A man facing prison time for causing the death of his two-year-old daughter by leaving her in a hot car while watching adult content has passed away. The Maricopa County Medical Examiner’s Office confirmed Christopher Scholtes’ death on Wednesday, with the cause undisclosed.
Scholtes, who had agreed to plead guilty to the second-degree murder of his daughter Parker in July 2024, did not appear at a recent court hearing. Authorities reported that the temperature inside the car where the tragic incident occurred was approximately 43°C, leading to the child’s death due to heat exposure.
Initially set to serve 20 to 30 years in prison, Scholtes had been on bail until the day he was scheduled to be incarcerated. His arrest followed an incident where he left his youngest child in the car while engaging in video games.
Investigations revealed that Scholtes had also been searching for adult content on his gaming console while his daughter was left unattended in the vehicle outside their residence. The father had initially claimed to leave the air conditioning running for 30 minutes but later admitted that the car’s engine shuts off automatically after that time.
Surveillance footage showed that Scholtes had been involved in shoplifting and consuming alcohol in the bathroom while his daughter was left in the car unattended. The child was later found unresponsive in the vehicle by her mother, leading to her tragic demise.
An autopsy disclosed that the child’s body temperature was critically high at 42.72°C, with the cause of death attributed to environmental heat exposure. Further investigations indicated a disturbing pattern of neglect, with Scholtes’ other children revealing instances of being left alone in the car for prolonged periods.
The daughter from Scholtes’ previous marriage filed a lawsuit alleging repeated abuse and trauma inflicted by her father, including claims of assault, battery, and child abuse. The lawsuit also accused Scholtes of fraudulent behavior to gain financial benefits at the expense of his child’s well-being.
Despite facing public backlash and legal issues, Scholtes was granted permission to travel to Hawaii for a family vacation, a decision that drew criticism from prosecutors. This vacation request was permitted by the court, allowing Scholtes to travel with his family despite the tragic circumstances surrounding his daughter’s death.