PRESS RELEASE - Child Death Investigation-Arrest
Published on July 12, 2024
News Release
Marana Police Department
Jeffrey Pridgett
Chief of Police
Date: 7/12/2024
Contact:
Molly Metz
Community Resource Officer/ Public Information Officer
(520) 382-2051
MPDPIO@maranaaz.gov
Child Death Investigation-Arrest
5100 Block of West Paytons Court
A.R.S 13-1104 Second Degree Murder and A.R.S 13-3623 Child or Vulnerable Adult Abuse Charges filed in Child Death Case.
On Tuesday, July 9th, shortly after 4:00 PM, Marana Police Officers and the Northwest Fire District responded to a residence in the 5100 block of W. Paytons Court for a report of an unresponsive child who had been left in a vehicle. During our initial investigation, the father, identified as 37-year-old Christopher Scholtes, told officers he arrived home, and the 2-year-old girl was still asleep in the vehicle in her car seat. He left the vehicle on and running in the driveway, with the air conditioning on and the child inside. Christopher told detectives he did not want to wake his daughter up so she could continue sleeping in the vehicle. Christopher then went inside the residence. The mother was not home, but shortly after she arrived, the child was discovered in the vehicle, which was no longer running, and the air conditioning was off. 9-1-1 was called, and the mother performed CPR until NWFD and MPD arrived. NWFD performed life-saving measures, and the child was transported to Banner University Medical Center. Unfortunately, the child was pronounced deceased.
Marana Police Detectives were granted a search warrant the night of the incident and conducted a thorough investigation. During the investigation, Detectives obtained video surveillance from nearby residences and determined that the child had been in the vehicle for approximately three hours.
This morning at 8:38 AM, Christopher Scholtes was arrested and booked into the Pima County Adult Detention Center for 2nd Degree Murder and Child Abuse related to this tragic event.
This incident is a stark reminder of the dangers of leaving children unattended in vehicles. The temperature inside a vehicle can rise rapidly, even on relatively mild days, leading to potentially fatal outcomes within minutes.
We urge all parents and caregivers to remain vigilant and take every precaution to ensure the safety of their children. The Marana Police Department and our entire community feel this heartbreaking loss, and our thoughts and prayers are with everyone affected by this tragic incident.