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

[LadyL]

Christopher Scholtes News Updates | Court TV

Christopher Scholtes is facing charges of first-degree murder and child abuse in the hot car death of his 2-year-old daughter.

www.courttv.com

However, the ruling on what would be fair to tell jurors says prosecutors can use testimony of previous incidents where Scholtes’ children were left unattended in a car, including incidents when law enforcement officers warned him of the danger

Christopher had been warned by the police not to leave his kids in the car and that will be included in his trial. It’s too bad this trial wasn’t held in July or August.

I’m trying to figure out how they can seat a jury for this one, I can’t imagine anyone not being appalled by the idea that he left his girls in the car on other occasions, let alone on the day he killed Parker.

holy crap the cops warned him too?
he's finished IMO

 

[sunspun]

ETA: and what was he doing inside a pizza restaurant for more than 15 minutes while he locked up these poor precious babies alone in his car? Having a few beers while he waited on his pizza to be cooked then drunk driving them home? ?

Yes, and this would mean it was even longer than that, because there's the 15 minutes the lady said she was outside for, PLUS the time it took for the cops to arrive after her call, because the cops were obviously outside when he came out, or I'm sure he wouldn't have waited around til they got there! In fact, we don't know that he ever even did come out to find cops round his car, they may have had to go find him. If that was the case, no telling how much longer he would have recklessly left his little kids outside alone in the car.

 

[OneLove]

holy crap the cops warned him too?
he's finished IMO

Well, let's hope so. Unfortunately, our system tends to be lenient with things like homicide and accomplices to homicide *only* when it happens to innocent children.

This disaster could have been foreseen LONG before it finally happened, it was clearly almost a given that it would, and interventions should have been made long looong before he was given so very many opportunities to murder helpless children by habitually roasting them in hot cars then driving them while drunk. ~I'd love to know if he has a history of gaming while driving too.

I seriously do not think I can bear watching his trial if his accomplice is there showing sympathy while seeing every detail of the preponderance of evidence that he was a walking talking drunk homicidal addict.

How close did those kids get to death how many times that ended just short of their deaths and do the 3 survivors have any lasting permanent physical damage from their routine abuse? We already know they will have permanent emotional damage from both parents' willful abuse and neglect.

Roast him, jurors, please.

 

[Herat]

Yes, and this would mean it was even longer than that, because there's the 15 minutes the lady said she was outside for, PLUS the time it took for the cops to arrive after her call, because the cops were obviously outside when he came out, or I'm sure he wouldn't have waited around til they got there! In fact, we don't know that he ever even did come out to find cops round his car, they may have had to go find him. If that was the case, no telling how much longer he would have recklessly left his little kids outside alone in the car.

I would believe that he was watching his searched-for videos with headphones on and was shocked to have LE knock so loudly on the door. I think he was oblivious to the child left outside in the car precisely because he was NOT watching or interacting with the other two girls because he would have noticed Parker's absence.

I'm guessing he was in an office with the door closed away from the kids and with headphones one. The other two girls could have been setting the house on fire in the kitchen and he wouldn't have figured it out because he wouldn't be checking on them.

 

[mickey2942]

Father of 2-year-old that died in hot car released with no bond

TUCSON, Ariz. (KVOA) — Christopher Scholtes met with a judge in virtual court today.

www.kvoa.com

It took me awhile to find this. CS is out on a "$25,000 Bond". Who can even believe this?! I have seen higher bond amounts for people who have misdemeanor charges.

While looking for this, I found several insightful interviews on CourtTv, one was with three defense attorneys, not one agreed CS should face a jury or to trial.

BTW, the prosecution wanted one million for the bond amount.

 

[snarast]

Father of 2-year-old that died in hot car released with no bond

TUCSON, Ariz. (KVOA) — Christopher Scholtes met with a judge in virtual court today.

www.kvoa.com

It took me awhile to find this. CS is out on a "$25,000 Bond". Who can even believe this?! I have seen higher bond amounts for people who have misdemeanor charges.

While looking for this, I found several insightful interviews on CourtTv, one was with three defense attorneys, not one agreed CS should face a jury or to trial.

BTW, the prosecution wanted one million for the bond amount.

Just awful. His family must be well connected, that seems to protect you from anything these days.

I still can’t get over the police cam after he found out she was dead. It was like he was treating the cops like his servants or something - ”oh have to get coffee and take a shower”. He’s ridiculously entitled.

IMHOO

 

[LittleSeaTree]

You’re being too generous…I would call him murderer.
MOO

Definitely….he wears a lot of bad hats!

 

[Charlot123]

Kimberly Ortiz

Ballotpedia: The Encyclopedia of American Politics

ballotpedia.org

People need to remember that Judge Ortiz let Christopher Scholtes go on vacation to Hawaii, after murder 1 charges were filed by a Grand Jury.

I hope everyone is asking himself the same question.

 

[New Penny]

Well, let's hope so. Unfortunately, our system tends to be lenient with things like homicide and accomplices to homicide *only* when it happens to innocent children.

This disaster could have been foreseen LONG before it finally happened, it was clearly almost a given that it would, and interventions should have been made long looong before he was given so very many opportunities to murder helpless children by habitually roasting them in hot cars then driving them while drunk. ~I'd love to know if he has a history of gaming while driving too.

I seriously do not think I can bear watching his trial if his accomplice is there showing sympathy while seeing every detail of the preponderance of evidence that he was a walking talking drunk homicidal addict.

How close did those kids get to death how many times that ended just short of their deaths and do the 3 survivors have any lasting permanent physical damage from their routine abuse? We already know they will have permanent emotional damage from both parents' willful abuse and neglect.

Roast him, jurors, please.

Yes, this!

