone. Lance stated that Ashley was there for Kelsey.
Jones asked Lance, “Where is Ashley today?”
Lance stated, “I don’t know where she is. She’s probably at home.”
My note: Raye’s attorneys tried to deposition Ashley but she hid in her home with no trespassing signs and it would have cost too much to serve her through the sheriff. The Briggs did not add her to their witness list even though she was the main person who saw Lance interact with Kelsey.
Jones stated, “Ashley sued you for divorce and got a divorce. Was that a matter of trust?”
Lance stated, “She got a new husband while I was in Iraq.” Lance stated that he had been gone too long and that he didn’t have a trust issue with Ashley even though she found a new husband while married to him.
Jones stated that Ashley showed her affection for Kelsey and that Lance had testified that she loved Kelsey and was a good mother to her but hat she was not there now.
Jones stated, “Repeatedly, your testimony is of love and devotion from Ashley to Kelsey but you didn’t subpoena her to testify that Raye Dawn was abusing Kelsey because of it.”
Lance stated, “She thought she was being abused because she was in the picture so she found someone else and moved on.”
Jones asked Lance about the time that he slapped Raye Dawn while camping at the river. Lance stated that he slapped her with an open hand while then were alone in the tent.
Jones stated that the police were called. Jones stated that when Lance took Raye Dawn’s keys that the police were called.
Jones stated that Lance had abused multiple women, including Marie Larson.
Lance stated that Marie Larson “claimed” he abused her.
Jones stated that Lance was “in a night club brandishing a knife” and then later jumped by four men in the parking lot.
Judge summoned attorneys to the bench
Jones redirected his questioning and asked when Lance’s divorce with Raye Dawn was finalized. Lance stated that it was finalized in August.
Jones asked for Lance’s definition of finalized. Lance stated that he wasn’t sure when it was finalized because he did not go to court.
Jones asked Lance when the DNA test was given to Kelsey. Lance stated that it was one week after Kelsey was born.
Jones asked Lance about Kelsey’s birthday. Lance stated, “December 28, 2002.”
My note: In Lance’s deposition, he did not know Kelsey’s birthday or where she attended daycare or anything else about Kelsey. Lance stated that Raye’s attorney would have to “ask my mom.”
Jones asked Lance when Raye Dawn was pregnant or when she knew she was pregnant. Lance did not know.
Jones asked Lance if Raye Dawn asked for support during pregnancy. Lance stated she did not. Jones asked if Raye Dawn asked for support before the DNA test that Lance had requested. Lance stated she did not.
Jones asked Lance if Raye Dawn opposed the DNA test. Lance stated, “I don’t think she had a chance to. It was court ordered.”
Jones stated, “You were asked by counsel if you could think of any reason that Raye Dawn [kept her child from you].”
Lance stated, “There was no reason she would think I would endanger her or the child.”
Jones asked Lance about Raye Dawn’s first pregnancy and her miscarriage. Jones asked about Lance punching Raye Dawn in the stomach the day of her miscarriage. Lance stated, “I had not hit her.”
Jones asked Lance about his drinking problem. Lance stated that he did not have a drinking problem.
Jones asked Lance how Raye Dawn has miscarried. Lance stated that it was a “tubal pregnancy.”
Jones asked Lance “Did you two use drugs?”
Lance stated, “No.”
Jones asked Lance, “You don’t claim that Raye Dawn used drugs?”
Lance stated, “No.”
Jones stated that Lance had abused multiple women and that he had been arrested more than once for domestic violence.
Lance’s counsel objected.
Judge sustained the objection
Jones asked Lance if he had taken anger management after he found out that he was Kelsey’s father. Lance stated, “No.”
Jones asked about the date when Lance took anger management and it was after Kelsey’s birth.
Jones asked if Lance went to rehab in Maude. Lance thought he did.
Jones asked about Lance’s rehab at St. Anthony that was a one-week detox program.
Lance tried to remember when and where he attended rehab centers.
Jones asked Lance if he spoke to Kelsey while he was in Iraq. Lance stated that he did.
Jones asked Lance about the police being called multiple times to his home for domestic violence calls. Lance stated that was not true.
Lance stated that the police were only called one time to escort him to get his belongings.
Jones stated that the court had denied Lance joint custody.
Jones asked Lance about Raye Dawn’s relationship with Kathie. Lance agreed that Raye Dawn got along better with Kathie than with him. Lance stated that Raye Dawn took Kelsey to Kathie’s before he met her.
Jones asked Lance about being behind on child support at the time of Kelsey’s death in the amount of over $1,000. (Didn’t get full amount.) Lance stated he was behind $20.
Lance was excused.
I didn't write this down because at times the testimony was going very fast and now I understand why biased reporter Britten Follet's trial notes of Raye Dawn's trial were incomplete, but I just remembered something else from Jeanna's testimony.
During Jeanna’s testimony, Jones asked Jeanna about Raye Dawn marrying Lance and the fact that there was a conversation before the marriage that Lance would never hit Raye Dawn again after punching her in the stomach and causing her miscarriage. Jeanna stated, as she did to most questions, that she didn’t know about that because she tried to stay neutral.
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