Christopher Scholtes, a 37-year-old father facing first-degree murder charges, has been granted permission by a judge to go on a vacation to Maui with his wife Erika and their two surviving daughters, even as he awaits trial for the tragic death of his 2-year-old daughter, Parker.
The heartbreaking incident happened in July 2024, when Scholtes left Parker in a hot car for over three hours, allegedly while playing video games and putting away groceries.
What Happened to Parker?
According to police reports, Scholtes left Parker in the car with the engine and air conditioning running, intending for her to nap. However, the car automatically shut off after 30 minutes, and the child was left in sweltering heat, estimated to reach 190 degrees Fahrenheit inside the vehicle.
Surveillance footage confirmed that no one checked on Parker for over three hours, until Erika returned home around 4:08 p.m. and asked where their daughter was. She found Parker unresponsive, performed CPR, and rushed her to the hospital where she works as a doctor — but it was too late.
Court Approves Vacation Despite Murder Charges
Even though Scholtes is accused of murder and child neglect, and faces a possible death sentence, Judge Kimberly Ortiz recently approved his request for a family vacation to Hawaii between May 1 and May 9.
The court modified his bail conditions, allowing the trip under the condition that he has no unsupervised contact with children and must check in regularly.
The decision faced strong objections from prosecutors, who argued that allowing such travel sends the wrong message about the seriousness of the charges.
Wife Stands by Her Husband
Despite the devastating loss of their daughter and emotional text messages where Erika blamed her husband, she has remained supportive in court, calling the incident “a mistake.”
Text messages from the day of the tragedy reveal Erika’s frustration:
“I told you to stop leaving them in the car. How many times have I told you?”
She also expressed heartbreak, texting:
“We’ve lost her. She was perfect.”
In response, Scholtes wrote:
“Babe I’m sorry! How could I do this. I killed our baby. This can’t be real.”
A History of Warnings and Risky Behavior
The criminal complaint reveals that Scholtes had a habit of leaving his children in the car, according to statements from his older daughters. He was aware the car’s engine would shut off automatically, but reportedly lost track of time while playing video games.
The family had taken several expensive vacations in the year before Parker’s death, including trips to Banff, Cancun, Europe, Seattle, and Sedona, raising questions about their lifestyle and priorities.
Trial Delayed, Plea Deal Rejected
Scholtes had the chance to accept a plea deal for second-degree murder, which would carry a maximum sentence of 25 years. However, he rejected it, choosing instead to fight the first-degree charge in court — a risk that could result in life imprisonment or the death penalty if found guilty.
His trial was originally scheduled for September 15, but it has now been postponed until October.