Utah Father Charged with Child Torture After Stranding Kids on Mountain Hike

The "Hike from Hell"

• ⛰️ A Utah father, Micah Smith, is facing child torture and aggravated child abuse charges after allegedly taking his three young children on an extremely difficult hike in severe weather.
• ⚠️ The indictment details that the hike, on the Broads Fork Trail, is challenging, steep, and not recommended for children or inexperienced hikers.
• 🥶 The excursion quickly turned into a nightmare as the family became stranded on the mountainside during a storm with freezing rain, hail, and snow.

Children's Ordeal and Injuries

• 💔 The indictment reveals that the children, aged 2, 4, and 8, were found in a precarious location, with rescuers noting they were close to dying.
• 🚑 The 4-year-old boy, EZS, was found unconscious and appeared lifeless, requiring 25 minutes of CPR to revive him. He suffered a stroke, and a portion of his skull was removed.
• 👧 The 8-year-old daughter, EAS, reportedly tried to perform CPR on her younger brother and expressed extreme fear, asking if they would "freeze to death, Daddy?"

Allegations of Intentional Endangerment

• 🚫 Investigators allege Smith ignored warnings, was ill-prepared, and intentionally put his children in harm's way.
• 📱 Evidence from Smith's phone, including videos and text messages with his wife, appears to corroborate the children's accounts of fear and the deteriorating conditions.
• 🚶‍♂️ Smith reportedly admitted to continuing the hike despite his children's complaints and the worsening weather, stating he wanted to "finish the hike before turning around."

Legal Implications and Defense Challenges

• ⚖️ Utah criminal defense attorney Skye Lazaro discusses the severity of the charges and the difficulty in defending such a case, especially given the children's injuries.
• 📞 A critical aspect of the case is Smith's alleged decision to leave the children to seek help, raising questions about whether this was a desperate measure or an abandonment.
• 🏥 A bizarre detail involves Smith allegedly interfering with his son's hospital equipment, leading to a trespass charge and further complicating his legal situation.

Past Behavior and GoFundMe Controversy

• ⚠️ The indictment notes a prior incident where Smith expressed suicidal ideations and was found with firearms, potentially indicating underlying mental health issues.
• 💰 A GoFundMe initially started for Smith, portraying him as a hero, raised over $60,000 before being taken down, highlighting a stark contrast to the criminal allegations.
• ⚖️ Smith is being held without bail, and the case underscores the critical distinction between a tragic accident and criminal endangerment.