**Arizona Father Who Left Toddler to Die in Hot Car Commits Suicide Ahead of Sentencing**
*Published: November 5, 2025, 7:10 p.m. ET*
Christopher Scholtes, the Arizona father who was reportedly “distracted” by video games and online pornography while his 2-year-old daughter was trapped inside his car under extreme heat, has committed suicide, RadarOnline.com can confirm.
Scholtes failed to appear at a scheduled court hearing on the morning of November 5, where he was expected to be sentenced after pleading guilty to the toddler’s murder.
### Christopher Scholtes’ Cause of Death
Scholtes was due to be taken into custody ahead of his sentencing later this month. However, Pima County Attorney Laura Conover revealed that he never showed up for the court hearing.
“We expected to be in court this morning, because the father had accepted a plea agreement to second-degree murder, which could have carried as much as 30 years in prison,” Conover stated. “But instead of coming in to take account for what has occurred here, we have been informed and have confirmed that the father took his own life last night.”
The Phoenix Police Department is actively investigating Scholtes’ death.
### Plea Deal Accepted
Late last month, the Pima County Attorney’s Office exclusively informed RadarOnline.com that 38-year-old Scholtes had accepted a plea deal.
“Today, Christopher Scholtes accepted a plea agreement and pled guilty to one count of second-degree murder and one count of intentional/knowing child abuse under circumstance likely to cause death or serious physical injury,” an official said in a statement.
“Under the terms of the plea, the sentences imposed by the judge are going to run consecutively, and Scholtes will face a sentencing range of 20 to 30 years of ‘flat time.’”
This meant Scholtes would not face life imprisonment or a harsher sentence, but he would not be eligible for early release and was expected to serve the full sentence handed down by the court.
### Seeking ‘Justice’ for Parker
The statement continued: “We are grateful for the hard work and dedication of our prosecutors, victim advocates, and staff for their collaboration with local law enforcement on this complicated and high-profile case.
“This is yet another reminder to the community that the Pima County Attorney’s Office will do everything we can to get justice for victims and prosecute those who have caused harm to others, especially those who are most vulnerable.”
### What Happened to Parker
As previously reported, Scholtes left his youngest child, Parker, in the car after running errands and returning home. Prosecutors state that the father-of-three opened a few beers he had shoplifted earlier that day, played video games, and searched for pornography on his PlayStation — all while Parker remained trapped in the vehicle.
He later admitted being aware that the car engine would turn off automatically after 30 minutes, which meant there would be no air conditioning.
Parker’s mother, an anesthesiologist, found her daughter in critical condition with the air conditioning turned off when she arrived home around 4 p.m. The toddler was immediately rushed to the same hospital where her mother works but was declared dead approximately one hour later.
Medical examiners determined the temperature inside the 2003 Acura rose as high as 109 degrees during the three hours Parker was left inside.
### A History of Neglect
This was not the first time Scholtes had forgotten one of his children in a car. After Parker’s death, hi
https://radaronline.com/p/christopher-scholtes-cause-of-death-hot-car-prison/
