Arizona girl, 2, left in car by father on 109-degree day and is found dead

[MadeleineMaxwell]

Wouldn't a separation and a restraining order against him having any contact with the children be a start?

She had already identified his behaviour was extremely dangerous to the children?

Of course and I agree that's what she should have done. The problem is, she didn't report, even if she had, I wonder if she would have followed their directions. Part of a controlling relationship (if we're following my theory) is that quite often there is a lack of agency, the person feels unable to take any control.

 

[iamshadow21]

I certainly agree with your comments and observations.

When your partner has a substance abuse issue that threatens the life and welfare of your children, and you have witnessed his manipulations with the stepchild, Isn't there a point where you suck it up and divorce him because of his alcoholism and his reckless behaviour to save your children. Even if it costs a lot, isn't it better to get your children into a situation you have control and legal authority for?

Agreed.

Kids come before spouses. ALWAYS.

They are minors and they are completely reliant on the adults in their lives to keep them safe.

You have a kid - by birth, by adoption, by fostering - they aren't a cute accessory, they are a responsibility that requires you to STEP UP and choose them first. Over your spouse, over your comfort, over your career, over your online image.

Because if you don't choose them first, they might not live to grow up, and that trumps your discomfort and your life being inconvenient.

MOO

 

[Herat]

The two remaining girls MUST be removed from the custody of both parents gor their physical and psychological safety!

WHY HAS THIS GUY NOT BEEN REMANDED BACK TO JAIL?! This guy has now been indicted for 1st degree murder in the death of his youngest daughter. Plus he’s clearly a danger to his other children and, with a history drunk driving WITH HIS CHILDREN IN THE CAR and excessive speeding (138 mph) (per his own wife’s texts at the very least), he is clearly a danger to everyone on the roads. LOCK HIM UP BEFORE HE CAUSES ANOTHER TRAGEDY!

I agree. I think he is at high risk for violence, suicide, and or family annihilation, now that his charges are elevated to first-degree murder.

I really fear for the safety of all in this family.

Can't someone get her and the children away from him into a safer environment?

 

[Normancita]

His wife has known since at least March 21 and made no provisions to have a safe person provide child care?

How about kicking him out and sending him to rehab with a restraining order against him having any contact with these children he put in harms way ALL THE TIME

What happened March 21st?

 

[Herat]

If he is alcohol-dependent, why is she allowing him in the house?

Is he detoxing in the family home? She is certainly not qualified to act as his physician and this would be so inappropriate I cannot fathom it.

Is she allowing him to drive, to go to stores? Is he sober on the outside or now sneaking drinking.

Gawd. I cannot imagine the tension in that home and the situation those little girls are stuck with. It is not normal or safe, IMHO.

 

[Herat]

What happened March 21st?

This text from her is in the affidavit:

March 21st: “Why were you going 138 with our baby in the car with alcohol in your system?

 

[Bounceycat]

During interviews with investigators, the documents read, one of the children said they were instructed by "mom and dad" to tell interviewers that their father was a good dad and that the incident was an accident. The mother reportedly told the child that their baby sister was already deceased by the time they brought her into the house.

Marana dad indicted in hot car death

TUCSON, Ariz. (KVOA) — In a recent investigation into an incident involving a child who died after being left in a hot vehicle, several key details have emerged.

www.kvoa.com

Disgusting.
MOO

Something else from that link that stood out to me:

"The child described instances where the father had left her in the car while playing video games and the mother had reprimanded him for such behavior.
“...he still drinks too much beer… and he keeps leaving us in the car when my mom told him to stop doing that. That’s how he made my baby sister die,” one of the children said in the court document."

These poor kids...I'm so saddened by all they've witnessed and experienced

 

[MadeleineMaxwell]

Sorry I've reread my posts and I don't think they read how I wanted them to. I'm absolutely not saying her actions (or lack of) are OK. I've worked a lot with families where domestic abuse and substance misuse are huge issues and wanted to offer a perspective based on what I've seen.

 

[Angelcat13]

I agree. I think he is at high risk for violence, suicide, and or family annihilation, now that his charges are elevated to first-degree murder.

I really fear for the safety of all in this family.

Can't someone get her and the children away from him into a safer environment?

You echo my fears exactly!

 

[MsMarple]

Technically as a physician the mother is a mandated reporter according to Arizona law. This includes abuse in her own home. And her texts sure sound like her husband was abusing and neglecting the kids. And she knew it.

I get that she may have been reluctant because of her position in the community. Or maybe she thought she could eventually change his behavior. Or maybe she didn’t see it as abuse. Who the heck knows?

It’s one thing for a partner to put up with abuse themselves but my sympathy stops when self concern overrides the health and safety of the children. Nope, no excuse. Heck, hospitals have social workers and counselors so mom had many resources available to help her stop the abuse.

The oldest girl was right, CPS should’ve taken the other kids too when they removed her from that nightmare house.

https://www.childwelfare.gov/resources/mandatory-reporting-child-abuse-and-neglect-arizona/

 

[Seni]

Oh I can answer that question based on my own life experiences.

