Latest news with #TriggKiser
Daily Mail
2 days ago
- Health
- Daily Mail
Influencer makes desperate bid to shield public from details of three-year-old son's drowning
Social media influencer Emilie Kiser, 26, has filed a lawsuit against multiple agencies in Arizona to block the details of her three-year-old son's death from the public. Kiser's son died on May 18 six days after he was found unresponsive in a backyard pool in Arizona, according to Chandler Police Department. Kiser is a popular mommy blogger with four million followers on TikTok and frequently shares her life as a mother on the platform. The influencer filed a lawsuit using her maiden name, Henrichsen, on Tuesday against the City of Chandler, Chandler Police Department, Maricopa County, the county's medical examiner's office, and other agencies to permanently block public access to records related to her son, Trigg's, death. The lawsuit said that Kiser was 'going through a parent's worst nightmare right now' and the family 'desperately wanted to grieve in private.' 'Trigg's death has become a media frenzy. Appallingly, 100+ public record requests have been filed with both the City of Chandler and the Maricopa County Medical Examiner's Office,' the lawsuit continued. 'Emilie is trying her best to be there for her surviving son, two-month-old Theodore. But every day is a battle,' the suit said. Kiser's attorneys argued that the records presumably contain 'graphic, distressing, and intimate details' of the toddler's death. They continued that public access to the records 'has no bearing on government accountability.' 'To allow disclosure in these circumstances would be to turn Arizona's Public Records Law into a weapon of emotional harm, rather than a tool of government transparency,' the lawsuit added. The suit said that Kiser or her representation haven't reviewed the police report, security camera footage, scene photos, 911 recording, or autopsy photos. Kiser's lawyers added that the records weren't available to them, and the influencer doesn't intend to ever view the documents. In response to the lawsuit, Jason Berry, the director of communications for Maricopa County, which was named as a defendant, 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.' Kiser's son, Trigg, died on May 18 after a drowning incident at the family's home on May 12. A neighbor told at the time that the influencer's house was swarmed with five police cars after the incident. Emergency responders arrived and performed life-saving efforts until Trigg was airlifted to Phoenix Children's Hospital for specialized care. Kiser hasn't posted since the tragedy, but her followers flooded her accounts with messages of support and condolences before she turned off her comment sections. The Arizona influencer and her husband, Brady, became parents to Trigg in July 2021. The couple revealed they were having another child in September 2024, posting a photo of Kiser's sonogram with the caption, 'WE GOTTA BABY GROWING.' 'We can not wait to add another angel to our family. Whatever you are, we love you so much already.' In March, the family announced the arrival of their second son, Teddy, writing on Instagram, 'We love you so much and our hearts feel like they are going to burst.'
The Independent
3 days ago
- General
- The Independent
TikTok influencer sues to keep records about her son's death private
TikTok influencer Emilie Kiser is suing Arizona officials to keep records about her 3-year-old son's death private. Earlier this month, Kiser's eldest son, Trigg, died several days after he was found unconscious in a backyard pool at the family's home in Chandler, about a 30-minute drive southeast of Phoenix, according to local reports. Kiser shares her life as a mom on TikTok where she has four million followers. On Tuesday, Kiser filed a lawsuit against Arizona officials, arguing the disclosure of records related to her son's death 'causes renewed trauma to surviving family members and violates their right to grieve privately.' Kiser 'is going through a parent's worst nightmare right now' after the 'heartbreaking accidental drowning' of her son earlier this month, according to the suit. The toddler died in hospital six days after he was found in the pool, KPNX reported. 'Emilie is trying her best to be there for her surviving son…but every day is a battle,' the lawsuit said. Kiser and husband, Brady, welcomed their second son, Theodore, in March. Since Trigg's death, more than 100 public records requests have been filed with the city of Chandler and the Maricopa County Medical Examiner's Office. "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,' the suit read. While the suit does acknowledge Arizona's Public Records Law, which gives the public the right to view records maintained by public offices, 'this right of access is not absolute.' Kiser's lawyers argue Arizona law also, 'recognizes that family members have a compelling privacy interest in preventing the disclosure of graphic materials related to a loved one's injuries or death.' Kiser has not posted on TikTok since May 12. The suit names several Arizona public offices, including the city of Chandler, the Chandler Police Department, the Maricopa County Office of the Medical Examiner and the Arizona Department of Health Services. Jason Berry, director of communications for Maricopa County, told NBC News on Thursday, '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.' Berry said court proceedings will determine if the records related to Trigg's death will be permanently sealed.
