A 37-year-old father faces first-degree murder charges after leaving his two-year-old daughter to bake to death in a blazing hot car while he indulged himself indoors. Christopher Scholtes allegedly left little Parker trapped for over three hours amid scorching 32°C heat in Tucson, Arizona — all while he consumed alcohol, searched for pornography, and played video games.

Deadly Neglect in 42°C Heat

Scholtes’ 2003 Acura was initially running with air conditioning on, but the engine eventually switched off, turning the vehicle into a deadly oven exceeding 42°C. Parker was left inside from 12:53pm until shortly after 4pm, when her mother, Erika, returned home from her shift at Banner University Medical Centre — the same hospital where Parker was later rushed.

The Pima County Medical Examiner ruled heat exposure as the toddler’s cause of death. Court records reveal Scholtes spent part of that time searching online for pornography and clothing, ignoring his daughter’s dire danger.

Mother’s Texts Reveal A Chilling Pattern

Frantic texts between Scholtes and his wife paint a picture of repeated recklessness. Erika Scholtes pleaded, “I told you to stop leaving them in the car, how many times have I told you?”

“We’ve lost her, she was perfect.”

Scholtes replied, “Babe I’m sorry! How could I do this. I killed our baby, this can’t be real.”

The messages suggest Parker’s death was far from an accident—her mum had warned her husband about leaving the children unattended before.

Other Children Step Forward

Their two other kids told police their father frequently abandoned them all in the car. On the fatal day, they said Scholtes “got distracted by playing his game and putting his food away” after returning home.

This testimony reveals chilling neglect stretching beyond just one tragic day, exposing a pattern of selfish disregard for child safety.

Mother Defends Father Despite Evidence

In a heartbreaking twist, Erika Scholtes defended her husband in court, calling Parker’s death a “mistake” rather than criminal negligence. Her role as a medical worker at the hospital treating Parker adds extra tragedy to the case.

Failed Rescue Amid Blistering Heat

When Erika came home after her shift, she asked where Parker was. They rushed to the car, but paramedics arrived too late to save the toddler, who died just an hour after hospital admission.

Emergency responders found the car’s interior dangerously overheated, a lethal cage no child can survive.

Warning on Hot Car Dangers

This fatal case is a stark reminder that leaving children alone in vehicles, even briefly, can turn deadly.

• Car temperatures can jump 20 degrees in just 10 minutes.
• Children are especially vulnerable due to smaller bodies and poor temperature regulation.
• Heatstroke inside a vehicle can claim dozens of young lives each year.

Harsh Charges Reflect Severity of Neglect

Prosecutors have slapped Scholtes with first-degree murder, signalling their belief this was more than careless — it was reckless indifference to life. The lengthy time Parker was left, combined with his distractions, underpin the charge.

If convicted, Scholtes faces life behind bars for causing his daughter’s preventable death through wilful neglect.

This devastating case is a grim reminder—parental responsibility isn’t optional, and abandoning it can have deadly consequences.