A Marana man accused in his daughter’s hot-car death was given permission by a Tucson judge to accompany his family on a trip to Hawaii this month, records show.
Christopher Scholtes has been free while awaiting trial on charges of first-degree murder, domestic violence and child abuse after being accused of leaving his daughter, Parker, in a hot car parked for hours in the family’s driveway in July 2024.
Parker died of heat exhaustion, according to her autopsy.
Court records show that Scholtes requested to travel to Maui from May 1-9. The family said would be staying with friends on the island.
Pima County Judge Kimberly Ortiz granted Scholtes permission to travel out of state for the family vacation.
Prosecutors vehemently objected to the family vacation.
“The public record would show that the defendant and his counsel requested permission from the court to travel out-of-state. Our prosecutors strenuously objected. The court granted permission over our objection,” Pima County Attorney Conover said.
Following his arrest, Scholtes was released on his own recognizance under the supervision of the court’s pretrial services. He was instructed to contact his defense counsel and a pretrial services officer upon his scheduled return Saturday to Arizona.
On the day Parker died, Scholtes took her with him to run errands. Police have said he shoplifted alcohol from two different locations before returning home. He left the girl in the car for hours while he played video games, court documents say.
Parker was pulled from the car when her mom came home from work and realized the girl was not in the house, records show.
In March, the former stay-at-home dad, who has been ordered to be supervised around his remaining children, rejected a plea deal. offering him a sentence of between 10 and 25 years if he pleaded guilty to second-degree murder.
Scholtes faces up to life in prison if he’s convicted at trial.
Scholtes’ next appearance in Pima County Superior Court is scheduled for Aug. 11.
