Doctor On Vacation With Husband After He Left Toddler To Pass In Hot Car While He Played Video Game

A 37-year-old man was convicted of first-degree m–rder after leaving his two-year-old child in the car to nap in Arizona last year — but a shocking update reveals he is now on vacation with his wife in Hawaii. 

In July of 2024, tragedy struck when Christopher Scholtes left his daughter, Parker, unattended in his 2023 Honda Acura SUV as the temperature soared to an unimaginable 109℉ (43℃), The former had been “distracted” as he gamed on his PlayStation, with the vehicle eventually shutting off.

At 4:08pm on July 9, Parker’s mother came home to find their daughter unresponsive, according to surveillance footage. She tried to perform CPR, to no avail. Just minutes later, a call to 911 was made.

A father, who was convicted of k*lling his two-year-child by leaving her in a searing hot car, is now on vacation with his wife in Hawaii

Man with mustache and short hair against dark background related to marriage revelation and hot car incident.

Image credits: Pima County Jail

Pima County Medical Examiner recorded that the girl’s temperature was nearly the same as the outdoors, at a searing 108.9℉ (42.7℃) when first responders arrived. For comparison, normal body temperatures should usually be around 98.6℉ (37℃), with fevers hovering at 100.4℉ (38℃) or higher.

As Bored Panda previously reported, Christopher told authorities he hadn’t brought her daughter inside for fear of waking her up. He had left the engine and air conditioner on and running — even though he knew it would shut off within half an hour, based on previous experience.

He had also reportedly been aware of the SUV’s safety features.

Hands holding a game controller in front of a monitor, illustrating a marriage revelation involving a man and a toddler.

Image credits: Prostock-studio/Adobe Stock (Not the actual photo)

Man revealing details about marriage and the incident of leaving toddler in a hot car, standing in a bathroom.

Image credits: Law&Crime Network

The 37-year-old claimed Parker had been in the car for less than an hour after the two arrived home, but CCTV footage showed she had been left in the hot vehicle for more than three hours in direct sunlight, according to the criminal complaint. 

It was additionally noted that his other two daughters, aged 9 and 5 at the time of the tragedy, said their father frequently left all three kids unattended in the vehicle.

Christopher Scholtes had left two-year-old daughter Parker in his SUV for hours in direct sunlight as temperatures rose to extreme numbers

Police tape blocks access to a residential driveway near a white car, linked to a marriage revelation and hot car incident.

Image credits: KGUN9

Christopher was subsequently arrested and booked into the Pima County Adult Detention Center as the little girl was pronounced deceased when she was transported to Banner University Medical Center.

“This incident is a stark reminder of the dangers of leaving children unattended in vehicles,” said Marana Police Department Chief of Police Jeffrey Pridgett in an official statement.

“The temperature inside a vehicle can rise rapidly, even on relatively mild days, leading to potentially fatal outcomes within minutes.”

Suburban street at sunset with parked cars and houses, related to man who left toddler in hot car marriage revelation.

Image credits: KGUN9

Toddler girl in colorful dress smiling and holding a drawing inside a home with wooden flooring and a dog bed.

Image credits: Erika Scholtes

The father now faces a possible de–th sentence after refusing a plea deal last month. He has been on bail since soon after his arrest and applied to go on holiday to Maui — which the court gave the green light to.

Judge Kimberly Ortiz was the one to approve the request, according to Daily Mail, despite the “strenuous objections” from prosecutors, under the proviso that Christopher stay in contact with pretrial services while outside of Arizona. 

The order added, “The defendant shall further have no unsupervised contact with children.”

But the court has approved Christopher’s request to go on vacation with his wife in Maui

Man and toddler smiling indoors, highlighting a marriage revelation and incident involving a hot car and toddler safety.

Image credits: Chris Scholtes

His marriage to his wife Erika Scholtes, who also happens to be a doctor, has remained intact.

In court, she has firmly remained by her husband’s side and called their daughter’s passing “a big mistake” and that it isn’t representative of who Christopher is, although text messages revealed she was clearly distraught during the incident.

Family portrait showing a man, woman, and three children in white outfits, related to marriage and toddler hot car incident.

Image credits: Erika Scholtes

Woman with long dark hair wearing a white coat and smiling, related to marriage revelation man who left toddler near hot car.

Image credits: Erika Scholtes

“I told you to stop leaving them in the car, how many times have I told you,” Erika messaged Christopher as Parker was being rushed to the hospital. 

“Babe, I’m sorry!” he replied, to which Erika wrote, “We’ve lost her, she was perfect.”

“Babe our family,” the 37-year-old said. “How could I do this? I k–lled our baby, this can’t be real.”

Man in glasses and suit standing in courtroom during marriage revelation case involving toddler left in hot car.

Image credits: KGUN9

Christopher was set to face a 10-day trial on September 15, but this was pushed back until October. The plea deal he rejected would have dropped his charges down to second degree m–rder with a maximum of 25 years behind bars.

Comments were disgusted at the father’s negligence

Comment by Helene Norman calling someone a disgusting human being in a social media post about marriage revelation.

Comment by Kaye Sheen expressing concern about people who leave toddlers in hot cars, related to marriage revelation and the incident.

Screenshot of a social media comment criticizing a parent involved in a marriage revelation about leaving a toddler in a hot car.

Comment from Lisa Williams saying Sad in a social media post related to marriage revelation about man who left toddler in hot car.

Message from Leto Pele expressing strong emotion about the sick world, related to marriage revelation man who left toddler in hot car.

Comment by Cynthia Ackley-Owens saying some people should not be parents, related to marriage revelation and man leaving toddler in hot car.

Screenshot of a social media comment by Steven Norman discussing understanding time and mentioning a child in relation to a hot car incident.

Screenshot of a social media comment expressing anger about the man who left toddler to pass hot car.

Comment by Richelle Pollack-Keeley expressing shock and frustration about a man who left a toddler in a hot car resulting in tragic consequences.

Comment by Klaire Douglass expressing anger and sympathy related to a man who left toddler to pass hot car incident.

Comment expressing anger towards a man who left his toddler to pass in a hot car, criticizing the wife as well.

Comment by L Roxanne Driggers expressing skepticism about CPR knowledge and accountability in a marriage revelation involving a man who left toddler in hot car.

Comment from user Beverley Cadwell Roach saying "Lock dad up" in a social media post related to marriage revelation and hot car incident involving toddler.

Screenshot of a Facebook comment warning against leaving toddlers in hot cars with a car emoji included.

Comment from Lorraine May Spicer expressing strong disapproval of behavior related to marriage revelation man who left toddler in hot car.

Comment reading Rest in peace Beautiful Girl with an emoji, related to marriage revelation man who left toddler to pass hot car.

Commenter Dimna Valentin Castro expressing outrage about a man leaving a toddler in a hot car, calling for charges.

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