In a tragic case highlighting the dangers of child neglect in extreme heat, Christopher Scholtes, a 37-year-old Arizona man, faces first-degree murder charges after his 2-year-old daughter, Parker, died from heat exposure in a parked car on a scorching 109-degree day in Marana, the Daily Mail reported.
Prosecutors allege Scholtes left the toddler unattended for over three hours while he was inside their home, distracted by watching pornography, playing video games on his PlayStation, and drinking beer, leading to the vehicle's air conditioning shutting off automatically.
Court hearings in Tucson revealed disturbing details of the July 9, 2024, incident, where Parker was initially left in the running 2003 Acura.
Scholtes reportedly knew the engine would turn off after 30 minutes but claimed he lost track of time. First responders found the car's interior at 108.9 degrees Fahrenheit, and the Pima County Medical Examiner ruled the death as heat-related. Scholtes pleaded not guilty, but evidence including text messages, child statements, and surveillance footage paints a pattern of repeated neglect.
Scholtes arrived home around 12:53 p.m. after stops at a gas station and supermarket, where he allegedly shoplifted beer, some of which he consumed later that day.
Security footage contradicted his initial claim of arriving at 2:30 p.m., showing him entering the house while leaving Parker in the car. His wife, Erika Scholtes, an anesthesiologist at Banner University Medical Center, discovered the unresponsive child upon returning from work around 4 p.m. Despite frantic efforts by the couple and emergency services, Parker was pronounced dead at the hospital an hour later the same facility where her mother worked.
Prosecutors sought to introduce evidence of Scholtes viewing pornography from 2.02pm to 2.30pm, along with searches for men's clothing, but a judge ruled it inadmissible for the upcoming trial.
However, other evidence was allowed, including texts between the couple. As Parker was rushed to the hospital, Erika texted:
"I told you to stop leaving them in the car, how many times have I told you," according to court documents cited by the Daily Mail.
She later added, "We've lost her, she was perfect."
Scholtes responded:
"Babe I'm sorry! How could I do this. I killed our baby, this can't be real," as reported by the same outlet.
Scholtes' other children, aged 9 and 5 at the time, told police their father regularly left all three siblings alone in the vehicle.
One child stated he "got distracted by playing his game and putting his food away," per the criminal complaint referenced in the New York Post. Authorities seized a PlayStation and other electronics as evidence.
Investigations uncovered a history of risky behavior, including alcoholism and prior drug use. Text exchanges showed Erika repeatedly confronting Scholtes about endangering the children.
On March 11, 2024, she wrote: "You haven't shown me you can stop putting the girls in danger or not treat me badly... Even yesterday, you drove home drunk with two minors. You drink to excess every time." Scholtes replied acknowledging his issues:
"I'm a piece of shit addict and I need to get addicted to healthy things like running again."
Just 10 days later, Erika accused him of driving 138 mph after drinking with Parker in the car, calling it "shitty decisions." His response: "You hate me... And she was sleeping, it's fine," according to the report.
Scholtes has a 16-year-old daughter from a previous relationship, whom he lost custody of earlier in 2025 after her mother's death.
Family members told investigators he had left her and the other children in hot cars before, but the teen knew how to restart the vehicle to restore AC. Department of Child Services reports allege physical abuse, including slapping, throwing, hair-pulling, and slamming her head into walls, leading to her placement with another guardian. In one instance, she called police fearing violence after losing money, as noted in the New York Post.
The couple's older daughters reported frequent arguments over Scholtes' drinking, with one saying:
"He still drinks too much beer, and he keeps leaving us in the car when my mom told him to stop doing this... That's how he made my baby sister die."
Despite the charges, Erika has supported her husband, testifying that Parker's death was "a mistake" and standing by him during proceedings. The family was permitted a vacation to Maui earlier in 2025 while Scholtes was on bail. He remains free pending trial, with the case drawing attention to hot car deaths and parental responsibility in extreme weather.
Reference:
1. https://www.yahoo.com/news/articles/arizona-father-faces-murder-charges-035056322.html
(Rh/Eth/VK/MSM)