Trendpills
A Utah father, initially praised for sheltering his children during a snowstorm, now faces felony charges for allegedly leading them into the life-threatening ordeal. Micah Smith, 31, was charged with three counts of reckless child abuse after a disastrous hike in Big Cottonwood Canyon necessitated a major search and rescue operation and left his 4-year-old son in critical condition.
The incident began on a Saturday in October when Smith took his three children—ages 8, 4, and 2—on a hike along the Broads Fork Trail. According to charging documents, the group was dangerously unprepared for the mountain environment. They had no food, water, or appropriate gear for the rapidly deteriorating weather. Other hikers reportedly warned Smith about the incoming storm as they descended, but he allegedly chose to continue upward.
Caught in freezing temperatures and snow, the family spent the night on the mountain. Search teams located them the following day. All four were suffering from hypothermia and frostbite. While Smith and his 2-year-old son were in stable condition and the 8-year-old daughter was later released, the 4-year-old boy was hospitalized in critical condition and placed on a heart-lung bypass machine. The case drew national attention, with prosecutors highlighting the severe negligence involved. Salt Lake County District Attorney Sim Gill described the father's actions as "extremely selfish," leading to felony charges that could carry significant prison time.
The charges paint a starkly different picture from initial reports, which focused on the father's efforts to shield his children from the elements. However, court documents reveal the extent of the alleged recklessness, including one child asking, "Are we going to freeze to death, daddy?" Details from the charging documents outline how the family was dressed in cotton clothing, completely unsuitable for the conditions. This incident serves as a grim warning about the dangers of underestimating mountain weather, a point emphasized by both Canadian news coverage and local authorities.
