Influencer Emilie Kiser Seeks Privacy Through Lawsuit Following Son’s Drowning Death

29 May 2025

Courtesy: instagram

In the wake of a heartbreaking personal tragedy, influencer Emilie Kiser has filed a legal motion to prevent the release of official documents concerning the accidental drowning of her three-year-old son, Trigg. The case, filed in the Arizona Superior Court for Maricopa County, seeks to block access to police and medical records related to the incident, citing privacy concerns and the emotional toll on her grieving family.

Kiser, known for her social media presence where she shares aspects of her family life with hundreds of thousands of followers, is at the center of a deeply sensitive and emotionally charged case. On May 12, 2025, her son Trigg was found unresponsive in their backyard swimming pool. Despite immediate medical intervention and being placed on life support, the child tragically passed away six days later, on May 18. Authorities have categorized the death as an accidental drowning.

The influencer’s legal team filed the lawsuit on May 27, stating that both the City of Chandler and the Maricopa County Medical Examiner’s Office had received an overwhelming number of public records requests reportedly over 100. These requests came from members of the media, private individuals, and likely internet sleuths following the case closely due to Kiser’s online prominence. The family’s legal team argues that releasing such records, including autopsy findings, photos, and police interviews, would cause unnecessary emotional harm and could violate the dignity of the deceased child.

“This isn’t about transparency; it’s about protecting a family in crisis from being further victimized by public scrutiny,” Kiser’s attorney stated in the filing. The lawsuit also warns that releasing these materials could set a harmful precedent turning Arizona’s public records law into “a weapon of emotional harm” when applied to the intensely personal and traumatic experiences of private citizens, regardless of their public visibility.

Kiser, who recently gave birth to another son, Theodore, expressed through the lawsuit that her family has been living a nightmare since the tragedy unfolded. “We desperately want to grieve in private, but sadly, the public will not let us,” she reportedly said. The flood of online commentary and speculation has intensified the family’s grief, according to sources close to her, making it almost impossible to move forward without being constantly reminded of the loss.

Law enforcement officials have been cautious in responding to public interest in the case. The Chandler Police Department confirmed that Trigg had been hospitalized and that the incident remains under active investigation, though there has been no indication of foul play or criminal wrongdoing. Out of respect for the family’s grief, the department has limited the information they’ve made public.

This legal fight highlights a growing conversation about the boundaries between public interest and private grief, especially when individuals with large online followings experience personal tragedies. While public records laws are intended to ensure government transparency and accountability, critics argue that they can be misused in ways that infringe on families' right to mourn in peace particularly in high-profile cases.

For now, Emilie Kiser’s battle continues not only to heal but to safeguard her family’s privacy from an online world that often blurs the line between public and personal.