Cherokee Ballard and Britten Follett

Photo: Emily Otness

Cherokee Ballard and Britten Follett spoke to a number of Gaylord students last Wednesday, November 9. They spoke about their experiences while covering the Kelsey Smith-Brigg’s case and why they wrote the book, “Who Killed Kelsey?”

Ballard and Follett were so passionate about Kelsey’s case that they decided to write the book.

“We made an agreement with the family to write the book,” Follett said, “They gave us videos and confidential documents to get the family’s story out in the open and share it in a different light.”  

Kelsey was a two-year-old girl who was in her mother and stepfather’s custody when the abuse started. She would get bruises all over her body along with two broken legs and a broken collarbone. According to the News OK website, her care was being supervised by a judge and the Department of Human Services. The judge returned Kelsey to Smith and ruled the abuser unknown. 

“We never officially got the real answer as to who killed Kelsey,” Ballard said, “We might hear some truth in a few years when Raye Dawn talks to the parole board.”

Kelsey’s case helped both women realize that they are helping to raise awareness about child abuse.

“Covering Kelsey’s case opened up a whole can of worms for me,” Follett said, “Families called and texted me about their case wanting help and to get the word out.”

Photo: Emily Otness

Ballard and Follett are no longer news reporters. Follett is a marketing manager for Follett International and Ballard is a communications manager at the Oklahoma Natural Gas Company. They also host book signing in numerous locations.