In a tragic incident, a man has been arrested on charges of murder in connection with the death of his 2-year-old daughter, who died after being pulled from a hot car earlier this week in Marana, Arizona. The suspect, identified as 37-year-old Christopher Scholtes, was apprehended on Friday morning and booked into the Pima County Adult Detention Center, as stated by the Marana police.

The incident occurred on Tuesday, July 9, when authorities received a distress call regarding an unresponsive child trapped inside a vehicle near Paseo Rancho Acero and Paytons Court. Emergency personnel swiftly arrived at the scene and transported the girl to a nearby hospital, where she was tragically pronounced dead.

According to the Marana police, Scholtes informed officers that he had returned home with his daughter, who was still asleep in her car seat. He allegedly decided not to disturb her and left her in the running vehicle with the air conditioner on while he went inside the house. Sadly, the girl's mother later discovered her unconscious daughter in the car, which was no longer running. She immediately called 911 and initiated CPR until first responders arrived.

Further investigation revealed that the child had been in the vehicle for approximately three hours, as indicated by surveillance video obtained from neighboring homes. The temperatures that day had exceeded 110 degrees, exacerbating the extreme danger of leaving a child unattended in a hot car. An Excessive Heat Warning had been issued for the area.

Christopher Scholtes now faces charges of second-degree murder and child abuse. The Marana Police Department released a statement emphasizing the importance of not leaving children unattended in vehicles, cautioning about the rapid increase in temperature even on relatively mild days. They urged all parents and caregivers to remain vigilant and take necessary precautions to ensure the safety of their children.

"This incident is a stark reminder of the dangers of leaving children unattended in vehicles. The temperature inside a vehicle can rise rapidly, even on relatively mild days, leading to potentially fatal outcomes within minutes," said the Marana Police Department in a news release about the arrest. "We urge all parents and caregivers to remain vigilant and take every precaution to ensure the safety of their children. The Marana Police Department and our entire community feel this heartbreaking loss, and our thoughts and prayers are with everyone affected by this tragic incident."