TikTok star Emilie Kiser has issued a statement three months after the death of her three-year-old son, Trigg.
On May 12, three-year-old Trigg drowned in the family’s backyard pool in Chandler, Arizona. He was under the care of his father, Brady Kiser, while his mom, Emilie, was out with friends.
According to the Chandler Police Department, the influencer's son had been playing near an inflatable chair by the pool before he fell in. Surveillance footage confirmed that the fall was accidental, with the young boy remaining submerged for several minutes before being discovered.
Brady, distracted by their newborn son, did not realize Trigg was outside until he found him in the pool. Despite the father's immediate attempts at CPR and a rushed hospital visit, Trigg passed away six days later on May 18.
After three months of silence, Emilie, 26, returned to Instagram to share an emotional statement describing the loss as “impossible to put into words,” while also taking full accountability for the tragedy.
“Loss of this magnitude feels impossible to put into words,” her statement began. “I never thought we would experience grief in this way or the pain of losing him so suddenly.”
Calling her late son both her "baby and best friend," she expressed deep regret, writing: "One of the hardest lessons I carry is that a permanent pool fence could have saved his life, and it is something I will never overlook again."
In sharing her experience, she hopes "Trigg's story will help prevent other children and families from suffering the same loss".
The tragedy drew national attention due to the family's public profile, and the details of the incident have been scrutinized in police reports and news coverage.
A police investigation revealed that the content creator's husband was watching an NBA game and had placed a $25 bet on a Knicks-Celtics playoff game just an hour before the horrific incident, raising concerns about his divided focus.
Despite the findings, Maricopa County Attorney Rachel Mitchell confirmed in July that Brady won’t be charged because there is not a “reasonable likelihood of conviction".
“We are grateful to law enforcement and the county attorney for conducting a thorough investigation and confirming that this was a tragic accident,” Brady’s attorney, Flynn P. Carey, said in a statement to ABC News.
“Brady remains in the midst of the grieving process and is thankful to be with his family as they heal together. We appreciate the compassion and support shown during this difficult time," they added.
In addition to grieving, the TikTok star has taken legal action to protect her family’s privacy, particularly regarding the release of sensitive details about the investigation.
In her court filings, Emilie expressed deep concern over the potential public exposure of images or video footage from the tragic event. "Viewing or knowing others could view these images forces me to relive the worst moment of my life," she wrote, describing how these details would hinder her ability to heal.
In her first public statement, Emilie said that while she has grown to love and appreciate her online audience, she plans to be more discerning going forward.
“When I started on social media in 2021 as a new mom, my goal was to connect with other moms and find a community,” she wrote.
And while she said she found that “and so much more,” Emilie noted: “I have now seen through this tragedy how relationships online lack boundaries, especially in protecting children’s privacy. “Moving forward, I will be establishing more boundaries with what I share online.”
The 26-year-old also confirmed that her family has received strong support as they cope with the immense loss.
She expressed a desire to eventually share more about her grief journey but, for now, concluded with a heartfelt message: “All I can say is thank you for the love, compassion, patience, and space you've given us to grieve."