Influencer Emilie Kiser's husband dodges criminal charges after son, 3, drowned on his watch
The decision, announced Friday by Arizona 's Maricopa County Attorney's Office, comes nearly two weeks after Chandler Police recommended a felony child abuse charge in connection with the May 12 incident.
Authorities say Brady, 28, was home alone with Trigg and the couple's newborn son, Theodore, when the toddler accessed the backyard pool and was found then unresponsive.
Trigg died six days later, on May 18, at Phoenix Children's Hospital.
'Every case submitted to the Maricopa County Attorney's Office is evaluated using the same standard: whether there is a 'reasonable likelihood of conviction,' Maricopa County Attorney Rachel Mitchell said in a statement.
'After careful review of the evidence submitted by Chandler PD, it was determined this case does not meet that standard.'
According to a search warrant affidavit, Brady told investigators he was distracted by the couple's infant and lost sight of Trigg for several minutes. When he went to look for the child, he found him unconscious in the pool and called 911.
Surveillance footage from the home showed how the drowning occurred, officials said, but no further details were released.
Prosecutors emphasized that, to pursue a child abuse charge, they would need to prove that Brady 'failed to perceive a substantial and unjustifiable risk' and that his actions were a 'gross deviation from the standard of care a reasonable person would show.'
His attorney, Flynn Carey, said in a statement that his client is grateful the case was thoroughly reviewed and classified as a tragic accident.
'We are grateful to law enforcement and the county attorney for conducting a thorough investigation and confirming that this was a tragic accident.
'Brady remains in the midst of the grieving process and is thankful to be with his family as they heal together,' Carey said.
'We appreciate the compassion and support shown during this difficult time.'
At the time of the incident, the famous TikTok influencer, Emilie, 26, was not home. According to police, she had been out with friends.
In the weeks following Trigg's death, she filed a lawsuit to block public access to records related to the incident, including surveillance video, autopsy reports, and the 911 call.
A Maricopa County judge granted a temporary confidentiality order on June 4, citing the volume of public records requests - more than 100 - made to multiple agencies following the incident.
A source close to the grieving family said the legal action was not an attempt to suppress information but to protect the family's privacy in the midst of intense online scrutiny.
Emilie's personal declaration 'reflects an intensely personal account of her grief and trauma, submitted to help the court understand her perspective - not for public consumption,' the source told People.
Emilie, who has more than four million followers on TikTok and 1.7 million on Instagram, has not posted publicly since her son's death.
Her comment sections have been disabled, and her husband has made his social media accounts private.
The Chandler Police Department has said its investigation into the incident remains open.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Reuters
30 minutes ago
- Reuters
Five US soldiers shot at Georgia base, suspect a fellow soldier, official says
ATLANTA, Aug 6 (Reuters) - The man suspected of shooting and wounding five U.S. soldiers on Wednesday at the Fort Stewart base in the state of Georgia is also a U.S. soldier, a U.S. official told Reuters. The official, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, was citing initial information and said it could change. The suspected gunman is in custody, and further details about his identity were not immediately available. Military officials were expected to hold a news briefing later on Wednesday. The soldiers were treated on site and then transported to Winn Army Community Hospital for further treatment, Fort Stewart said in a Facebook post. Authorities did not immediately provide further details on the condition of the victims. "There is no active threat to the community," the post said. Law enforcement responded to reports of a shooting in the 2nd Armored Brigade Combat Team area at 10:56 a.m. ET (1456 GMT), and the base was locked down shortly after 11:04 a.m. The suspect was arrested at 11:35 a.m., Fort Stewart said. Governor Brian Kemp wrote on X that he and his family were "saddened by today's tragedy" at the base. "We are keeping the victims, their families, and all those who answer the call to serve in our hearts and prayers, and we ask that Georgians everywhere do the same," he added. President Donald Trump has been briefed on the shooting and is monitoring the situation, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said on X. Mass shootings are relatively common in the U.S., where guns are widely available, and military bases, which are among the highest-security places in the country, have not been spared. The deadliest was at the Fort Hood Army base in 2009, when a major fatally shot unarmed soldiers in a medical building with a laser-sighted handgun, killing 13 people and injuring more than 30. Less than five years later, a soldier at the same Texas base fatally shot three service members and injured 16 others before killing himself. In 2013, an employee of a government defense contractor killed 12 people at Washington's Navy Yard. In 2019, a Saudi Air Force lieutenant shot and killed three people and wounded eight others at a U.S. Navy base in Pensacola, Florida. Fort Stewart is located in Hinesville, about 225 miles (362 km) southeast of Atlanta and 40 miles (64 km) southwest of Savannah. Nearly 9,000 people live at the base, according to the 2020 Census. The base supports approximately 15,000 active-duty Army military personnel, as well as thousands of military retirees, family members, and others, according to its website.