“That’s how he made my baby sister die” will be in my mind for a long time.

 

[mickey2942]

Just awful. His family must be well connected, that seems to protect you from anything these days.

I still can’t get over the police cam after he found out she was dead. It was like he was treating the cops like his servants or something - ”oh have to get coffee and take a shower”. He’s ridiculously entitled.

IMHOO

Yes. I really can't wait for the trial. I have no doubt that the prosecution has several surprises for CS. The "P@rn" may be the least of his problems.

The defense got too easy of a win on this...which makes me sure that there are several other "Easter Eggs" in the discovery pile.

 

[AnyNameIWish]

So the fact "dad" was watching prøn cannot be admitted in court, right? And we have no idea how and if the older siblings statement will he admitted in court. So far this is the family that asked for him to be able to go on a tropical vacation after his arrest??? And it was GRANTED??? Jfc.

The decision making skills of this dad has to be hugely questioned and if you don't then how in the WORLD is anyone leaving him in charge of anything but a Pet Rock? Stealing beers from the gas station? At least it's not addiction to coke? What??? I hope the jury gets to see EVERYTHING cuz if not it's just going to become "woe is me".

 

[BrownRice]

A few days ago, someone posted that the family home was now a rental with a LLC managing it (I believe owned by Erika). And they biught a million dollar home in Phoenix. A couple hrs away from Marana.

Assume there’s legal reasons this was done? I just found it interesting because you’d think they’d need to save their $ for a defense fund.

 

[mickey2942]

A few days ago, someone posted that the family home was now a rental with a LLC managing it (I believe owned by Erika). And they biught a million dollar home in Phoenix. A couple hrs away from Marana.

Assume there’s legal reasons this was done? I just found it interesting because you’d think they’d need to save their $ for a defense fund.

MOO is that the client has minimized the criminal behavior to an "accident", and has been counting on a quick plea deal.

As evidenced by the attorney of record, who may be a cheap choice for DUI cases, but not this one.

I think that the family has researched cases like this, and figured it was a "done deal". Pay a fine and move on. I don't think that they are in any way prepared for a murder trial next week.

 

[tlcya]

A few days ago, someone posted that the family home was now a rental with a LLC managing it (I believe owned by Erika). And they biught a million dollar home in Phoenix. A couple hrs away from Marana.

Assume there’s legal reasons this was done? I just found it interesting because you’d think they’d need to save their $ for a defense fund.

restructuring assets at this point is an interesting choice.

 

[mickey2942]

restructuring assets at this point is an interesting choice.

Maybe a divorce attorney suggested this action

 

[tlcya]

Maybe a divorce attorney suggested this action

do you think she suddenly developed a maternal instinct such that she will finally divorce her manchild? I don't. I suspect this is very much a last ditch effort to engage in asset protection, just puzzled over what she is protecting them from. JMO

 

[abyquinn]

Maybe he is waiting until the very last minute. We have seen this with other trials that were a "Slam Dunk".

Two I remember, the defendant pled guilty morning of trial.

Jaime Komoroski. And I can't remember the other one right now. Waited for the last minute before trial started...

I’ve thought and said all along he would accept their plea at the last minute to stay out of prison for as long as possible. Had he gone with a guilty plea he wouldn’t have been around to take the Hawaiian vacation, move to their new home, set the girls up in their new school and close the door on the short two years Parker lived in their home in Marana.

What he didn’t count on was the state saying ‘Sorry guy, we gave you a chance to do the right thing and you felt that you could do better! Go for it!’

 

[ChatteringBirds]

Maybe it’s a good thing the judge removed the p -rn searches. Less chance for appeal (shades of Justin Harris).

I was thinking of that case too. So it's for the best.

found several insightful interviews on CourtTv, one was with three defense attorneys, not one agreed CS should face a jury or to trial.

What were the defense attorneys on CourtTv saying? They think this particular case is not a crime, why?

suspect this is very much a last ditch effort to engage in asset protection, just puzzled over what she is protecting them from.

Maybe they are trying to protect assets from attorneys' fees? Or in preparation to declare bankruptcy "but you get to keep your house." And keep the rental, too, because it's owned by the LLC!

My speculation/opinions only.

 

[abyquinn]

do you think she suddenly developed a maternal instinct such that she will finally divorce her manchild? I don't. I suspect this is very much a last ditch effort to engage in asset protection, just puzzled over what she is protecting them from. JMO

I think she is protecting assets and her kids. Whether it’s her idea, their attorney or a therapists IDK. I know ppl were & are talking about this here in Tucson, I’m not sure if he is as infamous in Phoenix. Their neighbors in Marana spoke with reporters saying they wouldn’t let Christopher supervise their kids due to things they’d observed and others called the police after Parker’s death, to share things they’d seen or knew about him. This was in early reports posted here.

It’s hard enough on those kids to lose their baby sister after already losing their older sister. Now they are going to lose their primary parent. We know he’s incompetent but they only know he’s “dad”.

 

[scapa]

When it comes to the safety of children, I cannot get on board with throwing hands in the air and doing nothing. Walk away, yes - but, I'm taking the kids with me. ES had the financial means to battle for full custody in court. I get that it can be an uphill battle, but we do what we have to do.

100% JMO

Agree absolutely -- just trying to make sense of why CS's leash seems to have been so long for so long with family, courts, etc.

I am a doctor. The first years can be particularly intense and exhausting (and it goes on being exhausting, at least where I am). I am also a parent. Early career challenges and ongoing demands are not an excuse for the lack of action taken here, and obviously do not explain "lead parent" CS's seeming total indifference to basic child welfare, let alone well-being.

I'm amazed anyone got fed, clothed, changed, bathed, or anywhere safely with him in charge.