Father, who had a habit of leaving his children in the car, forgot he left his 2-year-old daughter in the vehicle during triple-digit temperatures because he was busy playing video games, resulting in toddler’s death
Arizona – In a disturbing incident in Arizona, a father faces severe legal consequences after his young daughter died after being left in a hot car for several hours. The 37-year-old father, later identified as C. Scholtes, is charged with second-degree murder and child abuse following the death of his 2-year-old daughter, identified as Parker, who was forgotten in a vehicle as temperatures soared to triple digits.
According to reports, Scholtes was busy playing video games and with other activities, which led to him forgetting his daughter in his vehicle. This oversight resulted in the young child being left unattended for several hours in the sweltering heat. Authorities, upon investigating, uncovered that this was not an isolated incident—Scholtes reportedly had a history of leaving his children in the car. Court documents reveal insights from Scholtes’ other daughters, ages 5 and 9, who told authorities that their father often left them alone in the vehicle. On this fateful day, after returning home from running errands, Scholtes engaged in his video game and failed to ensure Parker’s safety, a mistake that turned fatal. Scholtes told authorities he left the car running with the AC turned on, but according to authorities, he was also aware that the car would turn off after half an hour due to a safety feature.
Text exchanges between Scholtes and his wife, indicate previous concerns about his habit of leaving the children in the car. Messages exchanged on the day of the incident reflect the immediate gravity and irreversible loss caused by Scholtes’ negligence. His wife texted him in panic as their daughter was rushed to the hospital, to which Scholtes responded with apologies and disbelief over the unfortunate outcome.
Security footage contradicted Scholtes’ initial claim that he had only recently arrived home with Parker still asleep in the car. Instead, the security footage revealed that he had been home since before 1 p.m., leaving Parker unchecked until his wife inquired about her whereabouts after 4 p.m. It was then that he realized he had left their daughter in the vehicle. The couple attempted resuscitation to no avail; Parker was pronounced dead due to heatstroke, with the outside temperature recorded at 109 degrees.
During the subsequent investigation, police seized not only the vehicle but also the gaming console that Scholtes was busy playing while his young daughter was in the car. In a surprising turn during the court proceedings, Scholtes’ wife supported him, requesting the judge allow him home to aid in the family’s healing process. “This was a big mistake, and I think that this doesn’t represent him. And I just want the girls to see their father so that I don’t have to tell them tonight that they’re going to endure another loss,” Scholtes’ wife said.
Scholtes, described as a low-risk defendant by pretrial services due to his strong community ties and the fact he does not have a criminal history outside of a DUI charge from 15 years ago, is awaiting a preliminary hearing scheduled for August 1. This case has ignited discussions on parental responsibilities and the dire consequences of negligence.