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Health
- Yahoo
Influencer Emilie Kiser suing to keep son's records private: Reports
(NewsNation) — Social media influencer Emilie Kiser has filed a lawsuit to keep records about her son's death private, nearly two weeks after the incident, according to reports. Three-year-old Trigg Kiser died May 18 after he was pulled from a pool in Chandler, Arizona, six days before. On May 27, a lawsuit was filed in the Arizona Superior Court for Maricopa County to prevent the release of documents related to her son's death. Trump's 'pardon czar' talks Chrisleys, providing a 'second chance' The complaint claims that her son died from an accidental drowning at the family's home, and Emilie Kiser's attorneys said that she and her family 'desperately want to grieve in private.' They added that Trigg Kiser's death has 'become a media frenzy.' According to Chandler, Arizona, police, the incident is under investigation, and no charges have been filed. The lawsuit stated that there have been over 100 requests filed with the City of Chandler, Arizona, and the Maricopa County Medical Examiner's Office for access to records that are related to Trigg Kiser's death. The purpose of the lawsuit is to prevent officials from releasing public documents, including the 911 call, photos of the scene and the police report. Emilie Kiser and her attorneys have allegedly not seen any of the documents, but they believe they are 'exceptionally raw and graphic.' Ex-mobster Michael Franzese on Diddy trial: 'We didn't beat up women' The lawsuit also states that the release of the public records would 'intrude upon personal dignity or cause unnecessary harm to private individuals. … Emilie is trying her best to be there for her surviving son, two-month-old Theodore. But every day is a battle.' If a judge won't permanently block the release of these records, Emilie Kiser has requested that the court review the records before they are released. This way, they can determine 'what, if any, information may be lawfully disclosed.' The lawsuit claims that releasing the documents would turn 'Arizona's Public Records Law into a weapon of emotional harm, rather than a tool of government transparency,' and many of the requests made were most likely for commercial purposes. However, the law in Arizona doesn't consider requesting records for news gathering to be a commercial purpose. Emilie Kiser has over 4 million followers on TikTok and over 1.7 million followers on Instagram. She became famous by sharing videos of her life on these platforms. After her son's death, she stopped posting on social media, and her fans suspected something was wrong. Once the news broke, videos about Emilie Kiser's son started being posted. Some videos even included footage that allegedly shows her son falling into a pool, but commenters say that the footage is from a different incident. Amber Rose: Tory Lanez should be pardoned Other commenters have criticized the family for not having a fence around their pool. Some people are criticizing others for making videos about Trigg Kiser's death. One commenter said, 'Let's normalize letting parents announce the death of their child. Let's normalize NOT judging parents in tragic situations like this.' Kiser is married to Brady Kiser and gave birth to Trigg Kiser in July of 2021. Then, they had their second son, Teddy, in March of 2025. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
USA Today
4 days ago
- USA Today
Emilie Kiser sues to keep records about son Trigg's drowning death private
Emilie Kiser sues to keep records about son Trigg's drowning death private Show Caption Hide Caption Influencer Emilie Kiser loses 3-year-old son after drowning incident Influencer Emilie Kiser's 3-year-old son Trigg died after a drowning incident in Arizona. Police say he was discovered unconscious in backyard pool. Times of India - English Nearly two weeks after Emilie Kiser's 3-year-old son died in a drowning incident, the social media influencer filed a lawsuit to keep records about his death out of public view. Trigg Kiser died on May 18 after being pulled from a backyard pool in Chandler, Arizona days earlier, Sonu Wasu, Chandler Police Department's public information officer, previously confirmed to USA TODAY. Attorneys for Emilie Kiser filed a lawsuit in Arizona Superior Court for Maricopa County on May 27 to prevent the release of public documents related to Trigg Kiser's death. The complaint said Trigg Kiser died from an accidental drowning at the family's home. Emilie Kiser's attorneys said in the filing that she and her family "desperately want to grieve in private, but sadly, the public will not let them," adding that her son's death "has become a media frenzy." More than 100 requests have been filed with the City of Chandler and the Maricopa County Medical Examiner's Office for access to public records related to Trigg Kiser's death, the lawsuit said. USA TODAY filed a request with the City of Chandler for access to the police report. USA TODAY has reached out to Gallagher & Kennedy, the firm representing Emilie Kiser, for comment. Emilie Kiser's son 3-year-old Trigg Kiser dies after pool incident 'Every day is a battle' The lawsuit is pushing to prohibit officials from releasing public documents related to Trigg's death, including the police report, 911 call and scene photos. Emilie Kiser and her counsel have not seen the documents, the complaint says, but they presume the records are "exceptionally raw and graphic." The release of such records would "intrude upon personal dignity or cause unnecessary harm to private individuals," the lawsuit says. "Emilie is trying her best to be there for her surviving son, two-month-old Theodore," the lawsuit says. "But every day