Michael Porter

From Raye's trial:

Richard Smothermon D.A. - Questioning
 
 Porter:I am Raye Dawn Smiths ex-husband. We married on April 18th, 2005.
 Kelsey was my step-daughter.
 
 Smothermon:Mr. Porter you were originally charged in this case correct?
 
 Porter:Yes, with murder and sexual abuse.
 
 Smothermon:You know I believe you murdered her and sexually abused her.
 
 Porter:I know that is your opinion.
 
 Smothermon:You were aware of all the evidence against you when you pleaded in this case. Why did you plea?
 
 Porter:I made a promise I would make a plea if I ever was charged with the crime I committed and that's enabling.
 
 Smothermon:I still believe you to be guilty. Why are you here?

In the following interview, the voice you hear coaching Kathie is that of Cherokee Ballard. (Commentary below is by Jody Ortiz)

In this clip, Britten Follet asked Raye Dawn who murdered Kelsey. Britten also stated that the Briggs were the only ones who tried to protect Kelsey. What is she basing that statement on? Is it the fact that Kathie allowed Raye Dawn to take Kelsey for visits while Mike Porter was with her when Kathie claims that she knew he was court ordered to stay away and then Kathie was charged with failure to protect? Is it because Kathie gave up her visits with Kelsey in June because she didn't like what DHS said about her and didn't want any more supervised visits? Is it because Kathie decided not to go to the hearing in September of 2005 even though she said she'd never see her granddaughter alive again? Is it because as Kathie stated in her deposition that she didn't turn in a single allegation of child abuse to DHS in regards to Kelsey? What event in the last 10 months of Kelsey's life did Kathie do that could constitute the statement that she tried to protect Kelsey besides her refusing to return Kelsey in January of 2005? I believe that unsupported statement, alone, shows the bias that Britten has for the Briggs and against Raye Dawn.

In this clip that was shot right after Raye Dawn was convicted, you can see that Britten fights a smile as she describes Lance's reaction.

In this video, Richard Smothermon describes Mike Porter as "the face of the monster" and talks about the media's involvement.

This video outlines the media's involvement. In Raye Dawn's appeal, there is evidence and there are outside witnesses to jurors watching the news, accessing Kelsey's Purpose on a daily basis, sleeping during the trial, eating lunch and smoking with the Briggs, and so on. The members of the media that helped convict Raye Dawn are now writing a book and promoting it as unbiased and investigative.

Now that you know how the media helped convict Raye Dawn, there are a few things you need to know about Mike Porter.

Did you know that on October 6, 2005 Mike Porter received a letter from the district attorney with a list of bad checks he had written and that he had until October 20th to pay a total of $1,537.55 or charges would be filed against him? I can only imagine the stress he was under considering all of the late notices he received and the foreclosure.

During the custody battle before Kelsey's death, Mike Porter stated of Kathie Briggs, "...after it became known by Kathie Briggs that I was involved with Raye Dawn, I received numerous prank phone calls at my home number - followed by a threatening phone call." Not that I believe a word out of his mouth, but I, too, have received many prank phone calls in the last two years. Most are hang ups on my voice mail from restricted numbers.

Then there was the letter that was distributed around Gayla's (Raye Dawn's mother) neighborhood that is in full support of Mike Porter but trashes and makes allegations against both Raye Dawn and her mom. (The full letter will be in my book.) Somewhere around the time of the distribution of the letter, Cherokee Ballard did a news report outside of Gayla's neighborhood about how Kelsey's Purpose signs were all over the city, when in fact, they were only outside of Gayla's neighborhood, according to Gayla.

...I hope that I'm correct in assuming that anyone who steps back and looks at all of the evidence and all of the players in this case can see what's really happening in our state. It's a tragedy and the fact that the hate continues against Raye Dawn and anyone who believes she was railroaded is a travesty. When will the hate end?

Sherri, Raye Dawn's cousin and my dear friend, reminded me that the light does shine through the darkness. There will be an end to the hate and it will be on God's time. Matthew 5:16 "Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven" Luke 11:35 "Then watch out that the light in you may not be darkness." John 1:5 "And the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it." John 3:21 "But he who practices the truth comes to the light, that his deeds may be manifested as having been wrought in God."