New details have surfaced concerning the drowning of 3-year-old Trigg Kiser, the son of well-known TikToker Emilie Kiser, on May 12 in Chandler, Arizona. According to FOX 10 Phoenix, the young child was found in the backyard pool at the family's home and sadly passed away six days after the incident. The child's mother, Emilie Kiser, who garners millions of followers on social media, was out with friends the night of her son's drowning and has filed a legal motion to keep the records of her son’s death private.
Chandler Police reported that after eating, Trigg went into the backyard to play. His father, Brady Kiser, initially spotted Trigg playing near what he described as a normally covered pool but momentarily shifted his attention to their newborn, leading to Trigg's tragic discovery in the pool. Brady, having been at home alone with the children on that fateful night, became distracted while taking care of their other child, retrieved Trigg, and dialed 911, according to 12 News.
The circumstances around the drowning led the Chandler Police to put forward a recommendation for Brady Kiser to be charged with felony child abuse. The Maricopa County Attorney's Office, led by Rachel Mitchell, is reviewing the recommendation which came after a two-month investigation, incorporating both interviews with the parents and analysis of security camera footage available on the property.
During the review, the County Attorney's Office is tasked with assessing the father's failure to perceive a "substantial and unjustifiable risk," which must be of such nature and degree that the omission constitutes "a gross deviation from the standard of care that a reasonable person would observe," Mitchell explained in a FOX 10 Phoenix interview. Whether there were preventive measures like a mandatory pool fence at the Chandler residence, which might have contributed to the accident, have yet to be disclosed.
The Maricopa County Attorney Rachel Mitchell expressed at a press conference, that while the case is complex, "not every tragedy is a crime." She said her office differentiates between civil and criminal negligence when considering charges. The review process acknowledged by Mitchell is taking place, with no specific timeline indicated for when, or even if, formal charges might be filed, as indicated by her statements provided to 12 News.
