Topline: Prosecutors say Micah Smith endangered his three children during a disastrous mountain trek in October.
Published: November 30, 2025 8:00 am ET
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Micah Smith (via GoFundMe)
SALT LAKE CITY, UT — A Utah father, previously hailed as a hero after being rescued with his three children during a blizzard, is now charged with felony aggravated child abuse and torture.
In October, Micah Smith, 31, took his three young children on a hike in Utah’s Big Cottonwood Canyon. What began as a family outing quickly turned into a 24-hour ordeal when they became stranded in a snowstorm.
The Big Cottonwood Canyon hike is considered dangerous and unsuitable for children, as reported by FOX 13. The trail is steep, strenuous, and often exposed to harsh weather, making it a route recommended only for experienced hikers.
A powerful storm struck as Smith and his children reached the summit. The group — his 8-year-old daughter, 4-year-old son, and 2-year-old son — were reported missing during the hike, according to the Salt Lake County Sheriff’s Office.
Rescuers found the family roughly 600 feet below the summit, huddled behind a boulder and using sticks to shield themselves from the wind. Authorities said the youngest child had fallen, struck his head, and appeared dazed when they arrived.
Court documents allege Smith put his goal of reaching the mountain summit ahead of his children’s safety, as per ABC 4.
Charging documents, reported by KSL, accuse Smith of acting with “extreme selfishness,” and being “ill prepared.” Authorities said the children repeatedly told him they were cold, exhausted, and wanted to go home.
Although initially hailed as a hero, Smith is now charged with aggravated child abuse and one count of child torture, according to Salt Lake County jail records.
Two of the children were hospitalized in critical condition. Smith was listed in fair condition, and the third child was stable, police records show.
The most severe injuries were suffered by Smith’s 4-year-old son. The child’s body temperature was recorded at 62.6F degrees when paramedics arrived, ABC 4 reported.
The boy required 25 minutes of CPR during transport, later suffered a stroke, and underwent surgery to remove part of his skull. He remains hospitalized and is surviving on a heart-and-lung bypass machine.
Investigators said Smith’s daughter told authorities she performed CPR on her brother during the ordeal. Police also recovered video from Smith’s phone in which the girl is heard asking, “Are we going to freeze to death, daddy?”
Smith appeared unbothered about his children when rescued. He allegedly was “behaving oddly and did not appear to be concerned about the children,” authorities noticed, as per FOX 13.
Before charges were filed, Smith was publicly praised as being a hero. A now-deleted GoFundMe campaign described him as a father who “bravely sacrificed himself” to protect his children.
The charges shift the narrative from survival to alleged neglect. Prosecutors say Smith ignored his children’s pleas and continued toward the summit, creating conditions that left one child severely hypothermic.
The case also references a police encounter in Cottonwood, Utah. Smith reportedly voiced suicidal thoughts while brandishing weapons during that incident, which occurred a month before the hike.
Smith’s plea status is unclear, and it is not known if he has retained an attorney.
The Salt Lake County District Attorney’s office said the case relies heavily on the daughter’s account and evidence from Smith’s phone. Prosecutors argue his failure to prepare and respond to his children’s distress amounted to willful disregard for their safety.
The investigation is ongoing. Authorities continue to gather evidence and have not yet determined when the case will move forward in court.
Presumption of Innocence: A presumption of innocence means that any defendant in a criminal trial is presumed to be innocent until they have been proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. The defendant in this case is only accused of the charges set forth in the criminal complaint. They are innocent until proven guilty.
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Utah Father Charged With Child Abuse After Blizzard Rescue
Prosecutors say Micah Smith endangered his three children during a disastrous mountain trek in October.
By Kate Byrd
Published: November 30, 2025 8:00 am ET
Micah Smith (via GoFundMe)
SALT LAKE CITY, UT — A Utah father, previously hailed as a hero after being rescued with his three children during a blizzard, is now charged with felony aggravated child abuse and torture.
In October, Micah Smith, 31, took his three young children on a hike in Utah’s Big Cottonwood Canyon. What began as a family outing quickly turned into a 24-hour ordeal when they became stranded in a snowstorm.
The Big Cottonwood Canyon hike is considered dangerous and unsuitable for children, as reported by FOX 13. The trail is steep, strenuous, and often exposed to harsh weather, making it a route recommended only for experienced hikers.
A powerful storm struck as Smith and his children reached the summit. The group — his 8-year-old daughter, 4-year-old son, and 2-year-old son — were reported missing during the hike, according to the Salt Lake County Sheriff’s Office.
Rescuers found the family roughly 600 feet below the summit, huddled behind a boulder and using sticks to shield themselves from the wind. Authorities said the youngest child had fallen, struck his head, and appeared dazed when they arrived.
Court documents allege Smith put his goal of reaching the mountain summit ahead of his children’s safety, as per ABC 4.
Charging documents, reported by KSL, accuse Smith of acting with “extreme selfishness,” and being “ill prepared.” Authorities said the children repeatedly told him they were cold, exhausted, and wanted to go home.
Although initially hailed as a hero, Smith is now charged with aggravated child abuse and one count of child torture, according to Salt Lake County jail records.
Two of the children were hospitalized in critical condition. Smith was listed in fair condition, and the third child was stable, police records show.
The most severe injuries were suffered by Smith’s 4-year-old son. The child’s body temperature was recorded at 62.6F degrees when paramedics arrived, ABC 4 reported.
The boy required 25 minutes of CPR during transport, later suffered a stroke, and underwent surgery to remove part of his skull. He remains hospitalized and is surviving on a heart-and-lung bypass machine.
