On July 9, 2024, a tragic incident occurred in Marana, Arizona involving the death of a young girl left in a hot car. The father, identified as 37-year-old Christopher Scholtes, arrived home with the child still asleep in the car. He claimed to have left the vehicle running with air conditioning on for his daughter while he went inside his house. However, when he returned outside a short while later, he found the car shut off and his daughter unresponsive inside. The child was rushed to a nearby hospital but could not be revived.
The incident came to light when Scholtes' wife arrived home and asked where their daughter was. Upon being informed by her husband, she joined him in checking the vehicle, only for them to discover their daughter unresponsive inside. They immediately called 911 and attempted to resuscitate the child before emergency responders arrived on scene.
The car involved in this incident was a 2023 Acura MDX, which automatically shuts off after 20 minutes if the door is opened, the vehicle is in park, and the driver's seatbelt is not buckled. However, authorities have not yet revealed how or when exactly the car's engine and air conditioning shut off.
Following an investigation by Marana Police Department and interviews with Scholtes as well as witnesses, it was determined that the child had been left in the vehicle for approximately three hours during which temperatures reached a scorching 111 degrees. The exact timeline of events provided by Scholtes did not match security footage from a neighbor's house.
Christopher Scholtes was arrested and charged with second-degree murder and child abuse on July 12, 2024. He is currently being held at the Pima County Adult Detention Center. The Marana Police Department has reminded the public about the dangers of leaving children unattended in vehicles, especially during hot weather conditions.
According to KidsAndCars.org, at least 10 children have died in hot cars in the US so far this year. Since 1990, at least 1,094 children have died due to being left in hot cars with about 88% of those kids being three years old or younger. The organization advises parents and caregivers to always be vigilant when leaving children in vehicles and follow certain safety precautions such as checking the back seat before exiting the car, using reminders like a stuffed animal or a phone app, and never leaving infants or young children in the car even for short periods of time.
This tragic incident serves as a stark reminder about the dangers of leaving children unattended in vehicles and to always prioritize child safety. Parents and caregivers must be vigilant to prevent such incidents from occurring in the future.
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