Comedian. Television host. Movie Star. Top-rated syndicated Radio Personality. Father of 6. For over 20 years. Rickey Smiley is one of the most beloved performers in American media, earning a reputation for delivering boundless laughter on-air, on-stage, and on-screen. Every morning, millions of Americans in nearly 60 cities listen to Rickey Smiley and his 6 outrageous cast members on “The Rickey Smiley Morning Show.” His interviews with major celebrities, social political awareness and trademark prank phone calls have made Smiley one of the most listened to radio personalities in history. Rickey Smiley’s down home southern humor, opting to use insight rather than vulgarity to get laughs, is at the core of his success. His audiences are treated to such original characters as “Mrs. Bernice Jenkins”, “Lil’ Darrl,” “Joe Willie” and “Beauford.” Smiley is known for his clean comedic style and his reputation to sell out venues across the country. To movie audiences, Smiley is best known for “All About The Benjamins” and “Friday After Next”. He’s recorded 8 best selling CDs including iTunes #1 Best Selling Comedy Album, “Rickey Smiley- Prank Calls Number 6”. On television he”s hosted BET’s “Open Casket Sharp” and “Comic View”, appeared on “Showtime At The Apollo,” “Uptown Comedy Club”, HBO’s “Def Comedy Jam”and “Snaps”. Smiley graduated from Alabama State University, became KBFB’s (Dallas) morning show personality in 2004, and soon moved his show to WHTA Atlanta. When not performing, Smiley is the ultimate devoted father, single-handedly raising 6 kids, the subject of a soon to be released parenting book. QUOTE: “Success is when preparation meets opportunity” @thersms
Four-month-old Sterling Koehn died last August of a diaper rash after his parents left him in the baby swing for 9-14 days, according to prosecutors. Sterling’s father, Zachary Koehn, has been charged with murder and child endangerment and his mother, Cheyanne Harris, faces a separate trial on the same charges.
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The criminal records obtained by PEOPLE state that on Aug. 30, 2017, authorities arrived to Cheyanne, 21, and Zachary’s home, 28, and found the lifeless body of Sterling Koehn in the swing.
The prosecutor said the dirty diaper attracted bugs, which laid eggs that hatched into maggots. Severe diaper rash set in, causing open wounds that allowed bacteria to enter the baby’s bloodstream, and the baby subsequently died of malnutrition, starvation, and the infection. Sterling was found dead after his father called 911 saying the baby had died. EMT Toni Friedrich, who was first to arrive on the scene, testified that Sterling’s eyes were open in “a blank stare” when she first saw him, and when she moved his blanket, gnats flew up.
Zachary Koehn’s trial is set to resume on Tuesday.
