Arizona police are recommending a felony child abuse charge against the husband of social-media influencer Emilie Kiser. Kiser’s 3-year-old son, Trigg, died in May, and now her husband, Brady Kiser, could face criminal charges.
The child’s drowning drew widespread attention online and raised questions about child safety and social media scrutiny.
The incident
On May 12, police responded to a home in Chandler, Arizona, where a boy had been found unconscious in a backyard pool. He received CPR before he was rushed to Phoenix Children’s Hospital in critical condition. The child died six days later.
Before Emilie Kiser made any public statement, online users began identifying her home as the site of the drowning by comparing old videos on her TikTok account with footage aired by the media. They also noticed that close friends had visited the house that day and then stopped posting on social media, adding fuel to speculation.
The Chandler Police Department posted a statement on X on Tuesday.
“After a thorough review of the evidence, we have submitted the case to the Maricopa County Attorney’s Office for further review and any potential prosecutorial decisions,” the post said.
Investigators recommended a Class 4 felony charge of child abuse against Brady Kiser. Arizona law says Class 4 child abuse is the result of “criminal negligence.” A conviction can result in probation or from one to 3.75 years in prison.
However, the charge has not been formally filed, and no arrests have been made.
Authorities also clarified after the initial incident that Emilie Kiser was not home at the time of the drowning.
Efforts to keep details private
According to a search warrant affidavit obtained by 12News in Phoenix, Brady Kiser told police he had been distracted by the couple’s infant when Trigg wandered outside to play.
At the end of May, Emilie Kiser filed a lawsuit against several public offices in Maricopa County in an effort to keep certain investigative details private, including police reports and scene photographs.
A June 3 hearing resulted in an agreement to withhold those records while the case is being litigated, according to USA Today.
Online backlash and reaction
While many fans expressed sympathy, others began reviewing Kiser’s past videos for signs of negligence.
In one post, she asked her followers for pool safety recommendations. In another, she mentioned the possibility of installing a fence or a net system and highlighted that the brand had “zero fatalities.”
Screenshots from 2024 show that she had previously said she and her husband planned to install a fence eventually. In some videos, a safety net can be seen on the pool, but viewers noted it was not always present.
On May 19, users shared public death records confirming Trigg’s passing. Local news outlets later verified the report. The reaction sparked a wave of criticism and debate online.
As of June 16, neither Emilie nor Brady Kiser had made a public statement. Emilie has since turned off comments on her TikTok account, which has more than 4 million followers. Brady has switched his Instagram to private.
