Emilie Kiser: ‘Never Ending Sadness’ After Son Trigg’s Drowning

Emilie Kiser opened up about her grief following the drowning death of her 3 year old son, Trigg, in Chandler, Arizona. He was found unconscious in the family’s backyard pool in May 2025. In an October 3 Instagram Story, she described a “never ending feeling of sadness” and said that allowing herself to feel all emotions helps her honor her love for her son while living with the loss.

What happened to Trigg, a brief recap

Chandler Police reported that officers responded to a drowning call in May 2025. Investigators found that the pool’s usual safety cover had been removed for cleaning, and home video showed the toddler outside without supervision for more than nine minutes. Trigg died six days later at the hospital.

In July, the Maricopa County Attorney’s Office stated that there was no reasonable likelihood of conviction, and that no charges would be filed against Trigg’s father, Brady.

Emilie’s message on grief

In her October 3 posts, Emilie said she lets the tears come, and that grief can exist alongside other emotions. This perspective has helped her process the loss. She added that if grief disappeared, she would feel sad, because it would mean losing the feeling of loving and missing her son. In her first longer message after the tragedy, she wrote that the pain felt impossible to put into words.

Emilie paused social media activity after Trigg’s death, then returned in September with a simple tribute video featuring a necklace with Trigg’s name. The video drew tens of millions of views and an outpouring of condolences.

What did Emilie say about pool fencing

In an August statement, Emilie said she accepts full responsibility, and that one of the hardest lessons she carries is that a permanent pool fence could have saved Trigg’s life. Since then, she has emphasized stronger boundaries around children’s privacy online.

How did Emilie Kiser get famous

Emilie built a large audience on TikTok through short form lifestyle content, daily routines, and family centered posts, then expanded to Instagram and YouTube. She is widely profiled as an Arizona based creator with millions of followers across platforms.

Where Emilie stands today

Emilie says she is taking things day by day, continuing therapy, and gradually resuming content creation. She has thanked followers who have reached out with messages after their own losses, and she frames her posts as part of healing while raising awareness about safety.

Official socials

Instagram, @emiliekiser
TikTok, @emiliekiser

A compassionate close

Emilie’s October reflections echo a truth many bereaved parents share, grief can coexist with love, memories, and the effort to keep living. Her decision to speak publicly, combined with her emphasis on safety measures and boundaries, turns private pain into a public reminder about pool safety and child privacy, while honoring Trigg’s memory.