Daily Mail
an hour ago
- Daily Mail
Bizarre cause of death revealed for girl, 11, who fell off boat into lake and died
An 11-year-old girl who died after falling off a boat in a Wisconsin lake suffered from carbon monoxide poisoning despite being out in open water, officials said. The horror unfolded around 4pm on July 27 on Lake Alexander as the girl, named as Maisy Livingston, lost her life after falling overboard. Her body was dragged from the lake around four hours later. In a preliminary autopsy, authorities said that carbon monoxide toxicity was a contributing factor to her death, which led to her drowning. The Lincoln County Sheriff's Office said in a press release that Maisy 'is believed to have suffered sudden loss of consciousness due to carbon monoxide toxicity, which caused her to fall out of the boat.' Three others on the boat were also treated for carbon monoxide toxicity, officials said, and they were in stable condition in local hospitals, per Fox11. Officials said that it is believed that Maisy suffered carbon monoxide poisoning from being sat by the boat's engine as it chugged along for hours, a rare process known as the 'station wagon effect.' The sheriff's office warned boaters to be aware of the risk even if they are sat in open air, as engines can spout noxious gas into the air around them despite not being in an enclosed space. Tributes poured in for Maisy following the tragic accident, with her family writing in an obituary that she had a 'fun-loving spirit' and was a 'true joy to all who knew her, and her absence leaves a deep ache.' The sheriff's office said in a statement: 'Although it is not a common event, there are numerous documented incidents of boats moving at slow speeds for extended periods of time, allowing carbon monoxide to build up in, and around, a watercraft.' 'This can occur even in open air boats which do not have an enclosed cabin area.' Officials warned boaters to be up to date on the risks associated with carbon monoxide poisoning, noting that the toxic gas is colorless and odorless. From 2000 to 2014, over 140 people were poisoned to death in similar open-air incidents while boating, according to the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health. Maisy's family said in a heartbreaking tribute that she was a devoutly religious child who was 'kind, compassionate, thoughtful, and full of quiet joy.' 'Even at a young age, Maisy had a heart that was tuned to God's goodness,' they wrote. 'Maisy was a true joy to all who knew her, and her absence leaves a deep ache. But those who loved her take comfort in knowing that she is now in the presence of her Savior, whom she loved so dearly.' Images from the scene showed a large law enforcement presence descended on the lake after Maisy fell overboard. The Lincoln County Sheriff's Office said it raced to the scene around 4pm that afternoon after receiving reports of a girl overboard who never resurfaced. The Lincoln County Dive Team, Oneida County Dive Team, and Marathon County Dive Teams helped the search, with the Merrill Fire Department also joining efforts. Officials said that sonar technology was used to locate the missing girl under the water, and her body was sadly dragged from the water several hours after she fell in. The 11-year-old was pronounced dead at the scene. Cops said that they have launched an investigation into the incident, and said that foul play is not suspected at this time.
-copy.jpeg%3Ftrim%3D0%2C0%2C0%2C0%26width%3D1200%26height%3D800%26crop%3D1200%3A800&w=3840&q=100)
The Independent
3 hours ago
- The Independent
Millionaire US businessman gored to death by buffalo during South African hunting trip
A Texas ranch realtor was gored to death by a buffalo while on a hunting trip in South Africa, according to the safari company that organized his trip. Asher Watkins, 52, was out stalking a 1.3-ton Cape buffalo in the northernmost province of Limpopo on Sunday when the animal charged aggressively toward him at 35 mph, Hunter Hans Vermaak, a spokesman for Coenraad and Vermaak Safaris, told several media outlets. The unwounded buffalo struck and killed him instantly, according to Vermaak. It is not known whether the safari team, who were guiding their client on the estimated $10,000 hunt, shot the buffalo dead, or if it escaped back to its nearby herd. Cape Buffaloes are large, heavy cow-like animals that can weigh between 660 to 1,840 pounds and are around 4 to 5ft tall. Their horns are joined by a solid lump of bone across the forehead. Lions and humans are their only predators. Vermaak issued a statement on behalf of CV Safaris saying: 'It is with deep sadness and heavy hearts that we confirm the tragic death of our client and friend Asher Watkins from the USA. 'On Sunday, while on a hunting safari with us in South Africa's Limpopo Province, Asher was fatally injured in a sudden and unprovoked attack by an unwounded buffalo. He was tracking it together with one of our professional hunters and one of our trackers. This is a devastating incident, and our hearts go out to his loved ones. 'We are doing everything we can to support the family members who are here with us and those back in the United States as they navigate this tragic loss.' On the CV website, they state that they abide by 'fair chase and ethical hunting combined with a deep and sincere respect for wildlife.' 'Honesty and integrity come first. Hunting is our right, but it's also a privilege. We respect all fauna and flora and the laws of the land. We abide by the Custodians of Professional Hunting & Conservation SA (CPHC) code of conduct.' Watkins' social media pages are littered with images of game catches from slain desert mule deer to hundreds of dead snow geese. The Independent contacted Watkins Ranch Group and CV Safaris for comment. According to reports, CV Safaris has notified Watkins' ex-wife, Courtney, and their teenage daughter, Savannah, who is believed to be 16 years old. Watkins and his ex were reportedly still close and shared custody of their daughter following their split in 2013. His business, Watkins Ranch Group, sells luxury ranches, farms, and land priced in the millions across Texas, Colorado, Oklahoma, and Arkansas. A close friend of the realtor said, 'He spent every spare moment he could with Savannah and shared his life with her, and nobody could love a daughter more than he did. She will be broken to lose Asher, who was her best friend as well as her dad,' as The Daily Mail reported. Watkin's immediate family, including his mother Gwen, brother Amon, and stepfather Tony, were all at the upmarket safari lodge when they were told the tragic news. His daughter is said to be 'in bits' following the news, according to The Mail's report. The wealthy hunter worked on his family's hunting and cattle ranch growing up, so he became familiar with 'the complexities of owning and operating a successful ranch', as well as gaining an eye for land investments. Before working in commercial real estate sales, he also held a career in oil and gas, according to his company biography. An alumnus of Baylor University, Watkins, is described as 'a proud and devoted father who understands the value of introducing youth into the outdoors.' 'He enjoys hunting, fishing, and spending time on the road scouting out new properties and talking with landowners and farmers about the unique qualities in their area,' the profile added.
