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Prosecutors filed charges today against the man responsible for building a homemade explosive device that sent a piece of shrapnel into the side of an 11-year-old boy.
Tonight, doctors at Primary Children's Medical Center where doctors are hopeful about the boy's recovery. After an 11 hour surgery, Bridger Hunt is making major steps towards recovery, but he remains in critical condition.
Craig Miller, the man who built the explosive, is facing three felonies but hasn't been arrested.
A piece of shrapnel the size of a notebook was lodged in Bridger's left side. Doctors described his injuries as something a soldier who was struck by an IED (improvised explosive device) would experience. Surgeon Eric Scaife said, "These are huge wounds and there are several potential hurdles, perhaps the biggest of which would be an infection."
But today, after an overnight operation that included repairing an artery, removing damaged tissue and inserting multiple metal plates and screws, Bridger is showing signs of improvement. Doctors now think he'll be able to keep his left leg.
Bridger's mother, Mindy, says his biggest complaint is a little cotton-mouth. "He said, ‘Don't let me die because I don't have enough water,' and that broke my heart," she said.
Bridger still has a least a month or two in the hospital, and that's if everything goes as planned.
Lehi police say the man responsible for Bridger's injuries, 45-year-old Craig Miller, was attempting to make a homemade firework on Pioneer Day. Bridger was on his bike about 30 feet away when the explosion went off.
Mark Ethington, Miller's attorney, said, "He's just offered a lot of support and encouragement and just an offer to do whatever he can."
Today, Miller and his attorney learned he will be charged with possession or control of an explosive device, a second-degree felony, child abuse and obstruction of justice, both third-degree felonies.
"That was really surprising to me, because up to this point my client has been very, very cooperative with police in conducting their investigation," Ethington said.
That cooperation and a request from Bridger's family are what's keeping Miller out of jail right now. Authorities do not consider him to be a flight risk as he makes his court appearances.
E-mail: wjohnson@ksl.com
E-mail: gkennedy@ksl.com
