Christopher Scholtes pleaded not guilty to first-degree murder and child abuse
Police bodycam footage has shown the reaction of a dad whose two-year-old daughter died after being left in a scorching-hot car.
It was reported last month Parker Scholtes had died after being left in a hot vehicle by her father, Christopher Scholtes.
Temperatures on that July day reached 109 degrees in Arizona as Christopher left his daughter in the car after returning from a shopping trip.
Air conditioning had been on for the toddler, but the car automatically shut off after 30 minutes.
Despite the best efforts of health care professionals, Parker was later pronounced dead.
The dad had allegedly been ‘distracted by his PlayStation’, which led to him forgetting Parker was in the car.
Police bodycam footage from that tragic day has since been released by Inside Edition.
Warning: distressing content:
The video shows medical experts trying to save the two-year-old.
While all of that was going on, Christopher appeared devastated as he came to the realization as to what had happened.
Police then began questioning Christopher, asking him how long Parker had been sleeping in the car.
“I want to say it was no more than 30, 45 minutes and I don’t think the air was off that entire time,” he told officers in the footage.
“I think there was a time in between. I had checked on her last, it was still running, she was still sleeping and then when I went back out the car was off,” he added.
The bodycam footage has been released. (Inside Edition)
A first responder then came into the room to provide an update on Parker. They said: “She’s very hot right now. We’re going to do everything we can.”
Another clip then saw the dad being told by a police officer his house is now being treated as a crime scene.
“So I’m being treated like a murderer?” he asked. The police officer instantly shut down the suggestion.
Evidence revealed last month suggested Parker had been left in the car for as long as three hours.
Christopher Scholtes has since been arrested and charged. (Pima County Sheriff’s Office)
Meanwhile, the dad’s two other children, aged nine and five, told police in their investigations that Christopher would regularly leave them alone in the car.
Last week, Christopher pleaded not guilty to first-degree murder and child abuse.
If the case was to go to trial, a jury may still convict him on a lesser charge.
A case management hearing is set for September, while a pretrial conference will follow in October.
