Father who abandoned 2-year-old daughter to die in hot car discovered dead before facing sentencing.

An Arizona father, Christopher Ryan Scholtes, was found dead in Phoenix on Wednesday morning. This occurred the day he was to be taken into custody ahead of sentencing for leaving his two-year-old daughter to overheat in a parked car, leading to her death. The police are investigating his death as a suicide after he was found at a residence in Phoenix.

Scholtes had pleaded guilty to second-degree murder and child abuse likely to cause death. His daughter, Parker, died in July 2024 in Marana, northwest of Tucson, with temperatures reaching 109F (43C). Investigators found that Scholtes left the toddler in the car for about three hours, contrary to his initial claims.

Prosecutors revealed that Scholtes spent the afternoon inside the house while Parker was left in the car. The child's mother found her unresponsive and attempted CPR. Scholtes was captured on body-camera footage expressing remorse and shock at the situation.

After the death, investigations revealed a pattern of leaving children unattended in vehicles. Scholtes accepted a plea deal in October, avoiding a first-degree conviction but facing a sentencing range of 20 to 30 years. His death has halted the legal proceedings.

Authorities are conducting a death investigation, and the cause and manner of Scholtes' death will be determined by the Maricopa County Medical Examiner. The tragic incident has brought attention to the dangers of leaving children in vehicles, especially in hot climates like Arizona.

The criminal case is now expected to close following Scholtes' death. Attention will shift to administrative closure and any remaining civil claims. The plea agreement and investigative files will be retained by relevant agencies, while the lawsuit filed by Scholtes' older daughter will proceed in civil courts.