Emilie Kiser, a TikTok influencer who tragically lost her three-year-old son to a drowning incident, has filed a lawsuit in an attempt to keep records of her son’s death private.
Kiser, who built a following of 3.3 million fans with her relatable content on parenting and family life, recently suffered a devastating loss.
Her three-year-old son, Trigg, tragically died following a drowning accident at the family’s Arizona home.
Now, Kiser has filed a lawsuit against multiple Maricopa County public offices in an attempt to keep the details of his death out of the public eye.
Kiser, 26, filed a lawsuit on May 27, seeking to prevent the release of records related to her son’s death.
The suit, obtained by NBC News, states: “Emilie and her family desperately want to grieve in private, but sadly, the public will not let them. Trigg’s death has become a media frenzy.”
It continues: “Disclosure of graphic or intimate death-related records causes renewed trauma to surviving family members and violates their right to grieve privately.”
In the lawsuit, Kiser’s legal team describes her grief as all-consuming.
"Emilie is going through a parent’s worst nightmare right now," the lawsuit reads. "She lost her young son."
"Emilie is trying her best to be there for her surviving son, two-month-old Theodore. But every day is a battle."
Kiser and her husband, Brady Chapman, welcomed baby Theodore — nicknamed Teddy — in March, just two months before Trigg’s death.
According to NBC News, more than 100 public records requests have been filed since Trigg’s death — a wave of attention that Kiser says is overwhelming and invasive.
She has not reviewed any of the materials requested, including the police report, body camera footage, security footage, or autopsy records.
The lawsuit refers to the release of such details as a “profound invasion of privacy.”
Maricopa County responded swiftly. Jason Berry, director of communications, told NBC News: “When Maricopa County learned the family was pursuing a court order to prevent the release of these records, the Office of the Medical Examiner worked with the family to place a seal on the record.”
The heartbreaking incident occurred on May 12, when Chandler Police were called to Kiser’s home, roughly 25 miles outside of Phoenix. Officers found Trigg unresponsive after falling into the family’s backyard pool.
According to police reports, the toddler suffered multiple injuries and was immediately given CPR at the scene before being rushed to Chandler Regional Hospital. He was later airlifted to Phoenix Children’s Hospital, where he died six days later on May 18.
Before the tragedy, Kiser often shared joyful glimpses of family life. In one emotional post following Teddy’s birth, she told her fans: "There’s no word to describe finally meeting Teddy and finally getting to analyze every part of him and how perfect he is. I’d do it all over again solely for the moment of Brady holding up our baby and announcing him to me."
She added: "More to come. We have been soaking up every second as a family of FOUR."