Tragic new details have emerged regarding the two-year-old girl who died in Tucson, Arizona after allegedly being left in a hot car by her father.
As per reports, temperatures hit 109 degrees while toddler Parker Scholtes sat in a vehicle on the driveway of her family home. Her dad, Christopher Scholtes, claimed that his little girl had been asleep and he had not wanted to wake her.
Police said that Parker had been left in the vehicle for at least 30 minutes. Heartbreakingly, the two-year-old died on July 11. Following the incident, Christopher has since been charged with second-degree murder and child abuse. He has a hearing scheduled for next month.
Parker’s mother (Christopher’s wife) Erika is reported to be a doctor at Banner University Medical Center, the very same facility where Parker was pronounced dead. Sad new reports now suggest that the two-year-old may have been trapped in the hot vehicle for three hours in direct sunlight.
MailOnline states that Erika arrived home at 4:08pm on the day of Parker’s death and asked Christopher where Parker was. Christopher told police that he himself had returned home at 2:30pm, though this was later proven false as footage from a neighbors’ camera showed him arriving at 12.53pm.
As baby Parker was rushed to hospital, Erika text her husband: “I told you to stop leaving them in the car, how many times have I told you.”
Following the little girl’s passing, Erika then text: “We’ve lost her, she was perfect.”
Christopher replied: “Babe I’m sorry! How could I do this. I killed our baby, this can’t be real.”
As per reports, Christopher and Erika also share two other daughters aged nine and five.
Christopher has been released until his hearing, with his wife having petitioned for him to be allowed home so the family can start the grieving process.
What a tragic event. Our thoughts and prayers go out to the family of Parker Scholtes.