Latest news with #Scholtes
Daily Mirror
23-05-2025
- Daily Mirror
Wife stays by man's side after he left daughter, 2, to die in scorching 43C car
The wife of a man charged with the first-degree murder of his two-year-old daughter, whom he allegedly left to die in a hot car, has chosen to stay by his side while he awaits trial. Christopher Scholtes, 37, is accused of leaving his daughter Parker inside a car in 190°F (87.7°C) heat outside their home in Marana, Arizona, in July 2023, as he didn't want to disturb her sleep. The pair had just returned from a shopping trip. According to investigators, Scholtes left the vehicle running with the air-conditioning on, but the car eventually shut off while he became distracted playing video games on his Playstation. Prosecutors allege Parker remained in the car for over three hours. His wife, who works as a doctor, came home to find a horrifying discovery - their daughter's lifeless body. Baby girl dies alone in cot after dad neglects her to watch TV and play games Despite facing a possible death sentence and rejecting a plea deal that would have reduced the charge to second-degree murder, Scholtes was granted a temporary change in bail conditions, allowing him to travel to Maui, Hawaii from May 1-9 with his wife, Dr. Erika Scholtes, and their two surviving daughters. News of the court order shows the couple's marriage has remained intact despite a horrific tragedy prosecutors say was homicide. The court order, issued by Judge Kimberly Ortiz over objections from prosecutors, stipulates that Scholtes must stay in contact with pretrial services and have no unsupervised contact with children during the trip. The Scholtes family's continued public togetherness and support has drawn scrutiny. Erika, an anesthesiologist at the hospital where Parker was pronounced dead, has stood by her husband, describing the incident as a tragic mistake. During a hearing, she defended him, stating, 'This doesn't represent him.' CCTV footage reportedly contradicted Scholtes' initial claim that Parker was alone in the car for less than an hour, showing she was left in direct sunlight for more than three hours. His older daughters, aged 5 and 9 at the time, told investigators he often left all three children unattended in the car. Text messages revealed by prosecutors show Erika scolding her husband after the incident, writing, "I told you to stop leaving them in the car... we've lost her, she was perfect." Scholtes responded, "Babe, I'm sorry! How could I do this? I killed our baby, this can't be real." Scholtes' trial, initially scheduled for September 15, has been postponed to October. If convicted, he faces life imprisonment or the death penalty.
Daily Record
13-05-2025
- Daily Record
Dad who left daughter to die in scorching car goes on holiday ahead of trial
Christopher Scholtes' wife found their daughter unconscious in the vehicle after returning home three hours later, while the car's interior temperature reached 43C. A father charged with murdering his two-year-old daughter after leaving her in a scorching car last year is heading on a family holiday in Hawaii ahead of his trial. Christopher Scholtes from Arizona reportedly requested to travel to Hawaii with his wife and two surviving daughters from May 1 to May 9, according to court documents filed in a local court. On April 3, Judge Kimberly Ortiz agreed to consider the request, and after a hearing on April 15, she approved Scholtes' petition, reports the Mirror. The trip comes 10 months after Scholtes' two-year-old daughter tragically died, allegedly after being left in his car while he played video games. According to an interim complaint, Scholtes' wife found their daughter unconscious in the vehicle after returning home three hours later. At the time, the car's interior temperature had reached 43C (109F). Scholtes reportedly told Marana Police detectives after running errands that day, he left his daughter in the car with the air conditioning on while she slept in her car seat. He allegedly knew his car's engine shuts off automatically after 30 minutes. Scholtes' two other daughters, then six and nine years old, also reportedly told detectives their father had previously left them alone in the car for extended periods. Join the Daily Record WhatsApp community! Get the latest news sent straight to your messages by joining our WhatsApp community today. You'll receive daily updates on breaking news as well as the top headlines across Scotland. No one will be able to see who is signed up and no one can send messages except the Daily Record team. All you have to do is click here if you're on mobile, select 'Join Community' and you're in! If you're on a desktop, simply scan the QR code above with your phone and click 'Join Community'. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. To leave our community click on the name at the top of your screen and choose 'exit group'. If you're curious, you can read our Privacy Notice. In a text exchange, his wife allegedly warned him repeatedly to stop leaving the children in the vehicle. "I told you to stop leaving them in the car, how many times have I told you,' his wife wrote, per the complaint. 'Babe, I'm sorry,' Scholtes responded. 'We've lost her, she was perfect,' wrote his wife. "Babe our family. How could I do this. I killed our baby, this can't be real,' he replied. After reviewing the evidence, the Pima County Attorney's Office charged Scholtes with first-degree murder and intentional child abuse. At his arraignment, he pleaded not guilty to both charges. In March, Scholtes rejected a plea deal from prosecutors, which would have reduced the charge to second-degree murder if he had pleaded guilty. Just days after rejecting the plea deal, Scholtes petitioned the court to allow him to travel to Maui with his family. Judge Ortiz approved the request but stipulated Scholtes must comply with all parole conditions, including contacting pretrial services throughout the trip. Additionally, he was prohibited from having unsupervised contact with children, including his own. Prosecutors sought to have Scholtes surrender his passport before the trip, but Judge Ortiz denied this motion. Scholtes' trial is scheduled to begin on October 27, after being delayed from its original September start date. If convicted, he faces a potential life sentence in prison.
