Arizona man who pleaded guilty in daughter's hot car death found dead

Arizona father in hot car death case found dead after guilty plea

Pima County Attorney Laura Conover announced that the man who pleaded guilty to murder and child abuse in the 2024 Marana hot car death of his daughter has been found dead.

PHOENIX - The Marana man who was set to be sentenced for his role in the hot car death of his daughter in 2024 has died.

What we know:

The Pima County Attorney’s Office (PCAO) confirmed Wednesday, Nov. 5, that the father of a 2-year-old girl who died in a hot car, Christopher Scholtes, has died.

Phoenix Police treated Scholtes death as a suicide after officers responded to the family's home near 3rd Street and Northern Avenue at about 5:22 a.m. on Nov. 5. He died the night before, police said.

According to the Maricopa County Medical Examiner's website, Scholtes died from carbon monoxide toxicity.

What they're saying:

The Scholtes family moved to Phoenix following Parker's death in Marana. Neighbors in the Phoenix community expressed shock over the news.

Patty Waxman, a neighbor, said the community is tight-knit, and their concern is genuine. "I don't think it's just to be nosy. I think it's honestly to make sure that everybody's OK," Waxman said.

Neighbor Joseph Kendagor recalled seeing the family as recently as last week, when they celebrated Halloween.

"My daughters also really took a liking to the two girls there around her age. So it was great interactions," Kendagor said, noting the family dressed up as characters from the movie "The Nightmare Before Christmas."

‘This is obviously extraordinarily complicated’

"We expected to be in court this morning because the father had accepted a plea agreement to second-degree murder, which could have carried as much as 30 years in prison. We have been informed, and we have confirmed that the father took his own life last night," Pima County Attorney Laura Conover said. "This is obviously extraordinarily complicated, and we extend our deepest sympathies and sorrow to all the loved ones who have suffered the loss of this beautiful baby girl, and now another loss to his family."

Christopher Scholtes

Dig deeper:

On Oct. 22, the Pima County Attorney's office announced that Scholtes pleaded guilty to a count of second-degree murder and a count of intentional/knowing child abuse under circumstances likely to cause death or serious physical injury.

PCAO said the Scholtes' guilty pleas were part of a plea agreement.

"Under the terms of the plea, the sentences imposed by the judge are going to run consecutively and Scholtes will face a sentencing range of 20 to 30 years of flat time," PCAO said.

Timeline:

On July 9, 2024, FOX 10 reported that the girl, Parker Scholtes, died after she was found unresponsive inside a car in Marana.

On that day the girl died, the high temperature reportedly reached 111°F in the Pinal County community. According to investigators, video taken by surveillance cameras in nearby homes showed that the girl had been left inside the vehicle for three hours.

Scholtes was arrested on July 12, 2024.

Scholtes had appeared in court several times in recent months. A judge granted him permission to take a weeklong trip to Maui in May, though he was not allowed to have unsupervised contact with his two surviving children.

According to KOLD's report on Scholtes' death, he was required to turn himself into custody by Nov. 5, and sentencing was scheduled for Nov. 21.

Speaking directly to Parker's two older sisters, Conover offered a message of hope. "May you not feel tied down by what happened here. But rather lifted up by your baby sisters wings from up above," Conover said. "This little girl's voice was nearly silenced because justice was not served appropriately this morning. But it has not and will not be silenced."

Father found dead after daughter's hot car death

Pima County Attorney Laura Conover confirmed that Christopher Scholtes, who pleaded guilty to murder and child abuse charges in the Marana hot car death of his daughter, was found dead. FOX 10's Kenzie Beach has the latest.

Support is Available:

If you or someone you know is struggling or in crisis, call or text 988. The 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline provides free and confidential emotional support 24 hours a day, 7 days a week to civilians and veterans. Support in Spanish is also available. You can also chat with crisis counselors via online chat.

CLICK HERE for the warning signs and risk factors of suicide.