A Utah resident is facing severe charges after allegedly taking his three young children on a perilous hike in hazardous conditions last month, as reported by local law enforcement. Micah Smith, 31, is facing three counts each of child torture and aggravated child abuse, as charged by the Salt Lake County District Attorney’s Office.
The incident under scrutiny occurred in early October at Big Cottonwood Canyon, a deep ravine in the Wasatch Mountain Range about 12 miles southeast of Salt Lake City. The area provides a range of trails for hikers of varying abilities. However, authorities claim that Smith decided to take his children, aged 2, 4, and 8, on the Broads Fork Trail, a route deemed challenging even for seasoned hikers.
According to the charges, what started as a seemingly harmless family hike rapidly escalated into a perilous situation. Despite the children’s mother and the children themselves pleading to turn back, Smith allegedly insisted on proceeding with the hike. The children reportedly expressed fear, cold, and fatigue during the 24-hour ordeal, but their father refused to turn back.
On the day of the hike, Smith had informed his daughter they would be embarking on either a “9-mile” or “9-hour” hike, but he was uncertain which. He had prepared for the hike by purchasing new socks and shoes for his children and packing supplies such as jerky, tuna, water, pretzels, energy bars, candy, and a sports drink.
However, the situation quickly worsened. The children reportedly consumed all the snacks at the beginning of the hike, and the eldest daughter expressed fatigue shortly after they started. The children were compelled to climb rocks and grab onto bushes during the hike. As they approached the top of the mountain, a storm began to form, prompting the daughter to suggest they leave, a suggestion that was allegedly dismissed by Smith.
As the weather deteriorated, turning from mist to fog, then rain, and finally snow and hail, the children expressed fear for their lives. Despite this, Smith reportedly assured them they were safe. As the storm continued, the family attempted to descend the mountain. They managed to descend approximately 600 feet before seeking shelter for the night.
The 8-year-old girl described the night as extremely challenging, with the children freezing and wet. She said she had to keep her 4-year-old brother warm, while Smith was responsible for the 2-year-old. She also stated that one of her brothers had hypothermia, and she had to hug him tightly and breathe into his mouth to try and warm him up.
During the descent, the 2-year-old fell and hit his head, appearing dazed and later stopped breathing. The 4-year-old also became very cold and had difficulty breathing, requiring CPR from both his father and sister. Smith eventually left his children in the early morning hours, and when encountered by Search and Rescue (SAR) team members, he behaved oddly and claimed one of his children was dead.
However, all three children were alive when the SAR team reached them by helicopter. The 4-year-old was unconscious and appeared lifeless, requiring extensive medical intervention, including CPR, intubation, and multiple rounds of epinephrine. He also suffered a stroke, which necessitated the removal of a portion of his skull. Investigators found text messages on Smith’s phone from his wife expressing concern for the children’s safety. They also discovered a video in which Smith’s daughter asked him if they were going to freeze to death.