Emilie Kiser Recalls the Chilling Call She Got from Husband Brady After Late Son Trigg, 3, Fell in Backyard Pool

In a poignant interview on Jay Shetty’s On Purpose podcast, influencer Emilie Kiser, 27, recalled the heartbreaking details surrounding the death of her three-year-old son, Trigg, who tragically drowned in May 2025. This interview, aired on June 17, marked a significant moment for Kiser as it was her first chance to share her experiences since her family’s devastating loss.

Emilie was not at home when the incident occurred. Instead, she had stepped out for a girls’ night dinner while her husband, Brady, was caring for their younger son, Teddy, who was just five months old at the time. Emilie described receiving a harrowing phone call from Brady, filled with bewilderment and anguish, revealing that Trigg had fallen into the family’s backyard pool and was not breathing. The call, received a mere ten minutes after Emilie arrived at the restaurant, sent her racing to the hospital, where she would face the unimaginable — her son was declared dead six days later on May 18.

Brady’s account to authorities indicated that he had lost sight of Trigg for a few short minutes before discovering him in the pool. However, video evidence reviewed by the Chandler Police Department suggested that Trigg had been unsupervised for over nine minutes, with seven of those spent in the water. Following the investigation, the police recommended that Brady face a Class 4 felony charge of child abuse. Fortunately, the Maricopa County Attorney’s Office decided against prosecution, determining there was “no likelihood of conviction” against him.

In her heartfelt conversation with Shetty, Emilie reflected on the traumatic events of that evening. “I was five weeks postpartum,” she explained, her emotions palpable as she recounted the memory. “I could hear the pain and confusion in his voice. I knew immediately, before he even said anything, that something was wrong.” The grief that enveloped her after losing Trigg was profound, a reality that altered her family’s life forever.

During the podcast, Emilie described her immediate reaction as being one of sheer instinct — her body went into “fight or flight mode.” Her overwhelming thoughts were consumed by a desperate wish for Trigg’s recovery. “All that’s going through your mind is, ‘Where did I go wrong? How did this happen? Why did this happen?'” She conveyed the heart-wrenching struggle of grappling with the circumstances of her son’s death, which she described as a preventable tragedy.

The interview further touched upon the couple’s strained relationship in the wake of Trigg’s death. Emilie admitted to experiencing initial anger towards Brady and feared that such emotions could drive a wedge between them. However, as her grief evolved, she found a pathway to forgiveness. “This could have just as easily been me in Brady’s position,” she said, acknowledging the complexity of shared parental responsibilities that night.

She illustrated their circumstances, highlighting Brady’s efforts to care for their newborn while also keeping an eye on Trigg, a task that, in hindsight, was tragically fateful. Emilie admitted, “That doesn’t excuse anything. But taking that accountability… gave me so much true, deep, real, raw empathy for him.”

Emilie’s journey through grief and her profound understanding of forgiveness reveals the stark reality faced by many families affected by similar tragedies. It exemplifies the need for heightened awareness around child safety, particularly concerning swimming pools, which tragically can become sites of preventable accidents.

The Kiser family’s harrowing experience serves as a reminder of the fragility of life and the enduring power of love and compassion within families. As they navigate their profound loss, Emilie’s willingness to share her story also opens up a conversation around parental responsibility and the complexities of grief. What remains clear is the resilience of the human spirit, even in the face of such heartbreaking loss.