Britt Jones
Warning: This article contains discussion of suicide which some readers may find distressing.
The daughter of an Arizona father who pleaded guilty to murdering his two-year-old and was found dead on the day he was meant to report to prison has spoken out.
Christopher Scholtes, 38, was arrested on July 9 2024, after his two-year-old daughter, Parker Scholtes, passed away. He left her in a hot car alone for hours outside their home in Arizona, US.
At the time, the dad was allegedly inside of the home playing video games and looking up pornography, as per prosecutors in the case.
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That day, Parker was left in the car as temperatures rose to 109F, and while Scholtes claimed that he had only left her in the car for half an hour to 45 minutes, he admitted to investigators he knew the car’s engine and air conditioner would shut off automatically after 30 minutes.
An investigation by police found that the toddler had actually been left there for as long as three hours.
Parker was subsequently declared dead within an hour of being found after she was rushed to the Banner University Medical Center.
Scholtes was then arrested, and a disturbing text exchange gave insight into how regularly Scholtes played with his children’s lives.
His wife and Parker's mother Erika reportedly told him: “I told you to stop leaving them in the car. How many times have I told you?”
He then responded: “Babe, I’m sorry. Babe, our family. How could I do this? I killed our baby, this can’t be real.”
However, Erika also requested that her husband be released to come home and grieve the loss with his family.
Scholtes' other children with Erika, aged five and nine, went on to tell investigators that he would also leave them in the car alone.
His eldest daughter from a previous relationship, aged 17, sued him and Erika in October, for emotional distress, assault, battery and fraud - along with damages for the death of her half-sister.
Erika has not faced any charges regarding Parker's death and the police have not accused her of any wrongdoing.
The 17-year-old girl’s former guardian, Lindsay Eisenberg, said: “The oldest daughter has suffered immensely from Christopher and Erika.”
Her lawsuit also alleged that Scholtes falsified a conservatorship to access government assistance in her name, according to 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 suit read.
Eisenberg said the daughter intends to continue to pursue the lawsuit against Erika following Christopher's death, and has revealed how the teen reacted to the news of her father’s passing.
Apparently, she had no visible emotion. Eisenberg told 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 allegedly investigated the Scholtes nine times between June 2014 and December 2020.
Allegations included neglect and physical and emotional abuse. Arrest reports show he was accused of leaving bruises on his children, though none were observed by officers.
Scholtes was found dead after 5am on November 5, as he faced up to 30 years in prison after pleading guilty to second-degree murder in October.
Pima County Attorney Laura Conover issued a statement after his death was confirmed.
She said: “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 spoke to the family, adding: “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.