Father Charged with Child Abuse After Near-Fatal Winter Hike with Toddlers in Utah
A Utah father, initially lauded as a hero for surviving a winter hike with his three children, is now facing charges of child abuse and torture. After the family was rescued following a harrowing ordeal, it was discovered that the children described Smith as ill-prepared and selfish. Prosecutors allege that Smith chose to summit a mountain despite the children’s expressed discomfort and that he displayed odd behavior. The children’s accounts and video evidence from the hike suggest that Smith was unaware of the trail and ill-equipped for the challenging conditions.
John Q. Hosedrinker