An Indiana grandfather, Christopher Carlson, of Indianapolis,forced his three young grandsons to hike 18 miles in triple-digit heat at the Grand Canyon and denied them food and water, authorities said.

Grandpa charged with forcing Grand Canyon hikes
APBy FELICIA FONSECA - Associated Press | AP – 5 hrs ago

FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. (AP) — An Indiana man forced his three young grandsons to hike 18 miles in triple-digit heat at the Grand Canyon and denied them food and water, authorities said.

Christopher Carlson, of Indianapolis, remained jailed Thursday on six counts of child abuse. The boys, ages 12, 9 and 8, told investigators that they had been hit, pushed, choked, pinched and squeezed during trips on a popular trail at the canyon's South Rim last month.

On the latest hike over the weekend down the Bright Angel Trail, temperatures reached 108 degrees at Phantom Ranch along the Colorado River. A ranger spotted the group with binoculars on the trail and saw Carlson shoving the oldest boy and whipping him with a rolled-up T-shirt, authorities said.

National Park Service Special Agent Chris Smith testified that Carlson told authorities that the boys had been overweight and that he thought the hike would get them into shape.

"He told me that he loved his grandchildren very much, but at the same time there were tough people in the world and his grandchildren needed to be tough as well," Smith said.

Authorities said Carlson tortured and beat the boys, and instructed them to lie to park rangers about any injuries. Rangers and passers-by noted the alleged abuse by Carlson, according to court documents.

The boys said Carlson also forced their fingers down their throats, making them vomit.

Rangers fed and hydrated the boys inside an ambulance and they were placed in the care of child protective services. One boy had symptoms of heat stroke, while the other two exhibited signs of heat exhaustion and dehydration.

The Bright Angel Trail can be deceiving. It starts at the top of the canyon at around 7,000 feet in elevation and drops to 2,400 feet by the river, and the temperature varies widely. The Park Service advises hikers not to make the trip to the river and back in one day. Warning signs are posted at the trailhead and along the trail.

Carlson took the children on the latest hike on Aug. 28. A man died the same day on another trail at the Grand Canyon due to heat exposure.

Defense attorney Luke Mulligan questioned the children's statements, saying it seemed improbable that they could have completed the hike without food and water. He also said the rangers could have removed the children from the canyon had they believed the children were at risk of serious injury or death.

"If the rangers didn't perceive it, are we going to put an extra burden on my client to perceive it?" Mulligan said.

But prosecutors said a ranger was successful in preventing Carlson from reaching the river on an earlier hike on Aug. 15, cooling down the children and giving a heads-up to other authorities in the park. Camille Bibles said Carlson was intent on avoiding rangers during the second trip.

"We're looking at the defendant's actions here, not putting the rangers on trial," she said.

A federal magistrate found probable cause for allegations of child abuse and determined that Carlson, 45, was a flight risk and a danger to children.

The boy's mother, Tara Danaher, of Indianapolis, sobbed at a court hearing Thursday. She said her children went on trips with their grandfather this summer, including to Central America and Jamaica, where they have family friends. The highlight of the latest trip that included the Grand Canyon was supposed to be Disneyland, she said.

Danaher, 28, said she talked with her children throughout the summer and that they never expressed any concerns.

"I don't want to say I can't believe it because anything is possible in this world," she said during breaks in the hearing. "I want to know what the hell happened."

August is the busiest month for search and rescue operations, with heat being the leading contributing factor, according to the Park Service. Of the 286 rescue operations last year, 75 percent of them occurred on the Bright Angel Trail.

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Child Abuse Nightmare Comes to End at Grand Canyon
Fellow hikers call 911, boys' grandfather arrested

Updated: Thursday, 01 Sep 2011, 4:55 PM MST
Published : Wednesday, 31 Aug 2011, 9:18 PM MST

A MyFoxPhoenix report

FLAGSTAFF - It's a nightmare at one of the most beautiful places in the world. We've learned of a vicious case of child abuse at the Grand Canyon. A grandfather from Indiana is accused of what can only be described as torturing his grandkids.

The brutality against these three little boys will make your stomach churn.

Christopher Carlson is accused of heinous acts. He allegedly forced his young grandsons to hike the Grand Canyon without food or water from sunrise to sunset. His grandsons -- ages 12, 9 and 8 had blisters on their feet, cracked lips and could barely stand -- but if they stopped, he would physically harm them, reports allege.

Hundreds of people venture into the Grand Canyon and make it out just fine. But others need to be rescued after battling the extreme conditions.

The National Park Service made nearly 300 rescues in 2010 -- and one rescue was made just a few days ago.

Federal paperwork reveals Christopher Carlson nearly hiked his three grandkids to the brink of death.

In one day, the 12, 9 and 8-year-old boys hiked nearly 20 miles in 108 degrees at the Grand Canyon.

The court paperwork says the boys were on the trail when the sun rose. They weren't given breakfast -- only celery -- to eat. They did not get water.

