A tragic incident unfolded when two-year-old Parker Scholtes was left unattended in a sweltering car by her father, Christopher Scholtes, who got distracted while playing video games inside their home. The unbearable heat that day, with temperatures soaring to 43C, proved fatal for little Parker, who was found lifeless in the hot car on the family’s driveway upon her mother Erika Scholtes’ return.
Initially claiming that Parker had only been left in the car for half an hour to nap with the air conditioning on, Christopher’s account was contradicted by CCTV footage. The footage revealed him returning home at around 1 pm, leaving the child in the car seat on the driver’s side of the vehicle, which had a west-facing window.
Erika, an anaesthesiologist, arrived home three hours later to the devastating discovery of Parker motionless and still strapped in her car seat. The car’s A/C had automatically turned off, as confirmed by Scholtes, who mentioned that the engine shut off after 30 minutes.
Emergency services were immediately contacted, and Parker was rushed to the hospital. Tragically, she was pronounced dead due to environmental heat exposure, ruled as an accidental death by the subsequent autopsy.
Investigations led to the confiscation of a PlayStation and other electronics from the family’s Arizona home. Prosecutors alleged that Scholtes was engaged in drinking beer, video gaming, and watching explicit content while Parker suffered in the hot car.
Court documents revealed text messages between Erika and Christopher during the tragic event, with Erika expressing her repeated warnings against leaving children in cars unattended. Scholtes acknowledged his grave error, admitting to knowing he had left Parker in the car.
In a heart-wrenching turn of events, Scholtes was found dead by suicide on the day he was scheduled for imprisonment following a plea deal acceptance for second-degree murder and child abuse charges. Pima County Attorney Laura Conover expressed disappointment in Scholtes’ decision, emphasizing the impact on Parker’s siblings and offering them support and encouragement.
The plea deal, which could have led to a maximum of 30 years in prison, was voided by Scholtes’ death. His sentencing, initially set for a later date, was no longer applicable due to the tragic turn of events.
If you need support, the Samaritans provide a free helpline available 24/7 at 116 123. You can also reach out via email at jo@samaritans.org or find your local branch on their website.
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