The Arizona father who left his sleeping two-year-old daughter to die in a scorching car while he watched pornography, played video games, and drank beer for over three hours has dodged a potential life sentence after striking a plea deal.

Christopher Scholtes, 37, pleaded guilty in Pima County Court on Wednesday to second-degree murder and intentional child abuse. Prosecutors announced that Scholtes left his toddler, Parker, to bake to death inside his Acura parked outside his Marana home during a searing 109-degree day last summer.

The careless father initially rejected a plea deal in March but now faces up to 30 years behind bars.

“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,” the Pima County Attorney’s Office said in a statement.

“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.”

Scholtes’ doctor wife, who has stood by him and brushed off the tragedy as a “big mistake,” was noticeably absent from court as he confessed to the heinous July 9, 2024, killing, KVOA reported.

Prosecutors revealed that during the incident, Scholtes was distracted playing video games, watching X-rated videos, and drinking booze he allegedly stole, as his young daughter died of heat exposure in the boiling car.

Initially, Scholtes told investigators he left the napping tot in the car with the air conditioning running for 30 minutes after returning home from shopping around 12:30 p.m., insisting he didn’t want to wake her. However, court records later revealed that he had been inside for more than three hours. He even admitted knowing the car’s engine would automatically shut off after 30 minutes before his wife, Erika, came home around 4 p.m. and found their little girl unconscious in the vehicle.

The toddler was pronounced dead an hour later at Banner University Medical Center—the same hospital where her mother worked as an anesthesiologist.

Following the incident, Erika sent a flurry of furious texts to her husband, revealing a disturbing pattern of repeated neglect.

“I told you to stop leaving them in the car,” the devastated mother wrote during the heart-wrenching exchange, calling her slain daughter “perfect.” “How many times have I told you?”

The father of four later replied, admitting that he “killed our baby” and apologizing for his actions.

Scholtes’ two older daughters told investigators that their reckless father sometimes left them alone in the car while he got distracted playing video games and putting away his food, according to police records.

Prosecutors said Scholtes will spend between 20 to 30 years locked up with no chance of early release.

He was reportedly released after the court appearance and must turn himself in to authorities on November 3. Scholtes is scheduled to be sentenced on November 21.
https://nypost.com/2025/10/25/us-news/christopher-scholtes-pleads-guilty-to-murder-for-leaving-2-year-old-daughter-in-hot-car-for-hours/