by Salt Lake City, Utah – A 31-year-old Utah father, Micah Smith, has been arrested and charged with aggravated child abuse and child torture following a harrowing incident in Big Cottonwood Canyon on October 11. Authorities say Smith took his 2-, 4-, and 8-year-old children on an extremely difficult hike, which endangered their lives and left them in critical condition.
According to the indictment, what appeared to be a routine family hike quickly escalated into a life-threatening ordeal. The father reportedly insisted on climbing the Broads Fork Trail, a strenuous five-mile round-trip hike featuring a 2,100-foot elevation gain and rated as difficult, despite knowing the physical limitations of his young children.
Salt Lake County District Attorney Sim Gill said, “Not an easy hike that you would take a child upon.”
Children Endangered on Mountain Trail
Family members reported the group missing after they failed to return, prompting a mountain rescue operation. Rescuers found the family approximately 600 feet from the summit, sheltering under a makeshift structure built with a boulder and sticks to block the wind.
The youngest child, a 2-year-old, was lying beneath his 4-year-old sibling, unconscious and unresponsive. Smith allegedly performed CPR on his youngest two children after they collapsed, both of whom were inadequately clothed for the harsh conditions. At one point, he reportedly taught his 8-year-old daughter how to perform CPR before descending alone.
First responders rushed the family down the mountain. The 4-year-old required 25 minutes of CPR and later suffered a stroke, necessitating surgery to remove part of his skull. Upon hospital admission, the child’s body temperature was 62.6 degrees, KTVX reported. The two youngest children were in critical condition, while the daughter was listed as stable, and Smith himself was in mild condition.
Disturbing Communications During Ordeal
During the hike, Smith reportedly communicated with his wife via text messages, providing updates on the children’s declining condition. Around 5:18 p.m., he wrote:
“Yes, [the 4-year-old] is exhausted. We’re almost to the very top, but everyone is starting to fail and it’s starting to rain. I’m getting tired of carrying [2-year-old]. It’s tough with three children and no second parent.”
Cellphone footage captured his daughter asking, “Are we going to freeze to death, daddy?”, while storm clouds loomed above them on the mountainside.
Previous Police Encounters
Smith has a history of concerning behavior. A month prior, he was found with two guns and an axe, expressing suicidal intentions and attempting to hike to the top of a mountain. Authorities determined he did not intend to harm himself at that time.
On November 10, Smith was accused of trespassing at Primary Children’s Hospital, allegedly attempting to interfere with his 4-year-old son’s care and tampering with medical equipment.
Current Status and Legal Proceedings
Smith was booked into Salt Lake County Jail on November 25 and is being held on bond, according to jail records. The investigation into his actions continues as prosecutors review the child abuse and torture charges.
The incident highlights the importance of parental responsibility, child safety, and awareness during outdoor activities.
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