Yahoo
10-05-2025
- Yahoo
Marana father charged in death of his toddler given permission to go on family vacation to Hawaii
A father facing charges in the death of his 2-year-old daughter was granted court approval to travel to Hawaii for a family vacation. The defendant, Christopher Scholtes, of Marana, requested permission to travel to Maui from May 1 to May 9 with his wife and their two daughters, stating they planned to stay with friends of the couple. Scholtes faces one count of first-degree murder and domestic violence, classified as a Class 1 felony. He also is charged with one count of intentional or knowing child abuse — a Class 2 felony — after being accused of endangering his daughter by leaving her in a hot car. A Pima County judge granted Scholtes permission to travel out of state for a family vacation. Court documents said, "The court finds good cause to grant the Defendant's Request to Travel." According to court documents, at the time of the request, Scholtes was released on his own recognizance under the supervision of Pretrial Services. The documents also state that he signed a Waiver of Extradition and was instructed to contact his defense counsel and Pretrial Services officer upon his return to Arizona on May 10. The Pima County Attorney's Office said, "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." In March, Scholtes rejected a deal offering him a sentence between 10 and 25 years if he pleaded guilty to second-degree murder. He now awaits trial on the first-degree murder charge, which comes with the possibility of a life sentence if he is convicted. Scholtes' next court appearance was scheduled for Aug. 11. 'Jake had the biggest heart': Family mourns man who died after Tucson bus stop hatchet attack This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Marana father charged in death of child gets OK to go to Hawaii
Ya Biladi
03-04-2025
- Health
- Ya Biladi
Measles spread in Amsterdam prompts travel advisory for families going to Morocco
Health authorities in Amsterdam are ramping up efforts to warn families traveling to Morocco for the May holiday amid a significant measles outbreak in the country, reported De Telegraaf on Wednesday. The number of measles cases in the city's Nieuw-West district has risen from 20 to 32 in the past week, with infections now spreading beyond the initial outbreak at a primary school. Amsterdam Alderman for Health, Alexander Scholtes, expressed deep concern over the growing number of cases, particularly as four children have been hospitalized. Investigations revealed that none of the infected children had been vaccinated against measles. The outbreak in Nieuw-West is believed to have originated after an older sibling contracted measles while abroad, highlighting the risk of international travel in spreading the disease. Given the ongoing outbreak in Morocco, the municipality has launched an awareness campaign urging families to vaccinate their children before traveling. Authorities have also extended this advice to travelers heading to Romania, another country experiencing a surge in measles cases. «With the city's vaccination rate, it was never a question of if there would be a measles outbreak, but when. That time has now come», Scholtes stated. In response to the rising cases, some local officials have proposed more proactive vaccination strategies, such as deploying mobile vaccination units in neighborhoods, similar to efforts in Rotterdam. Last week in Rotterdam, a measles outbreak at an Islamic primary school was reported after a student's visit to Morocco during the spring break. 50 students reported sick by early this week, prompting its closure. To combat the spread, a special vaccination drive was organized. This is not the first time recent measles cases in the Netherlands have been linked to Morocco. Earlier in March, the Dutch National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM) reported that 17 measles infections have traced back to Morocco. Similar trends have also been observed in France, Spain, and Belgium.
Ya Biladi
02-04-2025
- Health
- Ya Biladi
Measles spread in Amsterdam prompts travel advisory for families going to Morocco
Health authorities in Amsterdam are ramping up efforts to warn families traveling to Morocco for the May holiday amid a significant measles outbreak in the country, reported De Telegraaf on Wednesday. The number of measles cases in the city's Nieuw-West district has risen from 20 to 32 in the past week, with infections now spreading beyond the initial outbreak at a primary school. Amsterdam Alderman for Health, Alexander Scholtes, expressed deep concern over the growing number of cases, particularly as four children have been hospitalized. Investigations revealed that none of the infected children had been vaccinated against measles. The outbreak in Nieuw-West is believed to have originated after an older sibling contracted measles while abroad, highlighting the risk of international travel in spreading the disease. Given the ongoing outbreak in Morocco, the municipality has launched an awareness campaign urging families to vaccinate their children before traveling. Authorities have also extended this advice to travelers heading to Romania, another country experiencing a surge in measles cases. «With the city's vaccination rate, it was never a question of if there would be a measles outbreak, but when. That time has now come», Scholtes stated. In response to the rising cases, some local officials have proposed more proactive vaccination strategies, such as deploying mobile vaccination units in neighborhoods, similar to efforts in Rotterdam. Last week in Rotterdam, a measles outbreak at an Islamic primary school was reported after a student's visit to Morocco during the spring break. 50 students reported sick by early this week, prompting its closure. To combat the spread, a special vaccination drive was organized. This is not the first time recent measles cases in the Netherlands have been linked to Morocco. Earlier in March, the Dutch National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM) reported that 17 measles infections have traced back to Morocco.
