In a chilling new case from Marana, Arizona, Christopher Scholtes, 38, has been indicted on first-degree murder and intentional child abuse charges following the death of his 2-year-old daughter, Parker. Prosecutors allege that while Parker sat alone in a locked vehicle that reached 109 degrees, Scholtes ignored repeated warnings and indulged in pornography and video games.
According to court filings, Scholtes left the car running with ambient air conditioning while he carried out errands and then sat inside the home playing video games. Surveillance footage and message logs show the child remained unattended for more than three hours, long after the air conditioning shut off.
Investigators say Scholtes had previously left his children in the car unaccompanied, raising deeper concerns about a pattern of neglect. Despite prosecutors’ request, a judge has barred them from introducing evidence that Scholtes searched for pornography during the critical hours.
Scholtes entered a not guilty plea and rejected an earlier plea deal for second-degree murder. The trial is scheduled to begin this month in Pima County, where the community awaits further developments in a case already marked by outrage and sorrow.