Craig Key is the much criticized former Associate District Judge of Lincoln County, Oklahoma, who has been blamed for the death of two-year-old Kelsey Smith-Briggs after his decision in June, 2005 to return Kelsey to her mother’s home. Key has authored the factual account of the true crime against Kelsey that occurred in the small town of Meeker, Oklahoma, from his perspective as the judge in this case.

A Deadly Game of Tug-of-War: The Kelsey Smith-Briggs Story is an account of Key’s decision that met with the loss of a young girl’s life and the end of a judicial career of a well-respected child advocate in Oklahoma. Key has not spoken about his decision regarding the placement of Kelsey, until now. He has authored this book to bring forth the facts in this case and to clear up mischaracterizations of the evidence, the rumors and innuendos, and the one-sided reports by the media.

After all the stories and all the hype, the parts of the story never told that really influenced the judge's decision are now going public.

"No one in Kelsey’s family loved her enough to put aside their mutual hatred, and now the prize they fought tooth and claw for is forever lost; shame on them all." Irven Box, Attorney and Media Legal Analyst

To the Families of Kelsey
The only true victim in all of this is Kelsey. It does not matter what I have suffered personally or professionally in light of the circumstances around this case. I would have given it all up to save Kelsey. A career can be rebuilt. A reputation can be mended when the truth presents itself. But a life can never be relived. I feel deeply sorry for your loss. I continue to pray for each of you every day.
~ Craig Key