Christopher Scholtes, the Marana father who recently pleaded guilty to the second-degree murder and intentional child abuse of his 2-year-old daughter, was found deceased in a Phoenix home on Tuesday morning, November 5.
Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!Phoenix police confirmed responding to a residence near Third Street and Northern Avenue, where the body of the 38-year-old was discovered. Pima County Attorney Laura Conover released a statement confirming Scholtes died by suicide. He was due to surrender to authorities that same morning ahead of a November 21 sentencing, where he faced a potential 30-year prison term.
Scholtes admitted to leaving his daughter in a vehicle where the internal temperature later reached 108.9 degrees. Conover offered condolences to the family, especially Scholtes’ older daughters, calling the situation “extraordinarily complicated.”
Tragic Conclusion: Father Who Killed 2-Year-Old Daughter by Heat Exposure Dies by Suicide
The tragic case involving a Marana father who caused the death of his 2-year-old daughter has reached a final, devastating conclusion. Christopher Scholtes, 38, was found dead in a Phoenix residence on the morning of November 5, 2025. Pima County Attorney Laura Conover confirmed that Scholtes died by suicide.
Scholtes had pleaded guilty to second-degree murder after knowingly leaving his toddler in a running car that later shut off. Inside the vehicle, temperatures reached nearly 109 degrees. He was scheduled to surrender for his sentencing that morning, where he was expected to face up to 30 years in prison.
The Pima County Attorney’s Office expressed deep sympathy for the entire family, particularly the victim’s older sisters, stating: “May you be surrounded by love. May you receive all of the support you deserve and need and then some.
Marana Father Guilty of Toddler’s Murder Found Dead
Christopher Scholtes (38), the Marana father who pleaded guilty to second-degree murder after leaving his 2-year-old daughter in a hot car, was found dead Tuesday morning in Phoenix.
Pima County Attorney Laura Conover confirmed that Scholtes died by suicide. He was scheduled to surrender to authorities for his sentencing, which carried a maximum of 30 years in prison.
“Instead of coming in to take account for what has occurred here, we have been informed… that the father took his own life.” – Pima County Attorney Laura Conover.