Investigators said Smith’s daughter told authorities she performed CPR on her brother during the ordeal. Police also recovered video from Smith’s phone in which the girl is heard asking, “Are we going to freeze to death, daddy?”
Smith appeared unbothered about his children when rescued. He allegedly was “behaving oddly and did not appear to be concerned about the children,” authorities noticed, as per FOX 13.
Before charges were filed, Smith was publicly praised as being a hero. A now-deleted GoFundMe campaign described him as a father who “bravely sacrificed himself” to protect his children.
The charges shift the narrative from survival to alleged neglect. Prosecutors say Smith ignored his children’s pleas and continued toward the summit, creating conditions that left one child severely hypothermic.
The case also references a police encounter in Cottonwood, Utah. Smith reportedly voiced suicidal thoughts while brandishing weapons during that incident, which occurred a month before the hike.
Smith’s plea status is unclear, and it is not known if he has retained an attorney.
The Salt Lake County District Attorney’s office said the case relies heavily on the daughter’s account and evidence from Smith’s phone. Prosecutors argue his failure to prepare and respond to his children’s distress amounted to willful disregard for their safety.
The investigation is ongoing. Authorities continue to gather evidence and have not yet determined when the case will move forward in court.
Presumption of Innocence: A presumption of innocence means that any defendant in a criminal trial is presumed to be innocent until they have been proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. The defendant in this case is only accused of the charges set forth in the criminal complaint. They are innocent until proven guilty.
Editor's Note: ThePo makes every effort to accurately transcribe the contents of affidavits of probable cause contained in criminal complaints. Often, the complaints themselves are copies of copies of faxed copies, and are difficult to read. To confirm the accuracy of our transcription, contact the Magisterial District Court listed above and request a copy of the criminal complaint. It's a public record to which you are entitled.
Must Read
Editor Picks
Latest Articles
Utah Father Charged With Child Abuse After Blizzard Rescue
Prosecutors say Micah Smith endangered his three children during a disastrous mountain trek in October.
By Kate Byrd
Published: November 30, 2025 8:00 am ET
Micah Smith (via GoFundMe)
SALT LAKE CITY, UT — A Utah father, previously hailed as a hero after being rescued with his three children during a blizzard, is now charged with felony aggravated child abuse and torture.
In October, Micah Smith, 31, took his three young children on a hike in Utah’s Big Cottonwood Canyon. What began as a family outing quickly turned into a 24-hour ordeal when they became stranded in a snowstorm.
The Big Cottonwood Canyon hike is considered dangerous and unsuitable for children, as reported by FOX 13. The trail is steep, strenuous, and often exposed to harsh weather, making it a route recommended only for experienced hikers.
A powerful storm struck as Smith and his children reached the summit. The group — his 8-year-old daughter, 4-year-old son, and 2-year-old son — were reported missing during the hike, according to the Salt Lake County Sheriff’s Office.
Rescuers found the family roughly 600 feet below the summit, huddled behind a boulder and using sticks to shield themselves from the wind. Authorities said the youngest child had fallen, struck his head, and appeared dazed when they arrived.
Court documents allege Smith put his goal of reaching the mountain summit ahead of his children’s safety, as per ABC 4.
Charging documents, reported by KSL, accuse Smith of acting with “extreme selfishness,” and being “ill prepared.” Authorities said the children repeatedly told him they were cold, exhausted, and wanted to go home.
Although initially hailed as a hero, Smith is now charged with aggravated child abuse and one count of child torture, according to Salt Lake County jail records.
Two of the children were hospitalized in critical condition. Smith was listed in fair condition, and the third child was stable, police records show.
The most severe injuries were suffered by Smith’s 4-year-old son. The child’s body temperature was recorded at 62.6F degrees when paramedics arrived, ABC 4 reported.
The boy required 25 minutes of CPR during transport, later suffered a stroke, and underwent surgery to remove part of his skull. He remains hospitalized and is surviving on a heart-and-lung bypass machine.
Investigators said Smith’s daughter told authorities she performed CPR on her brother during the ordeal. Police also recovered video from Smith’s phone in which the girl is heard asking, “Are we going to freeze to death, daddy?”
Smith appeared unbothered about his children when rescued. He allegedly was “behaving oddly and did not appear to be concerned about the children,” authorities noticed, as per FOX 13.
Before charges were filed, Smith was publicly praised as being a hero. A now-deleted GoFundMe campaign described him as a father who “bravely sacrificed himself” to protect his children.
The charges shift the narrative from survival to alleged neglect. Prosecutors say Smith ignored his children’s pleas and continued toward the summit, creating conditions that left one child severely hypothermic.
The case also references a police encounter in Cottonwood, Utah. Smith reportedly voiced suicidal thoughts while brandishing weapons during that incident, which occurred a month before the hike.
Smith’s plea status is unclear, and it is not known if he has retained an attorney.
The Salt Lake County District Attorney’s office said the case relies heavily on the daughter’s account and evidence from Smith’s phone. Prosecutors argue his failure to prepare and respond to his children’s distress amounted to willful disregard for their safety.
The investigation is ongoing. Authorities continue to gather evidence and have not yet determined when the case will move forward in court.
Presumption of Innocence: A presumption of innocence means that any defendant in a criminal trial is presumed to be innocent until they have been proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. The defendant in this case is only accused of the charges set forth in the criminal complaint. They are innocent until proven guilty.
Editor's Note: ThePo makes every effort to accurately transcribe the contents of affidavits of probable cause contained in criminal complaints. Often, the complaints themselves are copies of copies of faxed copies, and are difficult to read. To confirm the accuracy of our transcription, contact the Magisterial District Court listed above and request a copy of the criminal complaint. It's a public record to which you are entitled.
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