A tragic incident unfolded in Marana, Arizona, where a two-year-old girl named Parker Scholtes lost her life after being left unattended in a hot car for several hours. The child’s father, Christopher Scholtes, aged 37, reported to authorities that Parker had fallen asleep in the back seat of the car upon their arrival home.
On that scorching day, temperatures soared to 109 degrees Fahrenheit (42.7 degrees Celsius), exacerbating the danger of leaving a child in an enclosed vehicle.
Emergency responders were summoned to the Scholtes residence after Parker was discovered unresponsive in the car. Despite their efforts, medical personnel were unable to revive her, and she was pronounced dead at the scene.
According to the Marana Police Department, Christopher Scholtes explained during their investigation that upon arriving home, he decided not to disturb Parker’s sleep and left her in the car with the engine running and air conditioning on. He then went inside the house.
Tragedy in Marana as Father Charged After Toddler Dies in Hot Car
When Parker’s mother returned home shortly afterward, she found the car turned off and the air conditioning inactive. She immediately called emergency services and attempted CPR until help arrived.
Following the incident, police obtained surveillance footage from nearby homes, which indicated that Parker had been left alone in the vehicle for approximately three hours before she was found.
In light of these circumstances, Christopher Scholtes was arrested on July 12 and charged with second-degree murder and child abuse related to Parker’s death. The arrest came after a thorough investigation by Marana Police Detectives, who executed a search warrant to gather evidence pertinent to the case.
The tragedy has highlighted the dangers associated with leaving children unattended in hot vehicles, especially during periods of extreme heat. The community and authorities have been deeply affected by Parker’s untimely death, underscoring the importance of vigilance and caution in preventing such heartbreaking incidents.
