Arizona prosecutors have alleged that a father was drinking beer, playing video games, and watching adult content while his two-year-old daughter tragically died from heat exposure in a car on a scorching 109-degree day last summer.
Christopher Scholtes, 37, has pleaded not guilty to first-degree murder charges in connection with the death of his daughter, Parker, on July 9, 2024. Prosecutors in Tucson presented evidence during a court hearing, citing Scholtes’ history of leaving his children unattended in cars based on witness testimonies and text messages exchanged between him and his wife obtained during the investigation.
According to prosecutors, Scholtes neglected his child by leaving her unattended in their Marana driveway for over three hours while he was engrossed in video games and adult content, leading to her tragic death.
Text messages revealed a pattern of neglectful behavior by Scholtes, showing instances where he left his children inside vehicles. His daughters informed the police that he had left them in cars before, getting distracted by games and chores.
Scholtes admitted to authorities that he left his daughter in the car with the air conditioning on for 30 minutes as she had fallen asleep on their way back from shopping. However, he later confessed that the car’s engine automatically turns off after half an hour. His wife, Erika, a doctor, found the baby unconscious in the car upon returning home.
Messages between the couple indicated that Scholtes had left his children unattended in the car on several occasions, leading to confrontations with his wife. Erika expressed her devastation over the loss of their child, prompting Scholtes to admit to “killing our baby” and apologize for his actions.
