• US authorities charge father with child torture
• Children suffered physical and emotional trauma due to neglect

US authorities have charged Micah Smith, 31, with child torture after taking his children, aged eight, four, and two, on a “physically and emotionally gruelling” hike in freezing conditions in Utah.

According to police, the incident occurred on October 11 when Smith attempted to reach the summit of the Broads Fork Trail in Big Cottonwood Canyon, and the family became lost amid a storm.

Charging documents revealed that the father ignored a message from his eldest daughter asking if they were “going to freeze to death” and instead claimed they were near the top.

When they were found the next morning, Smith’s behavior was described as “odd and unconcerned for the children.”

Two of his children were left in critical condition after the weather turned to fog, rain, and hail, while Smith was in “fair condition” and the third child remained stable.

Authorities reported that the youngest child fell and hit his head, and the four-year-old required 25 minutes of CPR after being found without a pulse and later suffered a stroke due to a 20-degree drop in body temperature.

The eldest daughter told investigators that her father had said the hike would be “nine miles” or “nine hours,” though she could not recall which.

A GoFundMe page later claimed Smith tried to protect two of his children by covering them, but police stated the situation resulted from his negligence, especially after more details emerged.

The children had expressed concerns about the hike beforehand, which were ignored, and officials fear they “may never fully recover” from the ordeal.

The Salt Lake City District Attorney said: “This is about emotional and psychological harm. His actions were depraved and caused psychological damage to the children.”

Smith has been booked into Salt Lake County Jail, charged with three counts of child torture and three counts of aggravated assault, and is being held without bond.