It’s the kind of news that makes your stomach drop. If you follow lifestyle creators, you likely know the name Emilie Kiser. She’s the Arizona-based TikTok star known for her "Sunday resets," skincare routines, and—until recently—the joyful presence of her son. But in May 2025, the upbeat aesthetic of her channel was shattered by a nightmare. People began asking how did Trigg Kiser drown?
The internet is a wild place, and when a tragedy like this happens to a public figure, rumors fly. Some were cruel. Others were just plain wrong. But the official police reports from Chandler, Arizona, have since painted a much clearer, albeit heartbreaking, picture of what actually went down while Emilie was away for the evening.
The Timeline of the Trigg Kiser Drowning
Honesty is tough here. According to the Chandler Police Department, the incident occurred on Monday, May 12, 2025. Emilie wasn't home; she was out with friends. Her husband, Brady Kiser, was watching Trigg and their newborn son, Theodore.
Initially, Brady told authorities he had only lost sight of Trigg for maybe three to five minutes. He was inside, tending to the baby. But surveillance footage from the home told a different story. The cameras showed that Trigg was actually unsupervised in the backyard for more than nine minutes. That’s a long time for a three-year-old.
The video is reportedly quite specific. It shows Trigg playing near the pool—something he did often. He was playing with an inflatable chair. At some point, he tripped. He didn't jump in. He didn't mean to go for a swim. He just lost his footing and fell into the water.
Why the pool wasn't covered
Usually, the Kisers kept a protective cover on the pool. They knew the risks. However, on that particular day, the cover had been removed. Brady later explained to investigators that they had been using the pool and intended to have work done on it the following day, so it remained open. It was a lapse in the "safety layers" that experts always talk about.
Once he fell in, Trigg was in the water for about seven minutes before Brady found him.
The Investigation and the Sports Bet
This is where things got legally complicated and, frankly, a bit messy in the court of public opinion. When police looked into what Brady was doing while Trigg was outside, they found he had placed a $25 sports bet on an NBA playoff game at 5:14 p.m.
Police suggested his attention was "divided." In their view, he was watching the game and the baby, which left Trigg effectively alone in the yard. Because of this, the Chandler Police Department actually recommended a Class 4 felony charge of child abuse against Brady Kiser in July 2025.
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However, the Maricopa County Attorney’s Office saw it differently. After reviewing the case, they declined to prosecute. They stated there was "no likelihood of conviction," essentially viewing it as a horrific, preventable accident rather than a criminal act of neglect.
- May 12: The accident occurs; Trigg is rushed to the hospital.
- May 18: Trigg passes away after six days on life support.
- July 15: Police recommend felony charges.
- July 25: Prosecutors decline to file charges.
Emilie Kiser's Response and "Soul-Crushing" Grief
For months, Emilie went dark. You can’t blame her. When she finally returned to social media in August 2025, she didn't hide behind a PR script. She took "full accountability" as a mother. She talked about how a permanent pool fence—not just a cover—could have saved his life.
By January 2026, she described the past year as "soul-crushing." It’s a raw look at what happens when the "perfect" life shown on TikTok hits a wall of real-world tragedy. She has since used her platform to talk about therapy and the fragility of life, though she has also fought hard in court to keep certain "graphic" details of the police report and the surveillance footage sealed from the public to prevent AI-generated reenactments of her son's final moments.
Moving Forward: Lessons for Every Parent
Honestly, if there's anything to take away from how did Trigg Kiser drown, it’s that "minutes" aren't what we think they are. Brady thought it was three minutes. It was nine. That's how fast it happens.
If you have a pool, or even if you don't, these steps save lives:
- Install a Four-Sided Fence: A pool cover is a great backup, but a permanent, self-latching fence that separates the house from the pool is the gold standard.
- Designated Water Watcher: When kids are near water, one adult should be the "on duty" person with zero distractions—no phones, no TV, no sports bets.
- Learn CPR: First responders did CPR on Trigg immediately, and while he didn't survive long-term, those minutes are the only chance a child has.
- Alarms: Use door alarms that alert you the second a child exits the house toward the pool area.
Trigg's story is a heavy reminder that even in "safe" homes, a single sequence of small mistakes—a cover left off, a distracted moment, a trip over a toy—can change everything. It's a tragedy that doesn't need villains, just a lot of grace for a family trying to survive the unthinkable.
To help prevent similar accidents, you can check out the water safety guidelines provided by the Pool Safely campaign or the American Red Cross.