An investigation into the death of influencer Emilie Kiser’s son Trigg closed nearly a month after his pool accident.
The Chandler, Arizona, Police Department confirmed to Luxury Handbag Shopping on Sunday, May 18, that Trigg died at age 3. Days earlier, Trigg was pulled unconscious from the family’s backyard pool.
“The investigation into the circumstances surrounding this incident remain ongoing. This is still an open investigation,” the department said in a statement to Us. “Out of respect for the family’s privacy, we will not be releasing additional details until the investigation is closed.”
Us confirmed on June 2 that the investigation was officially closed.
Emilie, who has amassed more than 1 million followers on Instagram and 3 million on TikTok, welcomed son Trigg in July 2021 with husband Brady Kiser.
“We are smitten with all his tiny features and love him so much🤎,” she captioned Instagram images of the newborn. The couple, who tied the knot in 2020, added son Teddy to their family in March.
Emilie’s followers have flooded her Instagram posts with condolences. “When one mama cries, we all cry. Emilie and Brady you are so loved 🪽,” one fan wrote via Instagram, while another added, “Love you Emilie and Brady! We’re all holding you 😢.”
Scroll down for everything to know about the investigation:
When Did the Incident Occur?
Trigg was found unconscious from the family’s backyard pool on the evening of May 12. Two days later, the Chandler Fire Department told local Arizona news outlet 12 News that a 3-year-old boy — later identified as Trigg — was in critical condition. Police officers reportedly arrived at the scene and began performing CPR before firefighters took over life-saving measures. He was subsequently flown to Phoenix Children’s Hospital for further treatment.
While Trigg was not initially identified, speculation began swirling online that the 3-year-old could be Kiser’s son after her followers noticed she had not posted on social media in days.
“Emily [sic] i hope you are okay. i feel sick!! 😭,” one user wrote in the comments section of her latest TikTok post, while another added, “Please be a bad rumor 😭 I’m sick.”
Were Emilie or Brady Replica Luxury Handbag During the Incident?
After a judge ruled to give Emilie temporary confidentiality on her request for privacy, sources close to the litigation shared with Us that the influencer was not home at the time of the accident and “should not be forced to relive the aftermath through viral footage.”
Brady, meanwhile, told authorities he was home alone watching Trigg and Teddy while Emilie was out with friends, per search warrant applications obtained by USA Today. Brady shared that Trigg went to the backyard to play after he was finished eating. He became “soon distracted” by youngest son Teddy and lost sight of Trigg for three to five minutes before finding him floating in the pool. Brady reportedly saw Trigg in the pool, jumped in to get his son and called 911. Us reached out to Brady’s team for comment.
A redacted police report released August 8 noted that a pool covering was not in place on the day of Trigg’s death.
“On the southwest portion of the pool, I observed large netting and a fabric top rolls up onto PVC carriers,” an investigator reported. “These were covers for the pool that were not in use at the time. It was later learned that the covers were in place most of the time, but were recently removed so the family could enjoy the pool. They were never replaced.”
Has Trigg’s Cause of Death Been Released?
A cause of death was not shared by the Chandler, Arizona, Police Department in the statement to Us.
What Has Emilie Kiser Said About the Investigation?
The influencer has yet to address her son’s death or the investigation. Emilie filed a lawsuit on May 27 asking the court to block the release of records about Trigg’s death.
“Emilie is going through a parent’s worst nightmare right now. She lost her young son, her three-year-old Trigg Chapman Kiser (‘Trigg’), on May 18, 2025, following a heartbreaking accidental drowning at the family’s home on May 12, 2025,” the lawsuit published by Arizona Republic read. “Emilie is trying her best to be there for her surviving son, two-month-old Theodore. But every day is a battle.”
Is the Investigation Still Open?
Us confirmed on June 2 that the investigation was closed.
What Did the Investigation Find?
After reviewing evidence found during the investigation, the Chandler Police Department announced on July 15 that investigators recommended “a Class 4 felony charge of child abuse against Brady Kiser.”
The development was announced following search warrants being issued in May — with details of the warrants obtained by USA Today in June — after investigators saw video surveillance footage of the pool via two outdoor cameras positioned in the backyard.
Maricopa County Attorney Rachel Mitchell spoke publicly about the Chandler Police Department’s charge recommendation, according to a report published by 12News in July. Mitchell told reporters that her office is “in the process of reviewing” the recommendation.
“People need to understand that not every tragedy is a crime,” Mitchell said. “My heart goes out to the situation. But there’s a difference between civil negligence — where someone can be sued — and criminal negligence.”
She continued, “In this case, criminal negligence means that the person fails to perceive a substantial and unjustifiable risk that the result will happen. The risk must be of such nature and degree that the failure to perceive it constitutes a gross deviation from the standard of care that a reasonable person would observe.”
Mitchell did not share more details about the case or provide a “timeline” as to when the official charges could be filed. She did share that the “high-profile nature” of the case did not impact the police department’s decision.
The Maricopa County Attorney’s Office declined to pursue charges against Brady because there was “no likelihood of conviction,” according to a statement released on July 25.
“Surveillance video from outside the home showed how the drowning occurred and the actual timeline of events,” the statement read. “In order to convict a person of this charge, the state has to prove beyond a reasonable doubt to a unanimous jury that the person failed to perceive a substantial and unjustifiable risk, and that failure to perceive the risk was a gross deviation from the standard of care a reasonable person would show.”
Brady’s attorney Flynn Carey subsequently said that the Kiser family were “grateful to law enforcement and the county attorney” for recognizing that Trigg’s death was simply “a tragic accident.”
“Brady remains in the midst of the grieving process and is thankful to be with his family as they heal together. We appreciate the compassion and support shown during this difficult time,” Carey added.
For more vital, lifesaving information on pool safety, see Bode Miller’s tips and visit Coverstar’s website during Water Safety Awareness Month.
