The parents and grandfather of a six-year-old girl appeared in court for the first time on Wednesday, February 16.

Paislee Shultis was found alive underneath a staircase of her parent's home in New York after having been missing since 2019.

On Monday, February 14, Paislee, now six, was discovered at a home in Saugerties, approximately 45 miles south of Albany, after law enforcement received fresh information with regards to her whereabouts, the Saugerties Police Department said.

After an hour-long search of a makeshift room under the stairs leading to the basement, police managed to find the little one.

Kimberly Cooper, 33, and Kirk Shultis Jr., 32, were arrested Monday night after police found Paislee, being held in a dark, wet makeshift room. They had kept her in isolation from society for more than two years, Fox5 reports.

Shultis Jr., his father, Kirk Shultis Sr., and Cooper all appeared in court Wednesday, February 16. The Shultis men refused to answer questions.

The father and son were charged with one count each of felony custodial interference in the first degree and misdemeanor child endangerment. They are scheduled to appear in court again on April 27.

Cooper also declined to answer any questions. She's been charged with second-degree custodial interference and misdemeanor endangering the welfare of a child, though prosecutor Lauren Swan said she's being "investigated with the potential for additional charges."

Cooper's next court date was scheduled for March 2.

Detective Erik Thiele realized there was something not quite right about the staircase and came across a blanket after shining a light between the steps.

"However, Detectives used a tool to remove several of the wooden steps, and that is when detectives saw a pair of tiny feet," police said in a statement on Tuesday, February 15.

"After removing several more steps, the child and her abductor were discovered within. The space was small, cold, and wet."

Paislee was then examined by paramedics, who confirmed that she was healthy, before being returned to her legal guardian.

When she was just four years old in July 2019, Paislee was reported missing from Cayuga Heights, which is approximately 160 miles west of where she was found in Saugerties. Police say she was kidnapped by Kimberly Cooper, 33, and Kirk Shultis Jr., 32, her "non-custodial parents."

Before the six-year-old was found, authorities had previously followed leads to the location but said those living at the property "denied any knowledge of the little girl's whereabouts."

"During some of the follow-ups to the Fawn Road location, authorities were permitted limited access into the residence to look around for the child, by both Kirk Shultis Sr and Jr. ... knowing the child and her abductor were hidden within the house and would not be found," police said.

Featured image credit: Chris Howes/Wild Places Photography / Alamy

Newly released police records reveal what happened in the hours leading up to the tragic death of Trigg Kiser, son of TikTok influencer Emilie Kiser.

On May 12, Trigg drowned in the family’s backyard pool in Chandler, Arizona, while under the care of his father, 28-year-old Brady Kiser.

Emilie was out with friends at the time, and Brady was home with Trigg and his newborn brother, Theodore.

According to a Chandler Police Department report obtained by People, surveillance footage shows Trigg playing on an inflatable chair by the pool before tripping and falling in at 6:32PM.

He was unsupervised in the backyard for more than nine minutes — seven of those in the water — before Brady found him at 6:39PM.

Authorities say Brady called 911 at 6:41PM and pulled Trigg from the pool before officers arrived and began CPR.

Paramedics rushed the toddler to Chandler Regional Hospital, then transferred him to Phoenix Children’s Hospital. He died six days later, on May 18.

Initially, Brady told investigators Trigg had been alone outside for just three to five minutes. But police say the video tells a different story.

“Brady's statements do not match what is seen on the video; he did not accurately describe one thing [Trigg] did after he went outside,” the report states.

“This leads to the conclusion that Brady was not aware of what [Trigg] was doing and was not watching him. The combination of these factors led to drowning, and a remedy to any of the contributing circumstances could have prevented the outcome.”

Adding to the scrutiny, investigators discovered that at 5:14PM — about 75 minutes before Trigg fell in — Brady placed a $25 bet on the Knicks-Celtics playoff game through DraftKings.

The wager, on Celtics star Jayson Tatum scoring over 40 points, won him $102.50 when Tatum scored 42.

Police concluded Brady’s attention was “divided” between childcare and the game, noting he was not watching Trigg “at all during the critical times mentioned.”

The report also revealed that the family owned a Katchakid mesh pool cover, but it was not in use that day. The Kisers told police it had recently been removed for swimming and never replaced.

The release of the report came after Emilie Kiser successfully petitioned the Arizona Superior Court for Maricopa County to remove two pages from the public record, censoring details tied to the original police recommendation for charges.

Judge Christopher Whitten sided with the family, writing: “The transcript on the disputed sections are not necessary for public accountability.

"Its disclosure would serve no purpose other than satisfying morbid curiosity.”

The Kisers’ attorney told E! News: “These redactions do not alter any material facts of the accident. But they protect the dignity of a little boy whose memory should reflect the love and light he brought to the world.”