If they boys tried to stop, Carlson would allegedly whip their shirtless backs with a wet t-shirt.
And he would hit, push, kick and even choke his three grandsons.

When one boy collapsed out of exhaustion -- Carlson pushed him to the ground and smashed his face into a rock.

He reportedly choked and lifted his youngest grandson by the throat, the report alleges.

Carlson harshly squeezed their genitals as a form of punishment, and would not allow them to use the restroom for more than a few seconds. After hiking, the boys were not allowed to sleep.

The boys were forced to say they were "fine" to passersby. But the oldest grandson secretly asked one hiker to call 911.

People did. CPS took the boys into custody on August 28, and their grandfather was arrested.

The paperwork says this abuse had been going on for some time. The boys were physically abused on trips to many states and countries.

Carlson is due to appear at a Flagstaff federal court hearing Thursday morning. That's when he will be released on bail or kept in jail.

Christopher Carlson is being held on six counts of causing death or serious bodily injury to children under his care. A booking photo has not been made available.

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I have never been to the Grand Canyon, but can't even imagine hiking and being hot, tired and hungry and thirsty!!!!

Hope this grandfather gets what's coming to him!!!

February 15, 2012

A 9-year-old boy testified Wednesday that his grandfather hit him in the face, causing his nose to bleed, and kicked him and his two brothers during a pair of miles-long hikes at the Grand Canyon last summer.

Prosecutors have alleged that Christopher Alan Carlson deprived his three grandsons of food and water and pushed, choked and repeatedly kicked them during hikes on Aug. 15 and Aug. 28, when the temperature soared to 108 degrees.

The statements from the boy in the trial were the first he's made publicly about the charges against his grandfather, who faces six counts of felony child abuse. The 45-year-old from Indianapolis has pleaded not guilty in the case and could face life in prison. The trial opened in Phoenix federal court on Wednesday.

Under questioning from prosecutor Camille Bibles, the boy also said that Carlson would pinch pressure points in their back that "kinda hurt" during the hike up from the Grand Canyon.

"We would slow down because we were kind of exhausted. He started kicking us and telling us we had to hurry," he said, adding that his eldest brother "kept falling and he had cramps and his stomach started hurting on the way out."

A criminal complaint said Carlson put his grandsons _ who were 12, 9 and 8 years old at the time _ in circumstances "likely to cause death or serious bodily injuries."

But investigators have also said that Carlson told them that the boys were overweight and that he thought hiking the Grand Canyon would help get them into shape.

Defense attorney Jeffrey Williams portrayed Carlson as an active health nut who had a firm hand and wanted to show the boys the world. Like anyone after a long hike, the boys were tired, hungry and thirsty, but Carlson only allowed the boys to eat healthy food like tofu, hummus and veggie burgers, Williams said in his opening statement.

"I suppose to an 8, 9 or 10-year-old that might seem like child abuse if you like cheeseburgers, French fires and pizza," he said. "He wanted to get them from behind the TV, the games and fast food."

The 9-year-old, the youngest of the three brothers, testified that he experienced cramping, nausea and hunger during the miles-long treks.

But he also told jurors that his grandfather took the boys on many "awesome" adventurous trips. In between the two hikes, Carlson took the boys on a tour of the Hoover Dam, to rides atop the Stratosphere hotel and a Criss Angel magic show in Las Vegas, and to Disneyland in California.

Jurors smiled as the boy also spoke of trips to Mexico, Belize, Honduras and across the western United States last summer with Carlson and his two older brothers. The trips often included long hikes, swimming and fishing in the ocean and thrill rides at amusement parks.

Although investigators have said Carlson withheld food and water, the boy testified that he and his brothers were allowed to drink water most of the time and snacked on celery, carrots, tofu and low-carb hummus during the hikes.

The criminal complaint said that one brother feared that another brother would fall to his death because Carlson forced him to walk on the edge of the trail even though he was cramping and falling down. Another brother said that when he fell, Carlson picked him up by the throat and threw him to the ground, and another said Carlson had slammed his face into a rock, the complaint said

Investigators said the boys were covered in cuts, bruises and scars that backed up their stories. But Williams told jurors Wednesday the injuries "are consistent with boys who are just normal boys" who had an especially active summer.

"There's nothing life-threatening about a blister," Williams said. "If these kids were abused they were abused by kindness and all the fun and trips they took over the summer."

A ranger with binoculars spotted the group during their 19-mile hike on Aug. 28, the same day a man died on another trail from heat exposure. The ranger reported seeing Carlson shoving the oldest boy and whipping him with a rolled-up T-shirt.

Rangers fed the boys and gave them water after one showed symptoms of heat stroke and the other two had signs of heat exhaustion and dehydration.

Under questioning from Williams, the boy said the kicking didn't hurt much most of the time and that he often gets nosebleeds for no reason. He also said his grandfather was in a hurry on the Aug. 28 hike to get to the top of the Grand Canyon so they could watch the sunset together.

