Bodycam footage shows the moment Christopher Scholtes falls to the ground and asks a probing question as police arrest him for the death of his daughter.
Two-year-old Parker Scholtes tragically died on July 9 after her father left her in a hot car at their home in Arizona, USA.
It is believed that the toddler may have been left in the vehicle for up to three hours on the day in question, when temperatures rose to 42°C.
The father of three was reportedly playing on his PlayStation inside while Parker was still in the car.
He left her there because the two-year-old was asleep when they got home from shopping and Christopher “didn’t want to wake her.”
Following the investigation into Parker’s heartbreaking death, Christopher was arrested in connection with this and initially charged with premeditated murder.
In recent days, however, the charge was increased to premeditated murder, with the 37-year-old pleading not guilty.
Bodycam footage from the moment of Christopher’s arrest was recently released.
Christopher Scholtes has since been arrested and charged. (Pima County Sheriff’s Office)
In the harrowing footage, the grieving father falls to his knees and repeatedly says “no” as one of the officers explains to him what is happening.
Eventually they help Christopher to his feet, while an officer explains to him: “The reason I am here and meeting you in person is because I do not want this to go beyond what is absolutely necessary.”
“I don’t want the children to see Dad being taken away,” he added.
Christopher, overwhelmed by his emotions, continued to ask, “Will I be at my baby’s funeral?”
The officer then replied that the answer to that was “between (Christopher) and the court.”
Christopher’s wife Erika Scholtes is also there and before he was taken away by the police, she told him her love and gave him a kiss.
“Chris, I’ll be here to take care of everything,” she reassured her husband.
Christopher appeared in Pima County Superior Court on Thursday (August 8), where he pleaded not guilty and guilty to first-degree murder.
A few days earlier, a grand jury had indicted him and increased the charges to first degree.
Part of the incident, according to KGUN 9, reads: “On or about July 9, 2024, under circumstances likely to result in death or serious bodily injury, Christopher Scholtes committed child abuse by intentionally or knowingly (redacted) inflicting bodily injury on a minor under the age of fifteen… by leaving (redacted) unattended in the vehicle.”
