Arizona Father Dies by Suicide Before Sentencing

An Arizona father, who left his young daughter to die in a hot car, avoided facing the justice system by taking his own life shortly before he was due to report to jail, according to the prosecutor. Pima County Attorney Laura Conover expressed her sorrow during a statement, particularly for the victim’s siblings.

“This young girl’s voice was stifled this morning because justice wasn’t served,” Conover said, confirming that Christopher Scholtes, the girl’s father, had committed suicide the previous night.

She continued, “But her voice will not remain silent.”

Scholtes, 38, was discovered dead at his Phoenix residence on Wednesday morning, just hours before he was set to turn himself in to begin a lengthy prison term.

In October, Scholtes pleaded guilty to second-degree murder after leaving his 2-year-old daughter, Parker, locked in his car while he was inside, engaged with video games and drinking beer on a sweltering day in July 2024.

He was expected to be sentenced later this month to a prison term between 20 and 30 years.

Instead of confronting the repercussions of his actions, he chose to end his life, causing further heartbreak for his wife and three surviving daughters, who had already faced significant hardship.

Much of Conover’s remarks were directed at the surviving family members. She expressed her hope that they would find love and support in the wake of their tragedy, saying, “May you be surrounded by love and may you receive all the support you deserve.”

Conover reassured them that her office has counselors experienced in dealing with such tragedies, emphasizing their availability for assistance. “People have come through similar experiences and now thrive as happy adults in our community,” she noted.

“When you look back on these days, may you not feel restrained by what happened but rather uplifted by the spirit of your sister watching over you,” she added.

The daughters had reportedly endured years of neglect and mistreatment at the hands of their father. In fact, Scholtes’ 17-year-old daughter from a prior relationship filed a lawsuit days prior to his death, alleging a pattern of “physical, mental, and psychological abuse” in their home.

She accused him of locking her in vehicles as a child and noted that his younger daughters reported similar experiences of being left in locked cars.

Even his wife commented on his reckless behavior. After Parker’s death, she reached out to him, stating, “I told you not to leave her in the car. How many times did I warn you?”