Because she watched him take a previous child away from her mother, because she knew he would try and do the same to her and her children, particularly since he was the main 'caregiver' for the children. It's sadly a very common trope, when controlling men realise the relationship is over they want to continue the control via the children. I strongly suspect that CS used coercive control in his relationships, that she had just given up trying to change or argue with him. JMO

Precisely because of all this, she should have protected her children!

You don't give up on your kids, you make complaints, get family involved and make alternative arrangements.

 

[aimeea]

He has multiple past court cases, one of them is for assault in 2017. I'm not sure how to link directly to it, but it's case
M-1041-CM-17008043 on the Arizona judicial branch website: Public Access Case Lookup

He also has multiple past speeding > 15 mph tickets :/

 

[Bounceycat]

LOCK HIM UP BEFORE HE CAUSES ANOTHER TRAGEDY!

RSBM. Getting confirmation on how controlling, abusive, uncaring, downright oppositional and playing up the poor me victim card, he strikes me precisely as the type who will take himself out before allowing himself to be made to face the consequences of his actions. This guy's entire life appears to be just him doing whatever to try to avoid consequences to his actions. JMO.

 

[LadyL]

Looks like it’s true!

A Pima County grand jury has reviewed the case against the girl's father Christopher Scholtes as investigators start learning more about an alleged pattern of reckless behavior with his children.

Christopher Scholtes’ charges have been increased to first-degree murder after a grand jury reviewed the case. Christopher Scholtes remains out of custody after having to not post any bond.
…
The indictment was signed yesterday just after 1 p.m.
…
Detectives interviewed Scholtes’ other two children. One of the kids told the forensic interviewer that she was to tell the person interviewing her that dad was a good dad and it was just an accident.
…
One of the children stated the car was off when they were taken inside which doesn’t match Scholtes’ claims that he left the AC running.

New information released on death of two-year-old Marana girl left in hot car

TUCSON, Ariz. (KVOA) — New information on the death of a two-year-old Marana girl left in a hot car.

www.kvoa.com

Much more at the link. One child estimated the number of times they were left in the car to be about 59 which substantiates the older girl’s story.

And more texts were recovered:

“You haven’t shown you can stop putting the girls in danger or treating me badly. Even yesterday you drove home drunk with two minors. You drink to excess every time. I have been asking for three years for you to cut back but it's actually gotten worse.”

March 21st: “Why were you going 138 with our baby in the car with alcohol in your system?

Chris answered : “You hate me. She was sleeping it’s fine.”

OMG! I wonder which parent instructed the kids to say their dad is a good dad?

This is so much worse than a “Big mistake!”

omg
she should face charges too IMO

 

[Herat]

Sorry I've reread my posts and I don't think they read how I wanted them to. I'm absolutely not saying her actions (or lack of) are OK. I've worked a lot with families where domestic abuse and substance misuse are huge issues and wanted to offer a perspective based on what I've seen.

I understand. There is nothing ever simple in these domestic situations. There are many variables and understandable changes parents make to ameliorate a bad situation, usually with the hope it will get better and the problem will go away.

And yes, the mother's knowledge of his dealings with the stepchild and how it affected the family are really valid observations. We all share parts of our personal experiences here to try to understand why people behave this way. I appreciate your input.

 

[Herat]

In my area, the police blotter write-ups that include an intoxicated parent driving with children in the car is usually a child abuse charge, as well as the DUI.

 

[Curiosum]

Since it's been established that one of the charges may be 1st degree murder, I wonder if there is even more evidence regarding a potential motive ...I don't want to speculate yet.

Also, I can't believe their mother, E., stayed with this man for as long as she did. What was she afraid would happen if she left? I think she did love her daughters and the texts released indicate she was mentally "over" him, so why let him stay and keep doing this kind of thing?

Of course he would have tried to take every penny possible in a divorce, but so what? Freedom is priceless.

I do not know ES and I don't practice in AZ but I have female colleagues who ended up in scenarios where unsafe SAHD who refused to SAHD safely after much coaching to improve (and was also unhappy to return to work). It isn't avoiding paying alimony that is the issue, it is that often these SAHDs end up with much more than 50% custody and then the mother is even less able to keep them safe because valid safety concerns can be misinterpreted as attempted "parental alienation". It is possible that that if ES saw everything play out with the first wife she realizes that may be her reality.

 

[LadyL]

I agree. I think he is at high risk for violence, suicide, and or family annihilation, now that his charges are elevated to first-degree murder.

I really fear for the safety of all in this family.

Can't someone get her and the children away from him into a safer environment?

I agree. I'm afraid for what he will do.

 

[LadyL]

I'm furious for these children. IMO Mom shouldn't even have custody right now, much less with him in the home.

 

[Herat]

He has multiple past court cases, one of them is for assault in 2017. I'm not sure how to link directly to it, but it's case
M-1041-CM-17008043 on the Arizona judicial branch website: Public Access Case LookupWas

He also has multiple past speeding > 15 mph tickets :/

Was one of them for going 138mph?

How did she know he was going 138 mph, as she says in her text? Does the vehicle have some kind of excessive speed text or alert? Can she monitor the car's trip route and speed?