Brady Kiser Faces Child Abuse Charge in 3-Year-Old Son's Drowning Death: Police

Brady Kiser, the husband of Emilie Kiser, could face serious legal consequences following the tragic drowning of their 3-year-old son, Trigg. The incident occurred on Monday, May 12, in Chandler, Arizona, when Trigg was found floating in the family’s backyard pool. At the time, Brady was at home with Trigg and their newborn son, Theodore, while Emilie was out with friends, according to statements made to the Chandler Police Department (CPD).

The CPD completed its investigation into Trigg’s death on Tuesday, July 15, and shared an update on X, stating that the department recommended Brady be charged with a Class 4 felony for child abuse. The case has now been forwarded to the Maricopa County Attorney's Office for review. Depending on the outcome, Brady may face charges or the case could be dropped if the prosecution determines there is insufficient evidence.

According to search warrant applications filed by the CPD, Brady told investigators that he had seen Trigg playing near the pool, which he described as "not uncommon." He also mentioned that the pool typically had a protective cover. However, during the time he was caring for their newborn son, Theodore, he lost sight of Trigg for three to five minutes. When he returned to the backyard, he discovered Trigg floating in the water.

Emergency responders arrived at the scene and performed CPR until firefighters took over. Trigg was taken to Chandler Regional Medical Center and later transferred to Phoenix Children's Hospital in critical condition. Despite efforts to save him, Trigg did not survive.

Following the incident, the CPD obtained surveillance footage from the backyard cameras to verify Brady’s account. On the same day, investigators accused Brady of committing child abuse on the day of the drowning. Days after the tragedy, Emilie, a TikTok influencer with 4 million followers, announced the heartbreaking news to her audience.

Emilie’s media presence led her to file a lawsuit in Arizona Superior Court on Tuesday, May 27, seeking to keep records about Trigg’s death confidential. In court documents, her lawyer argued that she and her family needed privacy to grieve, as the public attention had turned into a "media frenzy."

On June 3, the court ruled in favor of Emilie on a motion to keep her personal declaration private. The order temporarily sealed both her declaration and her broader request for privacy while the court reviews the evidence. A source told The News Pulse that Emilie’s declaration reflects a deeply personal account of her grief and trauma, intended to help the court understand her perspective—not for public consumption.

"The core legal issues remain fully transparent through public filings by counsel and the court," the source said. "Emilie’s sealed declaration does not hinder the public’s understanding of the case or its legal significance. Preserving a small measure of privacy in the midst of public scrutiny is a reasonable and compassionate choice given the circumstances."

Two days later, another insider revealed that Emilie was urging the court to keep the footage and records related to her son’s death private. The source noted that while Emilie’s public profile does not negate her right to privacy, it also doesn’t make her son’s death a matter for public consumption. They added that over 100 public records requests have been made for the footage, which serves more to satisfy morbid curiosity than any form of justice.

On Wednesday, July 9, the CPD and the Maricopa County Office of the Medical Examiner requested an exception to the court’s ruling to exchange records and documents as part of their ongoing investigations. No public ruling has been made regarding this motion, according to AZ Central.