Warning: This article contains discussion of suicide which some readers may find distressing.
The daughter of an Arizona man who admitted to killing his two-year-old and was discovered dead on the day he was supposed to begin his prison sentence has shared her thoughts.
Christopher Scholtes, aged 38, was taken into custody on July 9, 2024, following the death of his two-year-old daughter, Parker Scholtes. He had left her unattended in a hot car for several hours outside their residence in Arizona, USA.
According to the prosecution, during this time, Scholtes was reportedly inside the house engaged in video gaming and viewing pornography.
On the day of the incident, temperatures soared to 109F, and despite Scholtes’ claims that Parker was in the car for only 30 to 45 minutes, he acknowledged to investigators that he was aware the car’s engine and air conditioner would automatically turn off after 30 minutes.
A police investigation revealed that the toddler had actually been left inside the vehicle for up to three hours.
Parker was pronounced dead shortly after being discovered and transported to the Banner University Medical Center.
Following his arrest, a series of text messages provided a glimpse into Scholtes’ repeated endangerment of his children’s safety.
His spouse, and Parker’s mother, Erika, allegedly told him: “I told you to stop leaving them in the car. How many times have I told you?”
He replied: “Babe, I’m sorry. Babe, our family. How could I do this? I killed our baby, this can’t be real.”
Despite the circumstances, Erika requested her husband’s release so he could mourn with the family.
Scholtes’ other children with Erika, who are five and nine years old, informed investigators that he also left them unattended in the car.
His eldest child from a previous relationship, aged 17, initiated legal action against him and Erika in October, citing emotional distress, assault, battery, and fraud, along with seeking damages for her half-sister’s death.
Erika has not been charged in connection with Parker’s death, and law enforcement has not alleged any misconduct on her part.
The 17-year-old girl’s former guardian, Lindsay Eisenberg, stated: “The oldest daughter has suffered immensely from Christopher and Erika.”
The lawsuit also claimed that Scholtes faked a conservatorship to obtain government benefits in her name, as reported by The New York Post.
“As a result, Plaintiff suffered severe emotional distress, anxiety, depression, suicidal ideations, post-traumatic stress, and long-term psychological harm,” the lawsuit stated.
Eisenberg revealed that the daughter intends to continue pursuing legal action against Erika after Christopher’s death and shared how the teen responded to the news of her father’s passing.
Reportedly, she showed no visible emotion. Eisenberg informed the Daily Mail: “She said, ‘I knew he was going to do this, I knew he was going to commit suicide’. Then she asked if her sisters were OK.”
Authorities had allegedly conducted nine investigations into the Scholtes family between June 2014 and December 2020.
These allegations involved neglect and physical and emotional abuse. Arrest records indicate that he was accused of causing bruises on his children, although officers observed none.
Scholtes was discovered deceased after 5am on November 5, facing up to 30 years in prison following his guilty plea for second-degree murder in October.
Pima County Attorney Laura Conover released a statement after his death was confirmed.
She remarked: “Instead of coming in to take account for what has occurred here, we have been informed, and we have confirmed, that the father took his own life last night.”
Conover then addressed the family, stating: “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.”
If you or someone you know is struggling or in a mental health crisis, help is available through Mental Health America. Call or text 988 or chat 988lifeline.org. You can also reach the Crisis Text Line by texting MHA to 741741.
If you or someone you know needs mental health assistance right now, call National Suicide Prevention Helpline on 1-800-273-TALK (8255). The Helpline is a free, confidential crisis hotline that is available to everyone 24 hours a day, seven days a week.