A medical examiner has responded to a lawsuit filed by TikTok star Emilie Kiser following the tragic death of her three-year-old son, Trigg.
Earlier this month (12 May) Chandler Police were called to the 26-year-old's property following reports of a possible drowning and, shortly after arriving at the Arizona-based home - which is around 25 miles outside of Phoenix - they found that the child had fallen into his family's pool, sustaining several injuries before being pulled from the water.
CPR was immediately performed on the toddler by responding officers, before paramedics took over in an attempt to save the boy's life.
First responders ruled that Trigg was in critical condition, before later being transferred via ambulance to a nearby medical facility - Chandler Regional Hospital. He was later flown to Phoenix Children’s Hospital where he tragically died of his injuries just six days later, on 18 May.
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Following the heartbreaking loss, Kiser - whose husband is Brady Chapman, with whom she tied the knot back in 2020 before welcoming their newborn son Teddy (Theodore), born in March of this year - has now released a statement through her lawyer.
In a lawsuit filed against Maricopa County public offices on 27 May and obtained by NBC News, her representative described Trigg's passing as a 'heartbreaking accidental drowning', before detailing Kiser's grief.
"Emilie is going through a parent’s worst nightmare right now," the lawsuit states. "She lost her young son."
The message continued: "Emilie is trying her best to be there for her surviving son, two-month-old Theodore. But every day is a battle."
The lawsuit also details Kiser's request that the court prohibit the release of any further details surrounding her son's death, describing this as a 'profound invasion of privacy'.
"Disclosure of graphic or intimate death-related records causes renewed trauma to surviving family members and violates their right to grieve privately," the suit reads.
Several municipal offices were named as defendants in the suit, including the city of Chandler, the Chandler Police Department and Maricopa County.
In response to the suit, Jason Berry, director of communications for Maricopa County, told NBC on Thursday (29 May): "When Maricopa County learned the family was pursuing a court order to prevent the release of these records, the Office of the Medical Examiner worked with the family to place a seal on the record."
Berry added that the lawsuit in question will decide if a permanent seal will be placed on the records, outlining that the medical examiner's preemptive action to seal the records will allow the court to make the final decision.
Chandler Police previously issued a statement on Trigg's tragic passing after it was recorded by the Maricopa County Medical Examiner’s Office earlier this month.
A spokesperson said: "Our thoughts and deepest condolences are with the child's family and loved ones during this unimaginable time.
"The investigation into the circumstances surrounding this incident remains ongoing. This is still an open investigation.
"Out of respect for the family’s privacy, we will not be releasing additional details until the investigation is closed."
If you have experienced a bereavement and would like to speak with someone in confidence, contact Cruse Bereavement Care via their national helpline on 0808 808 1677.
Topics: Health, Real Life, True Life, Parenting, TikTok, Social Media
Rhiannon Ingle