Father who let his two-year-old daughter die in a car takes his own life before sentencing

A case that shocked the public has once again generated shock. A man accused of killing his two-year-old daughter was found dead hours before his sentencing hearing . Authorities are investigating a possible suicide.

The incident occurred in July 2024 , when Parker , a two-year-old girl, died after remaining for more than three hours inside a car parked in front of her family home, while the outside temperature reached 43 °C .

During that time, his father, identified as Scholtes , remained at home consuming alcohol, watching adult content and playing video games , according to local media reports.

The girl's mother, an anesthesiologist by profession , found her unconscious and immediately took her to the hospital where she worked, but doctors confirmed her death shortly afterwards.

According to reports from the Hindustan Times and People magazine , Scholtes had accepted a plea deal with the Pima County Prosecutor's Office.

During a hearing, the defendant admitted his responsibility for the events under reduced charges of second-degree murder and aggravated child abuse . Thanks to this agreement, the prosecution dropped the first-degree murder charge , eliminating the possibility of the death penalty .

Prosecutor Laura Conover reported that, under the agreement, Scholtes faced between 20 and 30 years in prison without the possibility of early release , as punishment for the death of his daughter.

The final hearing was scheduled for November 21, 2025. However, on November 5 , the defendant was due to appear in court, but he never arrived .

Hours later, the Maricopa County Medical Examiner's Office confirmed his death in the early morning , and initial reports suggest suicide .

The Phoenix Police Department is continuing its investigation to determine the exact circumstances of the death.