When news broke about the incident involving the Kiser family in Chandler, the internet basically exploded. People were scouring every corner of social media for the Brady Kiser police report in Arizona, trying to piece together how a normal afternoon turned into every parent’s worst nightmare.
Honestly, the details are heavy. It’s not just about a headline; it’s about a three-year-old boy named Trigg and the thin line between a tragic accident and what the law considers criminal negligence. If you’ve followed social media influencer Emilie Kiser, you probably know the broad strokes, but the actual police records tell a much more specific—and frankly, gut-wrenching—story.
The Timeline Revealed by Chandler Police
On May 12, 2024, everything changed at the Kiser home near Chandler Heights and Gilbert roads. Emilie was reportedly out with friends. Brady was home with their three-year-old son, Trigg, and their newborn, Theodore.
According to the Chandler police report, Brady told detectives that Trigg had gone into the backyard to play after eating. This was apparently a normal thing. The backyard had a pool, and Brady mentioned that the pool was "normally covered."
But it wasn't covered that day.
The Gap in Supervision
Brady initially told investigators he lost sight of Trigg for maybe three to five minutes. He said he got distracted by the newborn. It's a situation most parents of multiple kids can relate to—the constant juggling act. However, when the police started looking at home surveillance footage, the numbers didn't quite line up with the initial statement.
The cameras showed a different reality. Trigg went outside and eventually tripped, falling into the pool from an "elevated platform." The time between Trigg heading out and Brady coming out to check on him wasn't three minutes.
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It was nine.
The Controversy of the "Distraction"
This is where the police report gets really uncomfortable for a lot of people. Investigators didn't just look at cameras; they looked at phone data.
The report from Chandler PD reveals that Brady had been watching the Boston Celtics vs. New York Knicks NBA playoff game that evening. He wasn't just watching, though. Records from DraftKings show he placed a $25 wager at 5:14 p.m. on Jayson Tatum scoring over 40 points.
Verizon records and phone pings show activity on his device as the game was winding down—right around the time Trigg was in the water. Tatum did end up scoring 42 points. Brady won the bet, netting about $102.50. But while that game was hitting its peak, his son was motionless in the pool.
Discrepancies in the Statement
Police noted that Brady seemed surprised by what the cameras caught. In his first interview, he hadn't focused much on the betting or the specific length of time he was away from the door. When confronted with the nine-minute gap shown on video, the narrative shifted from a quick distraction to a significant lapse in supervision.
Why the Child Abuse Charges Were Recommended
By July 2025, the Chandler Police Department officially recommended a Class 4 felony charge of child abuse against Brady Kiser.
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Under Arizona law, specifically A.R.S. § 13-3623, child abuse can occur through "criminal negligence." This doesn't mean you intended to hurt the child. It means you failed to perceive a "substantial and unjustifiable risk" that a reasonable person would have seen.
The police based their recommendation on a few key factors:
- The pool cover was off, and the family knew Trigg couldn't swim.
- The father was distracted by a sports game and mobile betting.
- The duration of the unsupervised time (9 minutes) was longer than reported.
- The "gross deviation" from the standard of care expected of a parent.
The Final Decision: Why No Charges Were Filed
Despite the police recommendation, Maricopa County Attorney Rachel Mitchell announced on July 25, 2025, that her office would not prosecute Brady Kiser.
This sparked a massive debate. Why walk away from a case where the police were so certain?
Basically, the legal threshold for "criminal negligence" is incredibly high. Prosecutors have to prove to a unanimous jury—beyond a reasonable doubt—that the parent's behavior was a "gross deviation" from what any reasonable person would do.
Mitchell explained that while the event was a tragedy, it didn't necessarily meet the criteria for a crime. She noted that "not every tragedy is a crime." The County Attorney's Office looked at the evidence and decided there was no "reasonable likelihood of conviction."
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In short: A jury might see a grieving father who made a mistake, not a criminal who deserves years in prison.
The Fight Over Public Records
While the legal case ended, the battle for privacy began. Emilie Kiser (filing under her legal name, Emilie Henrichsen) sued to block the release of further investigative and post-mortem records.
Her legal team argued that the family deserved to "grieve in private" and that the public interest didn't outweigh the "graphic, distressing" nature of the files. Over 100 public records requests had been filed by various media outlets.
Lessons in Water Safety and Liability
Looking at the Brady Kiser police report, there are some sobering takeaways for any parent in Arizona.
- The "Silent" Danger: Trigg didn't scream or splash. He tripped and fell. This happens in seconds, not minutes.
- Layers of Protection: A pool cover only works if it's on. Fences and self-latching gates are the only way to buy time when a parent is distracted by another child (or a phone).
- Digital Distraction: In the eyes of the law, what you are doing on your phone matters. If a tragedy happens while you're scrolling or betting, it changes the "negligence" conversation entirely.
- Legal vs. Civil: Even though Brady wasn't charged criminally, "civil negligence" is a different ballgame. In Arizona, the bar for being sued is much lower than the bar for being sent to jail.
If you’re a pool owner, the most actionable thing you can do right now is check your gate latches and ensure your "layers of protection" (fence, cover, alarms) are active every single time you step inside. This case is a brutal reminder that it only takes one missed minute—or nine—for a life to change forever.
To protect your own family, consider installing a pool alarm that alerts your phone if the surface of the water is disturbed, providing an extra layer of security beyond just physical barriers.