Tragic End for Father Who Left Daughter in Hot Car
A Missouri father who was scheduled to begin a 20-year prison sentence for leaving his 2-year-old daughter to die in a scorching hot car has taken his own life in a chilling manner that echoed his crime.
Christopher Scholtes, 38, was found dead in the garage of his home around 5 a.m. on November 5, just hours before he was supposed to report to prison. His wife, Dr. Erika Scholtes, discovered his body.
Eerie Parallel to Daughter's Death
Authorities confirmed Scholtes died by suicide using his vehicle, creating a disturbing parallel to how his daughter, Parker, died in July 2024. While the exact cause of death is pending official confirmation, the medical examiner believes he died from carbon monoxide poisoning.
Family members have clarified that the vehicle he used to kill himself was not the same car where Parker died. Police and prosecutors have officially ruled the death a suicide.
The circumstances are shockingly similar to how his young daughter perished. On the day of her death, temperatures had soared to 109 degrees under the desert sun. Parker was left trapped in the family car for more than three hours while Scholtes was inside their home.
Pattern of Neglect Revealed
Investigations revealed that Scholtes had been inside the house watching porn, drinking beer, and playing video games while his daughter slowly baked to death in the vehicle. Her body was discovered by her horrified mother when she returned home.
Scholtes initially told police he had only left Parker in the car for 45 minutes, but later admitted he knew the vehicle's engine and air conditioner automatically turned off after 30 minutes of inactivity.
This tragic incident was apparently part of a long-standing pattern of behavior. Scholtes' 17-year-old daughter from a previous marriage alleged in a lawsuit filed just days before his death that he had been leaving children unattended in cars for over a decade.
The lawsuit claimed he had been leaving her in vehicles since she was "younger than 7" and also alleged physical abuse and neglect. Other children told investigators that Scholtes regularly left them alone in the car while he went inside the house.
Failed Justice and Family Aftermath
Scholtes had pleaded guilty to second-degree murder in October and was facing up to 30 years in prison. His sentence was set to begin on November 5, but he killed himself the day before, effectively avoiding prison time.
Following his death, a county attorney stated: "This little girl's voice was nearly silenced because justice was not served appropriately this morning."
Text messages between Scholtes and his wife after Parker's death revealed that she had repeatedly warned him about leaving children in vehicles. "I told you to stop leaving them in the car," she texted him after the tragedy. "How many times have I told you?"
Scholtes responded: "Babe, I'm sorry. Babe, our family. How could I do this? I killed our baby, this can't be real."
The lawsuit from his eldest daughter also alleged he had falsified a conservatorship over her to collect government support checks. She claimed this abuse caused her severe emotional distress, anxiety, depression, and post-traumatic stress.
Scholtes is survived by his wife and three other daughters.
