Influencer Emilie Kiser is taking “full accountability” for her son Trigg’s drowning in her first statement since the 3-year-old died on May 18.
Trigg was found unresponsive in his family’s backyard pool, according to a statement shared by the Chandler Police Department in Arizona, which oversaw the investigation of the toddler’s drowning.
“Loss of this magnitude feels impossible to put into words,” Emilie Kiser said in a statement shared on her social media on Thursday. “I’ve spent days, weeks, months trying to find them and also take the time I’ve needed to digest the loss of my baby.”
Trigg was in the care of his father, Brady Kiser, at the time, while his mother was away from the house. The police department said that Trigg “was in the backyard unsupervised for more than nine minutes, and in the water for about seven of those minutes,” according to a report seen by People magazine.
The 3-year-old was recovered from the pool and hospitalized in critical condition, and died six days later.
Emilie Kiser said in her statement that she takes “full accountability as Trigg’s mother, and I know I should have done more to protect him.”
“One of the hardest lessons I carry is that a permanent pool fence could have saved his life, and it’s something I will never overlook again,” she wrote. “I hope amidst this pain, Trigg’s story will help prevent other children and families from suffering the same loss.”
Emilie Kiser also seemingly addressed the staggering amount of online attention and speculation her son’s death incurred.
“Moving forward, I will be establishing more boundaries with what I share online,” she said as she wrapped up her statement. “In the future, I hope to be in a place to share more about how I am navigating this grief, but right now, all I can say is thank you for the love, compassion, patience and space you’ve given us to grieve.”
The Chandler Police Department declined to share additional comment on Kiser’s statement.
Prior to Trigg’s death, Emilie and Brady Kiser welcomed a second child, a baby named Theodore, in March.
