Influencer Emilie Kiser has filed a lawsuit against Arizona officials in an attempt to block the public release of investigative records surrounding the tragic drowning of her three-year-old son, Trigg.
The child died in hospital on 18 May, six days after he was found unresponsive in the family’s backyard pool in Chandler.
The incident prompted a police investigation to determine the circumstances of the toddler’s death, though authorities have not disclosed any findings.
On 27 May, Kiser filed the suit under her maiden name, Emilie Henrichsen, arguing that disclosing records related to the investigation would violate her family’s right to grieve in private and expose them to further emotional trauma.
The lawsuit, obtained by Arizona Central, states that the influencer has been overwhelmed by public scrutiny and is struggling to care for her newborn son, Theodore, while mourning Trigg.
“Emilie is trying her best to be there for her surviving son, two-month-old Theodore, but every day is a battle,” the complaint reads.
According to the filing, more than 100 public records requests have been submitted to the Chandler Police Department and the Maricopa County Office of the Medical Examiner.
The requests include police reports, 911 calls, autopsy details, bodycam footage and scene photographs — materials that Kiser’s lawyers argue would expose “graphic, distressing and intimate details” of the child’s final moments.
“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 states.
The influencer's legal team contends that the potential release of these documents would cause the family “irreparable harm,” particularly as some requests may be commercially motivated.
Kiser is requesting the court either bar the release of all records related to her son’s death or, at the very least, subject each item to judicial review before any public disclosure is allowed.
Arizona authorities have yet to respond to the lawsuit publicly. The Chandler Police Department previously said the investigation into the drowning remains open, but no criminal allegations have been made.
Kiser, known for her lifestyle content on social media, has received an outpouring of support online.
However, her legal team contends that the intense public interest has created a “media frenzy,” hindering her family’s ability to grieve in peace.
COMMENTS
Comments are moderated and generally will be posted if they are on-topic and not abusive.
For more information, please see our Comments FAQ