Father Charged with Child Torture After Hiking Incident in Utah

A Utah father, Micah Smith, has been charged with multiple counts of child torture and aggravated child abuse after a hiking incident that left him and his three children missing for over a day in Big Cottonwood Canyon. The charges stem from events that unfolded on October 11, 2023, when Smith and his children, aged 2, 4, and 8, embarked on what was intended to be a family hike but quickly escalated into a dangerous situation.

According to the indictment, Smith is accused of being “selfish” for prioritizing a mountain summit over the safety of his children. He faces three counts of child torture and three counts of aggravated child abuse, currently being held without bail. The indictment highlights that what started as a family outing turned into a perilous ordeal when adverse weather conditions struck.

On that day, the family set off on the Broads Fork Trail. They failed to return as scheduled, prompting concerned family members to alert authorities after receiving troubling text messages from Smith. First responders located the group the following morning and transported them to the hospital. Tragically, the 4-year-old boy remains hospitalized in critical condition following severe hypothermia and a stroke.

Rescue teams noted that Smith appeared “odd” and lacked concern for his children when they were found. Reports indicate that when discovered, the children were inadequately dressed for the cold and had constructed a makeshift shelter consisting of sticks and rocks. The 4-year-old was found unconscious, leading rescuers to perform 25 minutes of CPR before transporting him to the hospital, where his body temperature registered at a critical 62.6 degrees Fahrenheit.

As Smith’s 8-year-old daughter recounted to investigators, the hike was initially framed by their father as a 9-mile journey. When they began climbing and weather conditions deteriorated, she urged Smith to turn back. His response was dismissive, claiming, “This is a once-in-a-lifetime thing.” As the storm worsened, the children faced extreme conditions, with the daughter reportedly instructed to perform CPR on her brother as Smith tried to manage the worsening situation.

During interviews, Smith claimed they attempted to descend at around 18:00 but had to stop and seek shelter. He reported that his 2-year-old son had fallen and sustained a head injury, making him dazed. Smith later stated that the child became unresponsive and required CPR to regain consciousness.

The situation escalated when Smith was later found trespassing at Primary Children’s Hospital on November 10, 2023, interfering with his son’s medical care. Following this incident, he was arrested for domestic violence, although details surrounding that charge remain undisclosed. The Cottonwood Heights Police Department had previously encountered Smith a month prior, when he expressed suicidal thoughts while in possession of firearms.

The indictment emphasizes that Smith’s behavior indicated a concerning decline, labeling him a danger not only to himself but also to his children. As the case unfolds, the focus remains on the well-being of the children and the legal proceedings against their father.