Emilie Kiser said her son Trigg's death is a "void that no family should ever have to endure" in her first public statement since his May drowning.
The social media influencer posted a lengthy statement to her Instagram and TikTok accounts on Aug. 28, months after 3-year-old Trigg died on May 18 in what court documents called an accidental drowning. He had been pulled from a backyard pool in Chandler, Arizona, six days earlier, police previously confirmed to USA TODAY.
"Trigg is our baby and our best friend. The light and spirit he brought into this world was bright, pure, joyful, and undeniable," she said in the statement. "We miss him every second of every day and continuing forward often feels unbearable."
She added, "I never thought we would experience grief in this way or the pain of losing him so suddenly. It's a pain, heartache, and void that no family should ever have to endure."
According to a police report, investigators concluded that Trigg accidentally fell into the family's backyard pool after tripping and falling on an inflatable chair.
Full case timeline: Police report reveals what led to Emilie Kiser's son's death
'I take full accountability,' Emilie Kiser says about son Trigg's death
Emilie Kiser's court declaration: Trigg's drowning death was 'the worst moment of my life,' she said
In her statement, Emilie Kiser also acknowledged the circumstances surrounding Trigg's death.
"I take full accountability as Trigg's mother, and I know I should have done more to protect him," she said. "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."
The 26-year-old woman also wrote that she hopes "Trigg's story will help prevent other children and families from suffering the same loss."
"The only way through grief is to keep going minute by minute, hour by hour, day by day, and every moment since that day I've done my best to keep picking myself up," she said.
Emilie Kiser says she 'will be establishing more boundaries' with online platform
Prior to Trigg's death, Emilie Kiser was a lifestyle and family content creator who often posted daily vlogs. She has more than 4 million followers on TikTok and nearly 2 million on Instagram.
In the statement, Emilie Kiser said her platform has created "a community, a hobby I love, and a job I am so grateful for" in which she was her "authentic self" but also "mindful of what I didn't choose to share."
However, she said the tragedy showed her "how relationships online lack boundaries, especially in protecting children's privacy." "Moving forward, I will be establishing more boundaries with what I share online."
She ended the statement with a word of gratitude for the "love, compassion, patience and space you've given us to grieve."
More: Emilie Kiser’s son Trigg's death shows how little privacy influencers get
What happened to Emilie Kiser's son Trigg?
Trigg Kiser died on May 18 in what court documents called an accidental drowning.
He was hospitalized six days earlier after being pulled from the family's backyard pool in Chandler, Arizona, Chandler Police Department's public information officer Sonu Wasu previously confirmed to USA TODAY.
According to the police report of the incident, Emilie Kiser's husband, Brady Kiser, was home alone at the time with Trigg and the couple's newborn son, Theodore.
Brady Kiser told police that Trigg had gone outside after eating dinner. He said he was distracted by Theodore when he lost sight of Trigg.
Surveillance video showed that Trigg accidentally fell into the pool after tripping and falling on an inflatable chair. He was outside alone for 10 minutes and in the water for seven, according to the report.
A drowning, a lawsuit, a possible felony charge: Timeline of case
Since Trigg's death in May, the Kiser family faced both a lawsuit and a possible felony child abuse charge against Brady Kiser.
The lawsuit and criminal case have now both ostensibly been resolved. See the timeline below.
May 12: Trigg Kiser is hospitalized after being pulled from the pool.
May 13: Chandler Police file search warrant applications for surveillance video from two outdoor cameras in the backyard of the Kiser's home.
May 18: Trigg Kiser dies.
May 27: Emilie Kiser files lawsuit to conceal public records about son Trigg's death.
June 3: Public records lawsuit has its first court hearing.
July 15: Chandler Police recommend a felony child abuse charge against Brady Kiser in Trigg's death.
July 25: Maricopa County Attorney Rachel Mitchell announces Brady Kiser won't face charges.
Aug. 7: Maricopa County Superior Court Judge Christopher Whitten orders release of redacted police report about Trigg's death.
Aug. 20: Maricopa County Superior Court Judge Christopher Whitten orders Emilie Kiser's declaration be unsealed.
Melina Khan is a national trending reporter for USA TODAY. She can be reached at [email protected].
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Emilie Kiser breaks silence on son Trigg's drowning death
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