Christopher Scholtes runs errands, then heads inside once he's home just before 1 p.m. 

He leaves his 2-year-old daughter, Parker, in the running car in the driveway with the air conditioner on Scholtes has a habit of leaving the children in the car alone and knows from previous experience his Acura MDX will automatically shut off the engine and air conditioner after 30 minutes.  

Wife, Dr Erika Scholtes arrives home around 4pm and sees husband Chris and their two older daughters ages 9 and 5, but doesn't see Parker. Chris begins looking in all the rooms of the house, then suddenly runs outside. The outside temperature is 109 degrees when 2-year-old Parker is removed from the vehicle unresponsive, strapped in her child restraint system  

Chris Scholtes calls 911 as Dr Erika Scholtes performs CPR on her daughter.   Parker is transported to the same hospital her mother works as an anesthesiologist, Banner University Medical Center. 

At 4:58 p.m. Parker is pronounced dead. Christopher Scholtes is charged with child abuse and second degree murder.

6 months before his trial is to start, Scholtes is offered a plea deal from prosecutors that would require him to plead guilty to second-degree murder, but he would be sentenced to no more than 10 years in prison. Scholtes turns it down.

Days before his trial is to start, a shocking announcement, Scholtes agrees to plead guilty.  The Pima County Attorney's office says he will face 20 to 30 years behind bars and is ineligible for parole. 

Joining Nancy Grace today:

• Josh Kolsrud - Criminal Defense Attorney and Former Assistant U.S. Attorney, Founder of Kolsrud Law Offices; Facebook and YouTube @KolsrudLawOffices  
• Dr. Bethany Marshall -  Psychoanalyst, Author: "Deal Breaker," and featured in hit show "Paris in Love" on Peacock; Instagram & TikTok: drbethanymarshall, X: @DrBethanyLive  
• Chris McDonough – Director at the Cold Case Foundation, Former Homicide Detective; Host of YouTube channel: “The Interview Room”
• Dr. Kendall Crowns  - Chief Medical Examiner Tarrant County (Ft Worth), NEW Podcast "Mayhem in the morgue" Lecturer: Burnett School of Medicine at TCU (Texas Christian University) 
• Erika Wurst - Public Safety Reporter for the Arizona Daily Star
• Dave Mack - Investigative Reporter, ‘Crime Stories’ 

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