A Utah man is facing serious charges after allegedly leading his three young children on a dangerous hike in treacherous conditions last month, according to local law enforcement. Micah Smith, 31, has been charged with three counts each of child torture and aggravated child abuse by the Salt Lake County District Attorney’s Office.
The incident in question took place in early October at Big Cottonwood Canyon, a deep gorge in the Wasatch Mountain Range approximately 12 miles southeast of Salt Lake City. The area offers a variety of trails for hikers of all skill levels. However, authorities allege that Smith chose to take his children, aged 2, 4, and 8, on the Broads Fork Trail, a path considered challenging even for experienced hikers.
According to the charges, what began as a seemingly innocent family hike quickly turned into a dangerous situation. Despite pleas from the children’s mother and the children themselves to turn back, Smith allegedly insisted on continuing the hike. The children reportedly expressed fear, cold, and exhaustion during the 24-hour ordeal, but their father refused to turn back.
On the day of the hike, Smith had told his daughter they would be embarking on either a “9-mile” or “9-hour” hike, but he was unsure which. He had prepared for the hike by buying 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 deteriorated. 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 forced to climb rocks and grab onto bushes during the hike. As they neared the top of the mountain, a storm began to gather, prompting the daughter to suggest they leave, a suggestion that was allegedly ignored by Smith.
As the weather worsened, 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 difficult, 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.