A father facing decades in prison for the tragic death of his two-year-old daughter has been found dead, just hours before his sentencing. Christopher Scholtes, 38, was set to learn his fate – potentially up to 30 years with no parole – but instead, authorities discovered he had died.
The circumstances surrounding the death of Parker Scholtes were harrowing. Last year, she was left alone in a car, the temperature soaring to 37°C, while her father was inside the family home. The details revealed a devastating lapse in judgment, a moment of neglect with irreversible consequences.
Police in Phoenix, Arizona, confirmed Scholtes’ death and are investigating it as a possible suicide. The news arrived as a profound shock to the Pima County Attorney’s office, who had been preparing for the sentencing hearing.
County Attorney Laura Conover expressed deep sorrow, acknowledging the immense complexity of the situation. “Instead of coming in to take accountability,” she stated, “we have been informed and we have confirmed that the father took his own life last night.” Her words reflected the weight of loss felt by all involved.
Scholtes had previously pleaded guilty to second-degree murder, accepting a plea deal after initially rejecting it. The court had heard a disturbing account of how he’d left his daughter to nap, then forgotten about her while engrossed in video games.
The tragedy was compounded by the fact that his wife, Erika, had repeatedly warned him against leaving their children unattended in the car. She was the one who ultimately discovered Parker, hours later, the car’s air conditioning inexplicably switched off.
Further revelations painted a grim picture of Scholtes’ actions on that fateful day. Details emerged of his alleged online activity, adding another layer of heartbreak to an already devastating case.
Despite the horrific circumstances, Erika Scholtes had initially stood by her husband, describing him as a “pillar of the community” who had simply made a “big mistake.” She pleaded with the judge for his release, hoping they could begin the grieving process together as a family.
Her request, made just days after Parker’s death, was a desperate attempt to hold onto some semblance of family unity in the face of unimaginable loss. Now, she faces a future marked by the deaths of both her daughter and her husband, a burden of grief almost too heavy to bear.
