'Distracted' dad who binged Playstation as 2-year-old died in 109-degree heat was warned to 'stop leaving them in the car': Police

Christopher Scholtes (Pima County) and the scene outside the home where his daughter died from being left in a hot car (KOLD screenshot)

Disturbing new details have emerged in the case of a 37-year-old father of three in Arizona accused of killing his 2-year-old daughter last week when she was left in a hot car amid triple-digit temperatures.

Christopher Scholtes allegedly forgot that he had left young Parker Scholtes sleeping inside the family’s 2023 Acura MDX for several hours because he got “distracted” playing video games, Tuscon CBS affiliate KOLD reported . He is currently facing one count of second-degree murder and one count of child abuse.

In newly released court documents, authorities say they spoke to Scholtes’ two other daughters, ages 5 and 9, both of whom reportedly confirmed that he would regularly leave them alone in the car. In this case, they told police that Scholtes came home from running errands and then “he got distracted by playing his (video) game and putting his food away,” per KOLD.

Text messages between Scholtes and his wife, who is an anesthesiologist, also appear to show that Scholtes had a habit of leaving his children in the car unattended.

“I told you to stop leaving them in the car, how many times have I told you,” she texted him as Parker was on her way to the hospital, Tuscson NBC affiliate KVOA reported .

“Babe I’m sorry,” Scholtes reportedly responded

His wife continued, writing, “We have lost her she was perfect.”

Scholtes then responded, “Babe. our family. How could I do this. I killed our baby, this can’t be real.”

In an interview with police, Scholtes reportedly claimed that he arrived home with Parker at about 2 p.m., didn’t take Parker out of the car because he “wanted her to remain in the vehicle while she slept.” However, footage from a security camera revealed that he arrived home at 12:53 p.m. and did not leave again. It wasn’t until his wife came home a little after 4 p.m. and asked where Parker was that he reportedly ran outside to check on her.

“Video surveillance obtained does not show Christopher checking on his vehicle or daughter,” police wrote in an affidavit, according to USA Today. “When she asked where the 2-year-old was, he began to check the rooms of the home and then realized he had left her in the vehicle.”

KOLD further reported that while Scholtes told authorities he left the Acura SUV running with air conditioner on, he also knew the vehicle had a safety feature that would turn the car off after 30 minutes.

The temperature outside was reportedly 109 degrees when the couple called 911. Parker’s mother performed CPR until emergency medical personnel arrived, but they were unable to resuscitate the toddler.

In addition to seizing the car in which Parker was left, police reportedly also seized the PlayStation gaming console that allegedly distracted Scholtes from checking on his daughter

Despite reportedly knowing that Scholtes regularly left their children in the car unattended, his wife appeared in court with him on Friday and asked the judge to allow him to come home to help with the healing process.

“This was a big mistake and I think that this doesn’t represent him,” she said, according to video obtained by KVOA. “And I just want that the girls to see their father so that I don’t have to tell them tonight that they’re going to endure another loss.”

Pretrial services reportedly scored defendant Scholtes as the lowest possible risk. The judge noted his strong ties to the community and lack of a criminal history. A preliminary hearing is set for Aug. 1.

Alberto Luperon contributed to this report.

The post ‘Distracted’ dad who binged Playstation as 2-year-old died in 109-degree heat was warned to ‘stop leaving them in the car’: Police first appeared on Law & Crime .