New and disturbing details have been released in the case of a father who took his own life the day before he was due to begin a lengthy prison sentence for the death of his two-year-old daughter in a sweltering car.
The Final Morning and a Grisly Discovery
Christopher Scholtes, 38, was found unresponsive in the garage of his Phoenix, Arizona home at approximately 5:20am on November 5. The discovery was made by his wife, Dr Erika Scholtes, and the family's live-in nanny. According to a summary report by medical examiner Daniel Casa, Scholtes was discovered in a running car inside the garage.
The day of his death was the day before he was scheduled to turn himself in to authorities to serve a prison sentence of 20 to 30 years. He had pleaded guilty in October to second-degree murder and child abuse in connection with the death of his young daughter, Parker, in July 2024.
A Planned End and a History of Distress
The medical examiner's report confirmed Scholtes died from carbon monoxide poisoning. His blood carboxyhaemoglobin level was a fatal 80%, far exceeding the normal range. A suicide note was found inside the house, and a living will was left on the car's roof, indicating a premeditated act. The report also noted evidence of a potential second suicide method set up in the garage.
Blood tests revealed the presence of marijuana, caffeine, and diphenhydramine in his system. The report catalogued a history of mental health struggles, including depression, anxiety, PTSD, and ADHD, exacerbated by substance use. Dr Casa noted Scholtes had made suicidal statements following his daughter's death and was under significant stress from his criminal case.
The Tragic Incident That Led to Prison
The case stems from the heartbreaking death of two-year-old Parker Scholtes in July 2024. The child was left inside the family car for around three hours on a day when temperatures in Tucson, Arizona, soared to 43C (109.4F). When found, her body temperature was a devastating 42.82C.
Scholtes initially told authorities he left Parker in the car with the air conditioning on after she fell asleep, but later admitted the engine had an automatic shut-off feature. Prosecutors alleged he spent the time drinking beer, playing video games, and watching adult content. Text messages between Scholtes and his wife revealed a pattern of him leaving children in the car, with her pleading, "I told you to stop leaving them in the car."
The couple's other children, aged nine and five, told investigators they were regularly left alone in the vehicle and that their father had become distracted by his video game while Parker was in the hot car. Police seized a PlayStation from the home as part of their investigation.
Scholtes accepted a plea deal in October 2025 and was due to be formally sentenced on November 21. His death, ruled a suicide, occurred just over 16 months after the loss of his daughter, closing a chapter on a case that highlighted the deadly consequences of child neglect.
