On July 9, 2024, in Marana, Pima County, Arizona, 2-year-old Parker Scholtes was left by her father, Christopher Scholtes, asleep in a car seat inside a vehicle parked in the family's driveway during 109+ degree heat for roughly three hours. While she remained in the car, the father was inside the home distracted by video games, drinking, and watching pornography; the vehicle's air conditioning automatically shut off after 30 minutes. When the mother arrived home, the unresponsive child was found and taken to the hospital where she was pronounced dead, with an autopsy showing a body temperature of 108.9 degrees and cause of death as heat exposure. Christopher Scholtes was arrested and indicted on first-degree murder and child abuse charges, eventually pleaded guilty to second-degree murder, and died by apparent suicide before his sentencing hearing. DCS substantiated the neglect allegation against the father and had a history of prior unsubstantiated reports involving an older child.
Contexts/Conditions
Is there any mention of child drug ingestion or overdose?
Is there any mention of a drowning incident (either intentional or accidental)?
Is there any mention of a firearm incident?
Is there any mention of inappropriate supervision (e.g., child wandered off and drowned)?
The father left the 2-year-old unattended in a vehicle for about three hours. NBC News reports he was "distracted by video games" and "regularly left his kids alone in the car," and surveillance "does not show Christopher checking on his vehicle or daughter during this time-frame."
Is there any mention of inflicted injury? (e.g. slapped, punched, kicked, choked)
Prior reports describe inflicted injury against an older child: the Statement notes "Mr. Scholtes slapped the child and squeezed her arm causing bruising" and that the father "hit the child and left bruises." The NY Post reports he "frequently slapped her, threw her, and slammed her head against walls." These pertain to the older daughter and were largely unsubstantiated by DCS.
Is there any mention of malnutrition, starvation, or dehydration?
Is there any mention of medical neglect?
Prior reports in the Statement allege medical neglect of an older child: "the child is left to manage their diabetes without parental oversight" and that "the father never filled prescription medications for the child and was refusing to set up behavioral health services." KGUN9 reports allegations of "the child being denied medication and psychological counseling." However, DCS found these allegations unsubstantiated, noting medications were filled and services provided.
Is there any mention of a motor vehicle crash or incident?
Is there any mention of a murder-suicide incident?
Is there any mention of outdoor elements (including hot car deaths)?
This is a hot-car death. The ABC News article states the child "died in a hot car" and "The temperature in Marana reached a scorching 111 degrees." The autopsy per AZFamily found the girl's body temperature was "108.9 degrees" with cause of death heat exposure.
Is there any mention of prenatal substance exposure (including fetal alcohol syndrome or neonatal abstinence syndrome)?
Is there any mention of sexual abuse?
The Fatality Summary Report references a subsequent report received June 27, 2025 that "includes an allegation of sexual abuse to the sibling by the father... that was alleged to have occurred in 2020." This is an allegation regarding a sibling, not the deceased child Parker, and is not a confirmed finding.
Is there any specific mention of shaken baby or abusive head trauma?
Is there any mention of prolonged abuse or torture (including restraints, captivity)?
Is there any mention of an unsafe sleeping environment?
Individuals Involved
Was an adoptive parent or guardian involved in the death?
Was a biological father involved in the death?
The Preliminary Report states the child "was found unresponsive after her father left the child sleeping in a vehicle" and the father, Christopher Scholtes, was indicted on first-degree murder and child abuse. He is the biological father.
Was a biological mother involved in the death?
Was a day care worker, babysitter, or nanny involved in the death?
Was a female paramour or friend involved in the death (e.g., girlfriend, stepmother)?
Was a foster parent involved in the death?
Was a male paramour or friend involved in the death (e.g., boyfriend, stepfather)?
Was another adult relative involved in the death? (e.g., grandfather, aunt)
Was a sibling involved in the death?
Child Characteristics
Was the child adopted?
Was the child homeschooled (including "cyberschooling") or taken out of school?
Was the child in foster care at the time of the incident?
Was the child living with relatives at the time of the incident (but not parents)?
Is there any mention of a neurological developmental child disability? (e.g., autism, intellectual disability, nonverbal)
Is there any mention of a physical child disability? (e.g., feeding tube)
Is there any mention of prematurity or low birthweight?
Is there a history of child protection reports prior to death (for this child or siblings)?
The Statement and Preliminary Report list numerous prior DCS reports involving Mr. Scholtes from 2014 to 2020 regarding an older child, e.g., "On June 28, 2014, a report was received alleging physical abuse to a child by their father, Mr. Scholtes."
Does the child have a history of foster care (but not in care at time of incident)?
Is there a history of a sibling death (separate incident from this death)?
Parent/Caregiver Factors
Was an adult charged or arrested for the child's death?
ABC News reports "Scholtes was arrested Friday morning for second-degree murder and child abuse." The Preliminary Report notes he "was indicted by a Pima County Grand Jury on charges of first-degree murder and child abuse in relation to Parker's death."
Is domestic violence by the parent/caregiver referenced?
Is there any mention that the death occurred in a temporary shelter or while homeless?
Is an intellectual disability of the parent/caregiver referenced?
Is the mental health of the parent/caregiver referenced?
Is a history of arrests or criminal charges for the parent/caregiver referenced?
Is substance use by the parent/caregiver referenced?
NY Post reports the father was "playing video games and drinking beers" and stole "cans of beer." TrueCrimeNews reports "Scholtes had a history of substance abuse, including cocaine and alcohol." KGUN9 also describes him "drinking" while the child was in the car.
Notable Details
Several notable details: TrueCrimeNews reports the father "was found dead by apparent suicide the morning he was to turn himself in for sentencing" after pleading guilty to second-degree murder, and that his oldest daughter "filed a lawsuit on Oct. 28 for emotional damages." The father had been "allowed to vacation in Maui, Hawaii" while awaiting trial. Notably, the official Fatality Summary Report contains an apparent clerical error, repeatedly referring to the father as "Lance Savard" rather than Christopher Scholtes. There is also a gender discrepancy across official documents (the Summary Report lists Parker as male, the Preliminary Report as female).
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