Dad faces murder charge after letting kids walk 10 miles in snow

Authorities in Idaho have charged a 55-year-old father with second-degree murder and felony injury to a child after they said he let his two children out in the snow so that they could walk 10 miles to their mother's house.

The 11-year-old daughter died, probably from hypothermia, and the brother was treated and released from a hospital for symptoms of hypothermia.

The children were allowed to walk after their father's truck became stuck in the snow and he stayed behind along with another adult to free the vehicle.

-- Lance Murray

Comments

[BX]

I DONT THINK HE SHOULD BE CHARGED WITH MURDER MAYBE INJURY TO A CHILD!!!

[CPT]

But, the child is dead, not injured. Why should he get charged with injury to a child when the child is dead?

[hm]

Some people are so stupid its frightening. I can't fathom how someone can make such a stupid decision that ends up causing their child's death and how a idiot writes that he should not be charged with it.

[David_in_TX]

CPT: Read the article carefully... one child is dead, the other was treated at a hospital for hypothermia. That would seem to support both charges BX mentioned.

[robert]

ANY PARENT THAT WOULD LET HIS YOUNG KIDS WALK THAT FAR BY THEMSELVES IN ANY WEATHER SHOULD BE STRUNG UP!

[ss]

TWO kids. One dead (daughter)...murder. One injured (son)...injury to a child.

[Tammy]

CPT, in answer to your question, the charge of Injury to a Child is much easier to prove, and is the same level of offense (at least in Texas it is). MURDER requires a specific INTENT where INJURY does not.

[kat]

I agree the child died. The vehicle was stuck not out of gas so why not allow the children safety from the elements while sitting in a heated truck? And simply would the father walk ten miles himself? no he stayed put. Why not escort his kid's then get a ride back to his truck. I live in the north where the wind chill alone delays school due to safety risks. What parent has such a lack of forethought concerning their own kid's? Murder charges fit, how sad indeed for the mother.

[tbg]

Involuntary manslaughter would be technically correct, but don't we think he has suffered enough? He allowed his children to walk, didn't force them. He showed poor judgment, but has also lost his children. Let's have some compassion.

[Duane Deen]

While the Dad is a complete idiot for letting his kids take off walking by themselves in the snow, this is not murder. Child endangerment or neglect maybe, you might even make a case for involuntary manslaughter, but not second degree murder.