A shocking twist has ended a tragic case in Arizona. A father who killed his 2-year-old daughter was found dead. He died by apparent suicide. This happened the very morning he was due to turn himself in for sentencing.
The man was identified as Christopher Scholtes, 38. He had already pleaded guilty to murder and child abuse charges.
Death Confirmed by Phoenix Police
Phoenix Police responded to a call early yesterday. The time was 5:22 a.m. Scholtes was discovered dead at his home. Authorities confirmed the apparent suicide.
Pima County Attorney Laura Conover held a press conference. “We expected to be in court this morning because the father had accepted a plea agreement to second-degree murder,” Conover stated. The plea deal carried a possible sentence of up to 30 years in prison.
“But instead of coming in to take account for what has occurred here,” she continued, “we have been informed and we have confirmed that the father took his own life last night.”
The cause of death is still officially pending. The Phoenix Police Department is investigating.
The Toddler’s Tragic Death
The case stems from the death of Scholtes’ daughter, Parker, on July 9, 2024. The temperature that day soared to 109 degrees.
Scholtes reportedly left the child asleep in the car. He went inside his home. Security footage showed Parker remained in the hot vehicle for about three hours.
Scholtes’ wife, Erika, found the toddler when she returned home. Parker did not survive. An autopsy determined the cause of death was heat exposure. Her body temperature was recorded at 108.9 degrees Fahrenheit.
Case History and Troubling Details
Scholtes had originally faced a first-degree murder charge. He later entered a plea agreement on October 22, 2025, for second-degree murder and child abuse.
The case revealed a troubling history. Scholtes’ older children told authorities they, too, had been left in the car multiple times while their father was distracted. Reports also mention a history of substance abuse.
Adding to the complexity, the day before Scholtes was found deceased, his 17-year-old daughter filed a lawsuit for emotional damages related to Parker’s death.