is a battle." Trigg Kiser death Emilie Kiser's son's drowning shows how little privacy influencers get What are public records? How Arizona law works In general, police reports and 911 calls are considered public record, but each state has stipulations around the laws. In Arizona, police officials often redact portions of those items. Under Arizona law, a court can rule to keep public records private if the release could cause "substantial and irreparable private or public harm," according to the Arizona Legislature. Emilie Kiser's lawsuit alleges that the records have been requested for "commercial purposes," rather than the purpose of monitoring the government as intended by Arizona law. However, Arizona law does not consider requesting records for the purposes of news gathering to be a commercial purpose, according to Arizona Ombudsman Citizens' Aide. Media outlets generally request public records related to the deaths of public figures, such as celebrities. For example, the family of country singer Naomi Judd sued in Tennessee to restrict access to public records around her death in 2022, though they eventually dropped the lawsuit. Influencers struggle to balance public persona and privacy The events surrounding Emilie Kiser's son's death highlight the lack of privacy influencers have. Days before police confirmed the boy involved was Emilie Kiser's son, her millions of followers were sending her prayers, and her name was trending on Google. Rumors about the incident stemmed from a photo in a local news story that online users traced back to Emilie Kiser's home. While social media influencers are a type of modern public figure, they offer a go-between to connect with people "much more readily than a celebrity," John Powers, assistant professor of interactive media and design at Quinnipiac University, previously told USA TODAY. "The idea is, a social media influencer could be me, so therefore I feel like this person is just your average person who lives in a normal house and lives their lives like I do," Powers said. "But they also lose that separation when they have millions of followers and people who are constantly checking in on them." Melina Khan is a national trending reporter for USA TODAY. She can be reached at
USA Today
21-05-2025
- USA Today
Sorry, but a 3-year-old's horrific drowning death was not 'unimaginable'
Sorry, but a 3-year-old's horrific drowning death was not 'unimaginable' | Opinion Contrary to what police say, Trigg Kiser's death is not 'unimaginable.' It's a damn nightmare, and it's about time every parent and grandparent started imagining it. Show Caption Hide Caption Essential water safety tips Learn essential water safety tips to ensure a fun and safe summer for the whole family. We interrupt our national fistfight over, well, everything to report that a little boy named Trigg has died. The May 18 passing of 3-year-old Trigg Kiser made national news because his mother, Emilie, is what's known as an influencer on Tik Tok. His death, we are told, is 'unimaginable.' But it's really not. We in Arizona aren't shocked. At least, we shouldn't be. We can't afford to be. Drowning is the leading cause of death nationally in children who are 1 or 2 or 3 or 4 years old. Pool safety for kids: If you don't have a fence, get one Even more so in Arizona, where pools are plentiful and disaster mere seconds away. Mere seconds, especially now, as summer approaches. Thirty-one children drowned in Arizona in 2023, according to the latest report from the state Child Fatality Review Program. Most were under 5 years old. Every one of those deaths was preventable. Every one, a damn tragedy. It shouldn't need saying, but apparently, it does. Do you have a pool? What you should know about water safety for children If you don't have a fence around your pool or a net covering your pool, get one. It's an investment you cannot afford not to make. Child Crisis Arizona in partnership with Salt River Project, State Farm and the 493 Firefighters Foundation, offer free pool fences to eligible families. Parents, learn CPR – and keep the pool gate closed If you have a fence and the gate's open, close it. If the latch is broken, fix it. If you don't know CPR, learn it. And when your kids or grandkids are in or near the water, whether a pool or a bathtub, never look away. Not ever. Of course, we in Arizona know all this, yet disaster continues to strike. Opinion: She couldn't pay her electric bill and died. Don't blame the power company. Trigg was pulled from a pool in Chandler shortly before 6 p.m. on May 12. Six days later, he was gone. He is believed to be the first Arizona child to drown this year, according to Children's Safety Zone, which keeps tabs on such horrors. More kids besides Trigg Kiser will die this year. Prevent it now. We don't yet know the circumstances of his death, but we know this. Trigg Kiser will not be the only Arizona child lost to water this summer, though most of the soon-to-die children will barely register a blip on our collective radar. 'Our thoughts and deepest condolences are with the child's family and loved ones during this unimaginable time,' the Chandler Police Department said on May 18, upon Trigg's passing. Unimaginable? No. If you have a child or a grandchild, please imagine it. Think, in vivid, vomit-inducing detail, what it would look like to find that son or daughter, that grandson or granddaughter, dead or dying in your pool. What it would feel like. In a second, a child can slip silently away, and it's a second you can never, ever get back. Laurie Roberts is a columnist for the Arizona Republic, where this column originally appeared. Reach Roberts at Follow her on X (formerly Twitter) at @LaurieRobertsaz, on Threads at @LaurieRobertsaz and on BlueSky at @
