The cause of death for Christopher Scholtes, the Arizona man convicted of the tragic death of his young daughter, has been released by the Maricopa County Medical Examiner's Office. Scholtes, who was 38 at the time of death, succumbed to carbon monoxide toxicity in a ruling determined to be suicide, as reported by FOX 10 Phoenix.
In July 2024, Scholtes’ 2-year-old daughter, Parker, was found unresponsive in a car in Arizona’s heat. Scholtes was arrested and faced 20–30 years in prison after pleading guilty in October to second-degree murder and child abuse causing death or serious injury, KVOA News reports. He died on Nov. 5, the day he was scheduled to be taken into custody.
After his daughter’s death, Scholtes moved with his family to Phoenix. In May, a judge allowed him a one-week trip to Maui but barred unsupervised contact with his surviving children.
After the cause of death was released, Pima County Attorney Laura Conover said, ‘We expected to be in court today because the father had accepted a plea to second-degree murder, carrying up to 30 years. We have confirmed he took his own life last night. This is extraordinarily complicated, and we extend our deepest sympathies to all who have suffered these losses,’ FOX 10 Phoenix reports.
The 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline provides free, confidential support 24/7 for anyone in crisis, including veterans, with services available in Spanish. Call or text 988, or use the online chat. Additional resources on warning signs and risk factors are available online.