Featured image credit: emiliekiser / Instagram

The husband of social media personality Emilie Kiser may face a felony child abuse charge in connection with the drowning death of the couple’s three-year-old son, Trigg.

On Tuesday, July 15, the Chandler Police Department (CPD) confirmed on X that its investigation into the child’s death had concluded. Detectives have recommended that Brady Kiser be charged with a Class 4 felony for child abuse.

The case has been submitted to the Maricopa County Attorney's Office, which will determine whether to pursue charges. Prosecutors could approve the recommendation, request additional investigation, or decline to file charges altogether.

The referral comes nearly two months after Trigg drowned in the family’s backyard pool in Chandler, Arizona, on Monday, May 12, per ABC15. According to CPD records, Brady was home at the time with Trigg and the couple’s newborn son, Theodore, while Emilie was out with friends.

In a statement to police, Brady said he had seen Trigg playing near the pool earlier that day, something he described as "not uncommon", and that the pool was usually covered. While tending to Theodore, he said he lost sight of Trigg for several minutes. When he returned to the backyard, he found the toddler unresponsive in the water, AZ Central reports.

First responders performed CPR on the scene before transporting Trigg to Chandler Regional Medical Center. He was later transferred to Phoenix Children’s Hospital in critical condition but did not survive.

The day after the incident, police applied for a search warrant to obtain surveillance footage from the backyard. CPD investigators formally accused Brady of child abuse on that same day, according to warrant applications.

Trigg’s death gained national attention in part due to Emilie’s online presence. With a following of over 4 million on TikTok, she publicly shared the news of her son's death just days after it occurred.

In the weeks that followed, Emilie filed a legal motion in Arizona Superior Court for Maricopa County, seeking to restrict public access to records related to the case. According to court filings, the family “desperately want to grieve in private, but sadly, the public will not let them,” with her attorneys arguing that the circumstances had become "a media frenzy."

On June 3, the court granted temporary confidentiality over Emilie’s personal declaration and her broader request for privacy while the court continues to evaluate the matter.

A source told PEOPLE that Emilie’s sealed declaration “reflects an intensely personal account of her grief and trauma, submitted 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.”

Another source added that Emilie is asking the court to keep private the records and footage related to Trigg’s death. “A deeply personal, and reasonable, plea to prevent the public release of the most traumatic moment of her life,” the source said, per PEOPLE.

They continued: “Her public profile does not negate her right to privacy, nor does it make her son’s death a matter for public consumption. Public agencies have received over 100+ public records requests for the footage of a toddler’s death, which only serves to satisfy morbid curiosity more than any type of justice.”

On July 9, both the Chandler Police Department and the Maricopa County Office of the Medical Examiner filed a joint request seeking an exception to the court’s confidentiality order. They aim to share records with one another as they work to finalize their investigations. As of now, no ruling on that motion has been made public.

Featured image credit: Consumer Watch / X.

A father who left his two-year-old daughter to die in a hot car while he watched adult content took another tragic turn as he was found dead before sentencing.

When the incident first occured, the two-year-old's mother sent a chilling text when she realised her daughter had passed away.

Investigators are still looking into the death of 37-year-old Christopher Scholtes.

The Shocking Incident: A Father's Deadly Distraction

On the day of July 9, 2024, temperatures in Arizona soared to 32°C (90°F), with the temperature rising even higher inside a parked vehicle.

Scholtes reportedly left his toddler, Parker, in the back seat of his 2003 Acura, under the false assumption that the air conditioning would keep her cool.

Scholtes, however, lost track of time while engaged in distractions like playing on his PlayStation, consuming alcohol, and even watching adult content online.

He allegedly kept his daughter in the car for over three hours, during which the internal temperature of the vehicle rose to 42°C (108°F).

By the time Parker was found, it was too late. A medical examiner later confirmed the toddler’s cause of death was heat exposure, a direct result of being left in the sweltering heat for hours without intervention.

A Heartbreaking Text Exchange

Text messages between Scholtes and his wife, Erika, revealed the shocking nature of this neglect, which prosecutors allege was not an isolated incident, per The Mirror.

As Parker was rushed to the hospital, Erika sent a painful message to her husband, stating: "I told you to stop leaving them in the car, how many times have I told you?"

The situation became even more tragic when she added: "We've lost her, she was perfect."

Scholtes, visibly distraught, replied: "Babe I'm sorry! How could I do this. I killed our baby, this can't be real."

A Pattern of Neglect

The investigation revealed troubling details about Scholtes’ behavior. His two surviving children, aged five and nine, told authorities that their father had a history of leaving them in the car while he was distracted inside the house.

According to one child, Scholtes often “got distracted by playing his game and putting his food away.”

The revelation of this pattern of neglect prompted further scrutiny from authorities.

A criminal complaint noted that Scholtes confessed to his wife, saying, “I killed our baby,” as he acknowledged the enormity of his actions.

