Cause of Death Revealed for Emilie Kiser’s 3-Year-Old Son, Trigg
The official cause of death for Emilie Kiser’s 3-year-old son Trigg has been established more than a year following his heartbreaking passing.
As per the Maricopa County medical examiner’s report obtained by People on Tuesday, August 25, Trigg succumbed to anoxic brain injury caused by drowning.
Anoxic brain injury occurs when brain cells do not receive sufficient oxygen, according to the Brain Injury Association of America.
The report from the medical examiner categorized Trigg’s manner of death as accidental, noting that the injury happened after he “drowned in a residential pool.”
In May 2025, Us confirmed that Emilie and her husband Brady Kiser tragically lost their eldest child at the age of 3 when he was discovered unresponsive in the family’s pool. (The couple are also parents to Teddy, 17 months, and are looking forward to welcoming their third child.)
“The magnitude of this loss is nearly indescribable,” Emilie expressed via Instagram in August 2025. “I’ve spent days, weeks, and months trying to navigate through my emotions while also allowing myself the time to process the loss of my baby. Trigg was our child and our dear friend. The light and spirit he brought into our lives were bright, pure, joyful, and irreplaceable. We think of him every moment of every day, and moving forward often feels unmanageable. I never imagined we would confront grief in this way or experience the sudden sting of losing him.”
Initially, authorities suggested pursuing criminal charges against Brady, 29, as he was the sole adult present during the incident. However, the Maricopa County Attorney’s Office ultimately opted not to proceed, citing “no likelihood of conviction.”
When the first anniversary of Trigg’s death arrived in May, Emilie acknowledged she was “really struggling” with her grief.
“This month has crept up on us in ways we could have never foreseen,” she shared via TikTok on May 10. “It’s incredibly hard to fathom that almost a year has passed. … I just miss him dearly. I am truly struggling.”
While guesting on Jay Shetty’s “On Purpose” podcast in June, Emilie discussed her journey to forgive Brady, explaining it was a shared process for them.
“I really have immense empathy and respect for Brady. I hold a lot of respect for him, and I think that might surprise some, but he has allowed me to express every feeling I’ve experienced throughout this journey, whether directed at him or in conversation with others,” she revealed at that time. “He’s enduring so much too, and … we are the only two who can truly understand what the other is going through.”
Emilie initially gained popularity on social media by sharing snippets of her daily life. Through personal family tales and lifestyle tips, she amassed over 2 million followers on Instagram and an additional 5 million on TikTok.
Recently, she has leveraged her influence to advocate for water safety, aiming to prevent others from facing a similar tragedy.
“This is a subject I will continue to address when I feel ready because it is extraordinarily difficult to talk about,” Emilie stated via TikTok on April 30. “I hope people can grasp that our son’s passing was entirely avoidable. It was an accident, but a preventable one. I will always take full responsibility for that because it is a parent’s duty to safeguard their child.”
For essential, life-saving insights on pool safety, check out Bode Miller’s tips and visit Coverstar’s website.
