by PHOENIX, AZ – An Arizona man who admitted to killing his 2-year-old daughter after leaving her in a sweltering car for hours was found dead just days before his sentencing, authorities said.
Father Found Deceased Ahead of Prison Term
According to the Maricopa County Coroner’s Office, 38-year-old Christopher Scholtes was discovered dead early on November 5. Phoenix Police officers responded to a call at 5:22 a.m., where they located Scholtes’s body at an undisclosed location. His cause of death remains under investigation, and an autopsy is expected to be completed in early 2026.
Sgt. Brian Bower of the Phoenix Police Department confirmed the discovery, though officials have not released additional details surrounding the circumstances. The Pima County Attorney’s Office, which prosecuted the original case, has declined to comment on his death.
Authorities noted that Scholtes’s death occurred on the very day he was supposed to turn himself in to begin serving his sentence. He had appeared in court days earlier and was expected to remain in custody until his official sentencing, which had been scheduled for November 2.
Guilty Plea in Daughter’s Tragic Hot Car Death
The case had gained statewide attention due to the disturbing circumstances surrounding the death of Scholtes’s youngest daughter, who died after being left inside a locked vehicle in the family’s driveway during the summer heat.
Just days before his trial was set to begin, Scholtes pleaded guilty to second-degree murder, a decision that surprised many observers. Under the plea deal, he faced 20 to 30 years in prison without the possibility of early release.
Prosecutors said that by accepting the plea, Scholtes avoided a possible life sentence or the death penalty, which could have been sought had the case gone to trial.
Disturbing Details From the Investigation
Court documents revealed that the father of three left his toddler in a car on July 9, 2024, while he played video games inside the house. During that time, investigators said, he also searched for pornography on his PlayStation console, though the presiding judge ruled earlier this year that those details could not be presented at trial.
Scholtes’s wife reportedly found their daughter unresponsive in the back seat of the family car when she returned home roughly three hours later. The temperature inside the vehicle that afternoon reached 109 degrees, according to the criminal complaint.
Body camera footage captured Scholtes telling officers that he had left the air conditioning running while the child slept, but he admitted to knowing that the car’s automatic shutoff system would turn off the engine after 30 minutes. He said he became distracted and forgot that his daughter was still inside.
Pattern of Neglect Alleged by Investigators
In later interviews, Scholtes’s two surviving daughters, ages 6 and 9, allegedly told investigators that their father had previously left them unattended in the car on multiple occasions.
Prosecutors also referenced a text message from Scholtes’s wife, sent as their daughter was being rushed to the hospital, which read:
“I told you to stop leaving them in the car. How many times have I told you?”
The message was cited as evidence of a pattern of neglect and recklessness.
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Released on Bail Before Death
Following his arrest, Scholtes was released on bail under the condition that he not have unsupervised contact with any minors. Despite this restriction, he was later granted permission to travel to Hawaii with his wife and two surviving children ahead of his trial.
The family had reportedly hoped to spend time together before Scholtes faced sentencing. His sudden death now leaves the legal case without closure, though prosecutors have said the plea will remain on record.
Community Reaction and Ongoing Questions
The incident has reignited conversations about hot car deaths in Arizona, a state that consistently records some of the nation’s highest child vehicular heatstroke fatalities.
“Every year, we see parents underestimate how quickly temperatures inside a vehicle can become deadly,” said one child safety advocate in Phoenix. “This was a tragedy that should never have happened — and now it has claimed another life.”
Scholtes is survived by his wife and two children. The results of his autopsy will determine whether foul play or self-harm played a role in his death.
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