He had originally claimed that he left Parker in the car for just 30 minutes after she fell asleep on their way back from shopping, but the timeline revealed by investigators contradicted this claim.

The Family’s Grief and Scholtes’ Legal Struggles

Erika, who works as an anesthesiologist, was at the hospital when Parker arrived. Despite the tragedy, she stood by her husband, describing her daughter’s death as a “mistake.”

Still, the legal consequences were dire.

Scholtes was charged with first-degree murder, but later agreed to a plea deal, entering a guilty plea to second-degree murder. Under the terms of the deal, he was facing a prison sentence of 16 to 30 years.

However, just days before his scheduled sentencing, Scholtes’ story took another tragic turn.

Christopher Scholtes Found Dead

Christopher Scholtes was found dead in his Phoenix home on November 20, 2024, the same day he was scheduled to appear in court for his sentencing.

Police are investigating his death as a possible suicide. Scholtes’ failure to appear at the hearing raised immediate concerns, and his body was discovered shortly thereafter.

Authorities are awaiting the official autopsy report from the Maricopa County Medical Examiner’s Office, but preliminary findings suggest suicide as the cause of death.

For the Scholtes family, this tragic incident has now taken another painful turn, bringing a sudden and sorrowful end to a case that had already devastated the community.

If you or someone you know is struggling or in crisis, help is available. Call or text 988 or visit 988lifeline.org.

Featured image credit: Pima county

It’s been one month since the heartbreaking drowning death of influencer Emilie Kiser’s three-year-old son, Trigg Chapman, and the investigation into the tragedy remains ongoing.

The influencer's son passed away on May 18, six days after he was found unresponsive in the backyard pool of the family’s Chandler, Arizona home.

According to police records, the toddler had suffered multiple injuries and was in critical condition when emergency responders arrived on May 12.

Paramedics performed CPR at the scene before Trigg was taken to Chandler Regional Hospital. He was later airlifted to Phoenix Children’s Hospital, where he died from his injuries.

“Our thoughts and deepest condolences are with the child’s family and loved ones during this unimaginable time,” Chandler Police Department spokesperson Sonu Wasu said, per PEOPLE. “The investigation into the circumstances surrounding this incident remain ongoing.”

That status remains unchanged as on June 18, Wasu confirmed to Arizona Central that the case was still open but declined to provide further details.

While Chandler Police have not released specifics, Glendale police spokesperson Sgt. Bryan Hoskin - who is not involved in the case - explained that child drowning cases typically trigger an investigation to rule out neglect. However, he noted that parents are rarely charged in such incidents.

Search warrant affidavits obtained by The Tab reveal that only Brady Chapman, Kiser's husband, and their two sons were home on May 12. The mom-of-two was reportedly out with friends at the time.

Chapman reportedly told police that Trigg had gone to play near the pool after dinner - a routine occurrence, as the pool typically had a protective cover.

He said he became distracted by caring for their newborn son, Theodore, and lost sight of Trigg for about three to five minutes. When he returned to check on the toddler, he saw Trigg floating in the pool and jumped in to pull him out before calling 911.

These details were echoed in court documents obtained by USA Today. Chapman confirmed that he was the only adult present during the incident, and he recounted the timeline of losing track of Trigg and the discovery that followed.

As the incident drew significant media attention, the TikTok star filed legal action to block the release of records related to her son’s death.

On May 27, she filed a lawsuit in Maricopa County Superior Court to seal 911 calls, autopsy reports, and body camera footage, materials that, according to her filing, had already generated over 100 public records requests.

She also contended that public access to these sensitive files would cause irreparable harm by forcing her to repeatedly relive the traumatic events.

Her declaration, also submitted to the court, described her emotional state in the aftermath of her son's death. On June 3, the court granted a temporary order sealing both the records and her personal statement while a final decision is pending.

Her legal team stated: “Emilie is going through a parent’s worst nightmare right now. 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.”

One of Kiser's attorneys, Kevin O’Malley, suggested to Arizona Central that certain documents might still be suitable for public release, provided they confirm the expected conclusion that “this was nothing other than a tragic accident".

Neither Kiser nor Chapman has made any public statements since Trigg’s passing.

The influencer has disabled comments on her TikTok and Instagram accounts, and her husband has set all of his social media profiles to private.

The couple had recently welcomed their second child, Theodore, in March, just two months before the tragedy. Kiser had shared joyful moments about his arrival on social media, writing: “There’s no words to describe finally meeting Teddy and finally getting to analyze every part of him and how perfect he is.

"The long wait was beyond worth it. I’d do it all over again solely for the moment of Brady holding up our baby and announcing him to me," she penned, adding: "We have been soaking up every second as a family of FOUR."

Featured image credit: Emilie Kiser / Instagram