Christopher Scholtes, 38, died by suicide on November 5, 2025, hours before he was scheduled to report to prison for the death of his two-year-old daughter, Parker Scholtes. The discovery was made by his nanny, who found him slumped in his car in the home garage.
In a distressed 911 call, the nanny described finding Scholtes in his running car, which was filling the garage with fumes. She told the dispatcher, "I found the dad in his car... I think he's dead. There's no pulse... he's dead." The nanny also stated, "He's in our home garage, it's suicide, it's suicide." She had to unlock the garage, noting the strong smell of carbon monoxide.
Parker Scholtes died in July 2024 after being left in a hot car for approximately three hours while her father drank beer, watched pornography, and played video games. The child was found in the family's blue Acura in 90-degree Fahrenheit heat. Police testing later confirmed the car seat's surface temperature reached nearly 150 degrees Fahrenheit. Scholtes had told police he left the child napping with the air conditioning on and the car running, but the engine automatically shut off after about 20 minutes.
Scholtes had pleaded guilty to second-degree murder charges. He had initially rejected a plea deal that would have resulted in a maximum of 10 years in prison. However, in the months leading up to his sentencing, he accepted a deal requiring 20 to 30 years without parole. He was allowed to remain on bail until November 5, the day he was found deceased.
Autopsy reports confirmed Scholtes died from self-administered carbon monoxide poisoning. A suicide note was found in the house, and a living will was discovered on the roof of his car. The report also noted the presence of marijuana, caffeine, and diphenhydramine in his system. Scholtes had a documented history of depression, anxiety, PTSD, and ADHD, coupled with substance use and a degenerative joint disease. He had reportedly made suicidal statements after his daughter's death and was under significant stress due to his criminal case.
Scholtes and his wife, Dr. Erika Scholtes, had moved to Phoenix in April 2025, shortly before his death, from their previous home in Marana, Arizona, where Parker had died. The couple had two other daughters who were reportedly with their father when their mother returned home from work on the day Parker was discovered. The surviving daughters told detectives their parents began screaming upon realizing Parker was still in the car and that their lips were purple and she was not breathing.
Dr. Erika Scholtes, an anesthesiologist, had reportedly stood by her husband, petitioning the court on his behalf and purchasing a new family home. The nanny, along with Scholtes' mother, was present at the home when police arrived. The 911 call lasted six minutes, and emergency dispatchers instructed the nanny to evacuate the house due to the carbon monoxide fumes.