Overview

• A Tucson judge ruled prosecutors cannot present claims that Christopher Scholtes searched for pornography before his 2-year-old daughter was found in the car.
• The court will allow evidence and testimony about previous instances of children being left unattended in vehicles, including statements from the two surviving siblings.
• Scholtes is charged with first-degree murder and intentional child abuse in the July 2024 death of his daughter, Parker, and he has pleaded not guilty.
• Prosecutors allege he became distracted by video games and alcohol while the child was in the vehicle, which the medical examiner said reached 109 degrees inside.
• Text messages between Scholtes and his wife are part of the admissible evidence, and trial is scheduled to begin Oct. 27 in Pima County.