TUCSON, Ariz. (KOLD/Gray News) – An Arizona father charged in the death of his 2-year-old daughter, whom he allegedly left in a hot car, has been allowed to take a vacation to Hawaii.
Christopher Scholtes was permitted to visit Maui with his wife and two daughters on May 2- 9.
While on the trip, Scholtes was ordered to contact Pretrial Services upon leaving Arizona, while outside of the state and upon his return. He was also ordered to have no unsupervised contact with children.
Scholtes is charged with felony first-degree murder and child abuse for the death of his 2-year-old daughter in a hot car in July 2024.
According to court documents, the temperature was 109 degrees on that day in July.
The vehicle was parked in direct sunlight with the car seat on the driver’s side of the vehicle, which was a west-facing window. Scholtes knew that he had left his 2-year-old daughter in the vehicle.
Police said Scholtes told officers he took his daughter on some errands and then went home. She was asleep in her car seat, so he left her in the vehicle while he went inside.
He claimed he left the vehicle running with the AC on. When he went back outside, the car was off and his daughter was unconscious.
He admitted knowing about the car’s automatic shut-off feature, while video and documents suggested that he was inside his home playing video games for up to three hours.
Scholtes refused a chance at a 10 to 25-year sentence when he rejected second-degree murder to take on a possible life sentence in trial in October.
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