A drowning, a lawsuit, a possible charge: Timeline since Emilie Kiser's son died
- - - A drowning, a lawsuit, a possible charge: Timeline since Emilie Kiser's son died
Melina Khan, USA TODAY July 18, 2025 at 12:18 AM
Emilie Kiser was known for vlogging about life as a mom to her millions of social media followers before her 3-year-old son's death in May.
Since then, she has gone silent online as officials investigate the incident and her lawyers push to conceal records in the case.
Trigg Kiser died on May 18 after being pulled from a backyard pool in Chandler, Arizona, six days earlier, police previously confirmed to USA TODAY. Court documents said Trigg's death was an accidental drowning in the family's pool.
Brady Kiser told police he was watching the couple's newborn son when Trigg fell into the pool, according to search warrant applications granted by Maricopa County Superior Court judges in May.
The Chandler Police Department on July 15 announced that it recommended a class 4 felony charge of child abuse against Brady Kiser. Prosecutors will now review the recommendation.
Here's a look at the full timeline of the case so far.
May 12: Trigg Kiser pulled from pool, in critical condition
Chandler Police Department officers responded to a home on Ashley Drive in Chandler, Arizona, around 7 p.m. local time on May 12, Sonu Wasu, CPD's public information officer told USA TODAY on May 15.
When officers arrived, they found a 3-year-old boy — later identified as Trigg Kiser — unconscious after being pulled from a backyard pool and began administering CPR. Chandler Fire Department arrived on scene shortly thereafter and took over aid.
He was taken to Chandler Regional Hospital and later flown to Phoenix Children's Hospital where he was in critical condition after the incident.
May 13: Police file search warrant for surveillance video
The day after Trigg Kiser was hospitalized, Chandler police filed search warrant applications to obtain video surveillance from two outdoor cameras in the backyard of the Kiser's home. The applications, which were granted, included sworn police affidavits detailing an interview with Brady Kiser about the moments leading up to Trigg falling into the pool.
Brady Kiser told police he was home alone with the couple's two sons when he lost sight of Trigg for three to five minutes before finding the boy floating in the pool, according to the applications. Emilie Kiser was out with friends at the time.
Trigg went to the backyard to play after he finished eating, and Brady Kiser told police he saw Trigg playing near the pool, which the police records said was "not uncommon." The pool usually had a protective cover on it, according to the records.
Brady Kiser was "soon distracted" by his newborn son, the police records said. Once he saw that Trigg was in the pool, he jumped in to get the boy and called 911, according to the records.
May 18: Trigg Kiser dies
Trigg Kiser died on May 18, Sonu Wasu, Chandler Police Department's public information officer, said in a statement.
He had been hospitalized for six days after being pulled out of the family's backyard pool.
"Our thoughts and deepest condolences are with the child's family and loved ones during this unimaginable time," Wasu said at the time.
Emilie Kiser lawsuit: Influencer asks to 'grieve in private.' Why public records could be released anyway.
May 27: Emilie Kiser files lawsuit to conceal records
Emilie Kiser attends the Poppi Soda's Back Beach Bash at Gurney's Montauk on July 28, 2023, in Montauk, New York.
Attorneys for Emilie Kiser filed a lawsuit in Arizona Superior Court for Maricopa County on May 27 to prevent the release of public documents related to Trigg Kiser's death.
The lawsuit said more than 100 requests were filed with the City of Chandler and the Maricopa County Medical Examiner’s Office for access to public records related to Trigg Kiser's death. USA TODAY filed a request on May 15 — three days after the initial drowning call — with the City of Chandler for access to the police report.
Emilie Kiser's attorneys said in the filing that she and her family "desperately want to grieve in private, but sadly, the public will not let them," adding that her son's death "has become a media frenzy."
"Emilie is trying her best to be there for her surviving son, two-month-old Theodore," the lawsuit says. "But every day is a battle."
Gallagher & Kennedy, the firm representing Kiser, has not responded to USA TODAY's requests for comment.
Emilie Kiser lawsuit: Will public records about Kiser's son's death be released? What we know.
June 3: First hearing in public records lawsuit
Emilie Kiser's attorney, Kevin O'Malley, heads back to his seat after presenting to Judge Christopher Whitten during a hearing at the Maricopa County Superior Court in Phoenix, on June 3, 2025.
The first hearing in Kiser's lawsuit was held on June 3; the lawsuit is currently ongoing.
According to The Arizona Republic, part of the USA TODAY Network, Kiser's attorney Kevin O'Malley said during the hearing that some redacted documents are likely "appropriate" for public release.
As a result of the hearing, the parties in the case agreed to an interim order prohibiting the dissemination of the public records in question, according to court filings obtained by USA TODAY. The order is meant in part to "prevent the premature public release of sensitive materials," according to the filing.
This means the records relating to Trigg's death will not be released while the case is litigated in court.
Kiser's attorneys also filed a notice to dismiss some agencies from the lawsuit, and the court sealed a declaration Kiser wrote about this case.
July 15: Police recommend felony child abuse charge
On July 15, the Chandler Police Department said in a statement that investigators are recommending a class 4 felony child abuse charge against Brady Kiser "following a thorough review of the evidence."
Prosecutors from the Maricopa County Attorney's Office will now review the recommendation, the statement said.
A class 4 felony child abuse charge means a person who is in custody of a child or vulnerable adult acted with criminal negligence in situations where physical harm or death is likely, according to Arizona law.
Criminal negligence is when "a person fails to perceive a substantial and unjustifiable risk that the result will occur or that the circumstance exists," according to Arizona law.
As of Thursday, July 17, Brady Kiser has not been formally charged. Prosecutors are reviewing the case and will decide whether to charge him, send the case back to police for further investigation, or drop the case.
Melina Khan is a national trending reporter for USA TODAY. She can be reached at [email protected].
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Emilie Kiser timeline: From son's death to husband's possible charge
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