US EditionArizona 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.
23 Articles
23 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...
Arizona dad dies by suicide before sentencing for daughter’s death in hot car
An Arizona man accused of playing video games and watching pornography while his 2-year-old daughter died in a sweltering car took his own life rather than turning himself in ahead of his sentencing. Christopher Scholtes, 38, pleaded guilty last month to leaving his toddler unattended for at least three hours in July 2024, which led to the baby’s death. An autopsy showed her body temperature hit nearly 109 degrees. Scholtes was due to surrender …
Arizona man facing decades in prison for letting child die in a hot car while he watched adult videos is found dead
An Arizona man who faced decades in prison after leaving his 2-year-old daughter to die in a hot car while he was inside watching adult videos has died – possibly by suicide, according to reports. Christopher Ryan Scholtes, 38, was due to go to prison, but failed to appear at a hearing on…
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