Days before Christopher Scholtes, an Arizona resident found guilty of murder, ended his life, his estranged daughter filed a lawsuit against him.
Court filings reveal that on October 28, a 17-year-old daughter from a prior marriage initiated legal action against Scholtes and his spouse, Erica, in the Superior Court of Arizona, Maricopa County.
The teenager alleged that both individuals subjected her to ongoing physical, emotional, and psychological maltreatment, resulting in lasting trauma, including depression and anxiety.
“The plaintiff’s mistreatment was reported to the Arizona Department of Child Safety (“DCS”) on no less than nine occasions, yet DCS did not undertake any protective measures,” stated documents accessed by News 4 Tucson.
CrimeOnline previously highlighted that Scholtes admitted to murder charges linked to the death of his 2-year-old daughter, Parker. In 2024, Parker succumbed inside a sweltering vehicle stationed at the family’s Marana residence, while Scholtes was engrossed in video games and drinking beer indoors.
He was due at a Wednesday court session at the Pima County Superior Court to surrender, with sentencing set for November 21. However, he failed to appear, and authorities later discovered his body in a home, an apparent suicide.
The alleged abuse happened from 2016 to 2021, when the plaintiff lived with the Scholtes and his wife. During that time, according to the lawsuit, Scholtes “filed a fraudulent Conservatorship” and took control of the plaintiff’s finances.
Specifically, he’s accused of collecting government benefits and financial support in the plaintiff’s name. Erica Scholtes is accused of aiding, abetting, and/or benefiting from the proceeds.
In 2021, Scholtes lost custody and she returned to her birth mother. Her mother passed away in 2024, “compounding her trauma and loss,” court documents stated.
Lindsey Eisenberg, who became the teen’s guardian for a year, told DailyMail that Scholtes had called the teen a mistake, and that the plaintiff had endured both physical and sexual abuse.
Further, part of the abuse was routinely leaving the plaintiff inside a hot car when she was younger. The first time it happened, she was reportedly younger than 7.
Eisenberg added that the teen will continue with the lawsuit against Erica Scholtes, the mother of her two surviving half-sisters, and plans to fight for custody.
Meanwhile, the teen reportedly has mixed feelings about her father’s passing. According to Eisenberg, “she is more relieved and at peace than sad.”
Check back for updates.
[Feature Photo: Christopher and Parker Scholtes/Facebook]
