Who is Chris Scholtes? Man charged with murder after leaving 2-year-old daughter in car in 42°C heat
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KEY HIGHLIGHTS
- A 37-year-old man from northern Tucson, Arizona, has been charged with the murder of his daughter.
- Chris Scholtes told police he left their daughter in the car while she was sleeping and didn’t want to wake her.
- The incident occurred on Tuesday afternoon (July 9).
A 37-year-old man from the north Tucson, Arizona was charged with the murder of his daughter after leaving her in a car outside their home with the air conditioning on in 42 degree heat. Chris Scholtes told police that he left her daughter, Parker Scholtes, 2, in the car because she was sleeping in the back seat and she didn’t want to wake her.
The incident occurred on Tuesday afternoon (July 9). When her mother, Erika Scholtes, returned home, the two-year-old was found unconscious in the car. She immediately called 911. A report from the Daily Mail states that Erika Scholtes worked as an anesthesiologist and initially performed CPR on the child. She was then taken to Banner University Hospital, where she was pronounced dead.
Although the man has been charged with murder, Marana, Tuscon police Capt. Tim Brunenkant said the death is still under investigation to determine if it could have been an accident. Chris Scholtes initially said he left the child in the car for less than an hour, but police believe based on surveillance footage it could have been nearly three hours.
“We don’t know the circumstances, we’re trying to figure it out. When these temperatures occur, especially this week when it’s 40 degrees, it’s just tragic,” Brunenkant told local reporters. “We’re conducting the interviews and trying to find out if this was a mistake. Is it an accident? Is it possible? We have to find out.”
Regarding the circumstances of the murder, the police said: “Resuscitation attempts were made and the child was immediately taken to hospital. Unfortunately, the child was pronounced dead at the hospital.”
On Friday morning, Chris Scholtes was charged with murder and child abuse and held at the Pima County Adult Detention Center.
“Marana Police Detectives obtained a search warrant the night of the incident and conducted a thorough investigation,” police said.
“During the investigation, detectives obtained video surveillance footage from nearby homes and concluded that the child had been in the vehicle for approximately three hours.
“This incident is a stark reminder of the dangers of leaving children unattended in a car. Temperatures inside cars can rise rapidly, even on relatively mild days, and can cause potentially fatal consequences within minutes,” they added, warning the public.
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