Child Drowning Occurs Amidst Sports Betting Activity

An investigation reveals that a young child drowned while his father was distracted by a sports event. The incident took place in Chandler, Arizona, where 3-year-old Trigg Kiser was found unresponsive in a backyard pool.

At the time, the child’s father, Brady Kiser, was watching Game 4 of the NBA Eastern Conference Semifinals between the Knicks and Celtics. According to police reports, he had recently placed a $25 bet on Jayson Tatum scoring over 40 points in the game, which he won, earning $102.50.

Security footage shows Trigg playing on an inflatable chair near the pool before falling in at approximately 6:32 p.m. Brady Kiser did not discover his son until 6:39 p.m., and emergency services were called shortly after. Despite efforts to revive him, Trigg was pronounced dead at the hospital on May 18.

Police findings indicate Trigg was left unsupervised in the backyard for more than 9 minutes, with the child in water for about 7 minutes. Initially, Kiser claimed his son was alone outside for only five minutes, but later investigations showed he was unattended for over 10 minutes. Interviews revealed he was distracted and unaware of his son’s movements before the drowning.

Brady Kiser was not criminally charged, as authorities concluded there was insufficient evidence to support child abuse charges. Police noted Kiser’s attention was divided, and he failed to see what Trigg was doing when he fell in. The family owned a pool safety net, which was removed for swimming but was not replaced afterward.

The police report, which initially included details about the case, was partially redacted at the request of Emilie Kiser, the child’s mother. The report recommended that Brady Kiser face charges of child abuse with criminal negligence, but prosecutors decided not to pursue charges.