This memorial website was created in the memory of our loved one, Kelsey Briggs who was born in Oklahoma on December 28, 2002 and passed away on October 11, 2005 at the age of 2. We will remember her forever.

After nine months of documented abuse and two court hearings a Judge sent Kelsey back home to an abusive home. She remained in state custody and was to be supervised by state agencies. Her father was in Iraq fighting for our country while Kelsey was here fighting for her life.
 
On October 11, 2005 she was murdered. The cause of death was blunt force trauma to the abdomen. Two weeks later her stepfather was arrested on first degee murder. Her mother was later charged with two felonies of Child Abuse and Enabling Child Abuse. In April 2006 Kelsey's body was exhumed for a second autopsy where sexual abuse was documented. The stepfather's charges were amended to add the sexual abuse. 

On February 2, 2007 a plea negotiation was entered and approved by the paternal family. The stepfather plead guilty to a reduced charge of Enabling Child Abuse and received 30 years in prison. He has no possibility of parole for 25.5 years. 

The mother was found guilty of Enabling Child Abuse and sentenced to 27 years in prison. She is asking for a new trial. Trial notes for Raye Dawn's trial are available on kelseyspurpose.org

A new law has been named for Kelsey in Oklahoma to prevent this type of failure in our state system.

For more on Kelsey's story go to www.kelseyspurpose.org  


Hugs Across America

The Kelsey Briggs Chapter

Hugs Across America collects Teddy Bears for children in crisis. The Kelsey Briggs Chapter was created in Oklahoma to offer some comfort to the children taken into foster care. We will also share these bears with children in other areas of trauma. We recently sent 100 bears to the victims of the Greenburg, Kansas tornado. Anyone wishing to send a HUG to a child or start a group of your own please go to
www.hugsacrossamerica.net
click on Oklahoma
to contact Kelsey's Chapter or 
kelseyshugs@yahoo.com or ljjsweetin@yahoo.com

The Kelsey Briggs Foundation will give two memorial scholarhips each year. One for Kelsey and one in memory of Skyla Brooks. More details to follow soon.


My name is Kelsey

My name is Kelsey, I’m only two.
I’m way too young to know right from wrong, 
I can barely sing a children’s song.
When you hurt me, why can’t you see, 
I don’t understand, I’m not even three.
I try to walk, “can’t”.
My little body’s black and blue 
and now you have taken my family too.
I love my daddy and he loves me, 
Grandma, PaPa, where can you be?
I don’t forget, I think of you
and when I’m hurt, your love shines through.
It’s dark in here, I can’t go on------No! 
Wait there’s light, an angel’s song.
I feel God’s hand lift me away: 
he has the perfect place to play.
I know you hurt, I see your tears, 
but only God knows why I’m here.
Daddy, I’m okay, my body’s new 
and I will never, ever forget you.
My name was Kelsey.
 
Written by Connie Mathews 



Our family was blessed that God chose us to know her, love her, and fight for her. Kelsey is our hero and will forever be our Angel.


Toys for Kelsey's Kids

The Christmas following Kelsey's death we found ourselves with gifts we had already purchased for Kelsey. We decided to donate them to another child to put under the tree. When her Daddy realized Kelsey had a room full of barely used toys that needed love he chose to donate them too. We were able to provide Christmas for 43 children that year. The following Christmas we still felt the need to do something for children that needed a special gift under the tree. Toys for Kelsey's Kids started Christmas 2006. Toys were collected in several sites and were donated in the area they were collected to more than 200 children in foster care. We hope this will grow to benefit more children in the coming years.