The story began with a desperate rescue, a father hailed as a hero. Micah Smith, along with his three young children – eight, four, and two years old – vanished during a hike in the unforgiving terrain of Cottonwood Canyon, Utah. A sudden, brutal storm descended, leaving them stranded and battling subzero temperatures.
After a harrowing 24 hours, search teams found them. But the narrative quickly twisted from one of survival to something far more disturbing. Two of the children were rushed to the hospital in critical condition, their small bodies ravaged by the cold. The father, initially seen as a protector, was listed in fair condition, yet his demeanor raised immediate concerns.
Initial reports painted Smith as selflessly shielding his children from the elements, even suffering severe third-degree frostbite in the process. A now-deleted online fundraiser described his “brave sacrifice.” However, authorities began to uncover a drastically different picture, one of negligence and alleged abuse.
Charging documents reveal a chilling accusation: Smith prioritized reaching the mountain’s summit over the safety of his children. The children, during their agonizing ordeal, repeatedly expressed their fear and exhaustion, begging to go home. The documents portray Smith not as a protector, but as “ill-prepared and extremely selfish.”
Rescuers found the family huddled behind a makeshift windbreak of sticks, the children inadequately dressed for the brutal conditions. The two-year-old was discovered beneath his older brother, a desperate attempt at shared warmth. The four-year-old was unconscious, barely clothed, and initially showed no pulse.
Paramedics fought for 25 minutes to revive the four-year-old, his body temperature plummeting to a dangerously low 17 degrees Celsius. Miraculously, they restored a faint heartbeat, but the ordeal wasn’t over. The boy later suffered a stroke, requiring surgeons to remove a portion of his skull.
The eight-year-old daughter’s testimony added another layer of heartbreak. She recounted asking her father, “Are we going to freeze to death, daddy?” – a question that now echoes with devastating weight. She also revealed she had to perform CPR on her younger brother, a burden no child should ever bear.
The situation was further complicated by a prior incident. Just a month before the hike, police encountered Smith expressing suicidal thoughts, armed with two guns and an axe while seeking out a mountain location. He claimed to be “going through a really hard time” but denied any intent to harm himself.
Adding to the escalating crisis, Smith allegedly interfered with his four-year-old son’s medical care at the hospital, even tampering with medical equipment. This led to his arrest on domestic violence charges, with authorities stating his behavior was “spiralling” and posing a danger to his children.
The charges against Smith now include aggravated child abuse and child torture. The investigation has revealed a disturbing pattern of behavior, transforming the initial narrative of heroism into a tragic tale of alleged neglect and endangerment, leaving the future of these children uncertain.
