Denver father allegedly attempted to murder his 5-year-old son while on hike, police say

Authorities in Colorado have taken a father into custody for investigation of attempted first-degree murder after his 5-year-old son was critically injured on a hike.

On Jan. 12, Michael Ninomiya, 42, took the boy to the Cherry Creek Trail in southeast Denver around 3 p.m.

Ninomiya’s wife later told police she texted her husband around 4 p.m. and asked how their son was doing. In response, she received two photos of the boy on the hike, states a heavily redacted arrest affidavit obtained by KMGH-TV.

Around 15 minutes later, Ninomiya called 911 about an incident involving him and the child, police wrote in the affidavit.

Emergency responders located the father and son in a fenced-off drainage culvert and pulled them out. Firefighters at the time believed the son had fallen through the ice and Ninomiya had tried to rescue him, according to the affidavit.

“Unfortunately, the child was hurt pretty bad,” Denver Fire Department Capt. Greg Pixley told KMGH-TV.

Ninomiya, who suffered a laceration to his forehead in the incident, and his unresponsive child were rushed to area hospitals for treatement.

The affidavit states Ninomiya’s wife told investigators she wasn't concerned about her husband taking the boy on the hike and had no reason to believe her son was in danger.

According to the affidavit, the injured boy remains in critical condition because of fluctuating pressure in his brain.

Ninomiya was arrested on Jan. 19 and faces multiple charges, including attempted murder, attempted murder of a victim under 12, attempt to commit child abuse knowingly/recklessly causing death, and attempt to commit child abuse knowing/recklessly causing serious bodily injury, KUSA reported.

Police have not revealed what led them to name Ninomiya as a suspect in the case.