Published • loading... • Updated
Arizona Father in Hot Car Death Case Found Dead After Guilty Plea
- Christopher Ryan Scholtes, a Marana father who pleaded guilty last month to second-degree murder in the death of his 2-year-old daughter Parker, was found dead around 5 a.m. Wednesday in a Phoenix home near 7th Street and Northern Avenue.
- Investigators say Parker Scholtes, 2-year-old daughter, endured nearly three-and-a-half hours in a hot car on July 9, 2024, during about 109-degree heat and was later pronounced dead at a hospital.
- Surveillance footage and family testimony document a pattern of neglect by Scholtes, who left Parker alone and stole beer, while texts from wife Erika Scholtes warned him about leaving their children in cars.
- Phoenix police said they are investigating the death as a suicide; the Maricopa County Medical Examiner has not released a cause, and a report will be available in 90 days.
- The case prompted public scrutiny over allowing Scholtes a vacation weeks after Parker Scholtes' death, and Deputy County Attorney Kim Hunley said `it was unexpected this morning, we will send out a news release.
Insights by Ground AI
Podcasts & Opinions
20 Articles
20 Articles
Father Guilty of Killing 2-Year-Old Daughter Found Dead
An Arizona father convicted of murdering his 2-year-old daughter, Christopher Scholtes, took his own life in Phoenix on Tuesday night. In October, Scholtes accepted a plea agreement and pled guilty to one Count of Second-Degree Murder and one Count of Intentional/Knowing Child Abuse under Circumstance Likely to Cause Death or Serious Physical Injury. According to...
Coverage Details
Total News Sources20
Leaning Left2Leaning Right4Center11Last UpdatedBias Distribution65% Center
Bias Distribution
- 65% of the sources are Center
65% Center
12%
C 65%
R 23%
Factuality
To view factuality data please Upgrade to Premium













