In a tragic case from Marana, Arizona, 37-year-old Christopher Scholtes is accused of leaving his 2-year-old daughter, Parker, to die after parking her in a car that reached 109 degrees while he became distracted by pornography, video games, and drinking.
Prosecutors say the vehicle’s air conditioning shut off automatically after about 30 minutes, but Scholtes remained inside his home for over three hours before his wife found their daughter unresponsive. She was then taken to a hospital but later pronounced dead.
Scholtes initially claimed he left Parker in the car for just 30 minutes to let her nap, but later admitted he knew the engine would cut off and that he lost track of time. Authorities obtained surveillance footage and message logs that show him leaving the child alone at a gas station and a supermarket earlier, and allegedly stealing beer during one outing.
He is now charged with first-degree murder and intentional child abuse. His other two young daughters have reportedly told investigators that he had previously left children alone in vehicles. Scholtes has pleaded not guilty and declined a plea deal.
A judge ruled that prosecutors cannot tell the jury he searched for pornography during the incident, though evidence of past episodes involving unattended children may be presented in court.