But Bibles said in her opening statement that Carlson used the Grand Canyon as a weapon in child abuse.

"These hikes became a life or death situation for these children at the hands of the person that was supposed to be protecting them," she said.

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Hippy, I hope he gets what's coming to him also. That is just mean.

February 29, 2012

An Arizona jury on Wednesday found a man guilty of child abuse for forcing his grandsons on grueling hikes in the Grand Canyon in searing August heat even as the boys threw up and two of them repeatedly fell because of cramping.

The jury found 45-year-old Christopher Alan Carlson of Indianapolis guilty of three of six charges of child abuse stemming from the hikes on Aug. 15 and Aug. 28, when his three grandsons were 8, 9 and 12. Each hike lasted more than 15 miles.

Carlson could face life in prison when he is sentenced June 1.

All three boys testified during the trial, which began Feb. 15. The oldest described secretly asking a hiker to call 911 toward the end of a 19-mile hike on Aug. 28 after he started throwing up, falling down because of cramping, experiencing changes to his vision and hearing and became scared.

All the boys said that Carlson pushed, choked and kicked them during the hikes.

"I needed medical attention and I was hurting and he was hitting and pushing me and calling me fat," said the boy, who is still 12 years old. "I was scared and it was hard and I was all weak and tired and kind of hurt."

Prosecutors told jurors that Carlson deprived the boys of food and water during the hikes. The boys reported that they did get some water, but not always enough, and ate celery and other snacks during the hike.

A criminal complaint said Carlson put his grandsons in circumstances "likely to cause death or serious bodily injuries."

Carlson is such a young grandfather because he had his first child -- Tara Danaher, the mother of the boys -- when he was 15. Danaher was 17 when her oldest was born.

Investigators have said that Carlson told them that the boys were overweight and that he thought hiking the Grand Canyon would help get them into shape.

Defense attorney Jeffrey Williams has portrayed Carlson as an active health nut who had a firm hand and wanted to show the boys the world. Like anyone after a long hike, the boys were tired, hungry and thirsty, but Carlson only allowed the boys to eat healthy food like tofu, hummus and veggie burgers, Williams said in his opening statement.

"I suppose to an 8, 9 or 10-year-old that might seem like child abuse if you like cheeseburgers, French fries and pizza," he said. "He wanted to get them from behind the TV, the games and fast food."

The middle grandson, who is now 10 years old, said that Carlson discovered that the kids had hidden unwanted cauliflower, asparagus and fish in their van. Carlson made them eat it even though the food had hair and other debris on it. Another time, the boy said Carlson made him eat broccoli that he had tried to flush down the toilet.

The youngest of the three brothers said Carlson took the boys on many "awesome" adventurous trips. In between the two hikes, Carlson took them on a tour of the Hoover Dam, to rides atop the Stratosphere hotel and a Criss Angel magic show in Las Vegas, and to Disneyland in California.

A ranger with binoculars spotted the group during their Aug. 28 hike, the same day a man died on another trail from heat exposure. The ranger reported seeing Carlson shoving the oldest boy and whipping him with a rolled-up T-shirt.

Rangers fed the boys and gave them water after one showed symptoms of heat stroke and the other two had signs of heat exhaustion and dehydration. Investigators said the boys were covered in cuts, bruises and scars that backed up their stories.

The oldest child told jurors Thursday that he threw up several times and said that Carlson denied him water at various instances while sipping from a jug himself. He said his grandfather got mad whenever he started walking too slow, and at one point hit him in the face with a rock, causing his lips to bleed.

"I started crying and walking faster and he kicked me in the butt and said, `Run,"' the boy said.

The boy said Carlson was in a hurry to get to the top of the Grand Canyon so he could see the sunset.

Prosecutor Camille Bibles told jurors that the middle child got severe blisters on the first hike and that they hadn't fully healed by the second hike.

She showed jurors photos of the blisters, which turned into bleeding ulcers. The wounds forced the boy to undergo treatment usually reserved for burn patients and he couldn't wear shoes for weeks, Bibles said.

A nurse also testified and said that all the boys had severely chafed thighs because Carlson didn't let them wear underwear, and that the boys were dehydrated and had signs of heat stroke and heat exhaustion.

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These poor kids! At least their grandfather is behind bars but that has to be emotionally taxing on them too.

An Arizona jury on Wednesday found a man guilty of child abuse for forcing his grandsons on grueling hikes in the Grand Canyon in searing August heat even as the boys threw up and two of them repeatedly fell because of cramping.

:cheering:

Not "allowed" to wear underwear? Oh my.

The full account of what the boys went through is nothing short of shocking. Thank God the ranger saw them through his binoculars. Those boys could have easily died.!!!!!!!!!!!!

I feel bad if I yell at one of my grandkids. Can't even wrap my head around torture, etc. WTF is wrong with this guy, anyway?