Shocking Video Shows Dad Hysterical After Allegedly Killing Daughter in Hot Car

Summary

Christopher Schultz is devastated when his 2-year-old daughter, Parker, is found unresponsive in a hot car in their driveway. Initially claiming he left her there briefly with the AC on, police later allege she was there for hours based on security footage. Despite his distraught state, Schultz is arrested and charged with child abuse and second-degree murder, later upgraded to first-degree murder by a grand jury. The case highlights the tragic consequences of parental distraction and the legal implications of such oversights.

Takeaways

• 🚨 Christopher Schultz's daughter, Parker, was tragically found unresponsive in a hot car in their driveway.
• 🏠 The incident occurred in Morana, Arizona, where temperatures can be extremely high, especially in July.
• 🚔 Christopher initially claimed he had left the car's air conditioning on and had checked on Parker, which was later disputed.
• 🆘 The 911 call captured the family's distress, with Christopher's wife, Erica, performing CPR upon discovering Parker.
• 👮‍♂️ Police later accused Christopher of not telling the truth about checking on Parker, suggesting he was distracted by video games and food.
• 🎥 Security footage was mentioned as evidence that contradicted Christopher's timeline of events.
• 📱 Text messages between Christopher and his wife indicated a history of leaving the children in the car, contrary to his claims.
• 🔍 The police treated the scene as a crime, preventing Christopher from showering for fear of tampering with evidence.
• 🔗 Christopher Schultz was arrested and charged with child abuse and second-degree murder, later upgraded to first-degree murder.
• 🏥 The tragic incident unfolded with the family rushing to the hospital, unaware of the severity of Parker's condition.
• 📉 Christopher's recollection of events and the timeline was critical and became a focal point of the investigation.

Q & A

What was the initial distress call about?

The initial distress call was about a 2-year-old girl, Parker, who was found unresponsive in a hot car in their driveway by her mother, Erica Schultz.

Who is Christopher Schultz?

Christopher Schultz is the father of Parker, the 2-year-old girl found in the car. He was distraught when his wife found their daughter in the car.

What was the condition of Parker when she was found?

Parker was found unresponsive and not breathing when her mother checked on her in the car.

What was Christopher Schultz's claim about checking on Parker?

Christopher Schultz claimed that he had left Parker in the car with the air conditioning on and that he had checked on her, but the police later disputed this claim.

How did the police respond to the emergency?

The police responded by having Erica perform CPR and later had EMTs attempt to save Parker, with Christopher pacing in the background.

What was the significance of the body camera footage?

The body camera footage showed Christopher Schulz's behavior during the emergency, including him pacing with his hands around his head, which could be indicative of his distress.

What was Christopher Schultz's explanation for parking the car in the driveway?

He explained that he usually parks in the garage, but a recently acquired Peloton bike was occupying the space, so he parked in the driveway instead.

How long did Christopher Schultz estimate Parker was in the car?

He estimated no more than 30 to 45 minutes, but security video later showed she was in the car for three hours.

What was the outcome of the first responder's efforts?

Despite CPR efforts, the first responders were unable to revive Parker, and she was very hot to the touch, indicating she had been in the car for an extended period.

What was the police's reason for treating the scene as a crime scene?

Any death has to be treated like a crime scene until it can be determined otherwise, to preserve potential evidence.

What charges were Christopher Schultz facing?

Christopher Schultz was charged with child abuse and second-degree murder, which was later upgraded to a first-degree murder charge by a grand jury.

What was the content of the text message between Christopher Schultz and his wife?

The text message indicated that Erica had previously warned Christopher about leaving their children in the car, to which he apologized and later expressed regret over Parker's death.

Outlines

00:00

🚔 Tragedy in Tucson: The 911 Call

Christopher Schultz is in distress after his wife finds their daughter, Parker, unresponsive in a hot car in their driveway. The incident took place in Morana, Arizona. The family had returned home hours earlier, and Christopher had left Parker in her car seat. The situation unfolds with a 911 call where Erica, Christopher's wife, reports the incident. The call is frantic, with instructions being given to perform CPR on the unresponsive child. Police later dispute Christopher's claim that he had checked on Parker, suggesting a cover-up. The body camera footage reveals Christopher pacing, seemingly distraught, as first responders and EMTs attempt to save the child. The tragedy is highlighted with a public service announcement about the importance of legal representation following accidents, with a sponsorship by Morgan and Morgan law firm.

05:01

🏠 The Aftermath: Police Response and Family Dynamics

Following the incident, Christopher Schultz is kept at the family home by the police while his wife, Erica, is escorted to the hospital. The police assure Christopher that arrangements will be made for him to join her. Christopher is in shock, and there's a moment of tension when he is told to wait before going to the hospital. He recounts the day's events, explaining that he had left Parker in the car with the air conditioning on, believing she was safe. He mentions a car sensor that turns off the AC if the car hasn't moved in 30 minutes, and he insists that he had checked on Parker earlier. The police inform Christopher that they must treat the scene as a crime scene, which restricts his actions, including showering, to preserve potential evidence.

10:05

🚨 Investigation and Accusations

Christopher Schultz is informed that his actions are being treated as a crime scene, which means he cannot shower or leave the house. The police explain that any death must be investigated as a potential crime. Christopher is frustrated but cooperates. He is reminded of his dogs being outside and is concerned about them in the heat. The police continue their investigation, and Christopher is later arrested and charged with child abuse and second-degree murder. The charges are based on evidence including security footage and statements from his other daughters, who claimed he had left them in the car before. The narrative includes a text message exchange between Christopher and his wife where he admits fault.

15:06

📖 Legal Proceedings and Public Indictment

Christopher Schultz is taken into custody and informed of the charges against him. The police explain the process that will follow, including an initial court appearance and the involvement of attorneys and the county prosecutor. The original complaint includes a text message from Christopher's wife, expressing her frustration at his actions. The grand jury indicts Christopher on a first-degree murder charge and child abuse. He pleads not guilty to both charges. The episode concludes with the host, Anette Levy, thanking viewers for watching and promising to return for the next episode of 'Crime Fix'.

Keywords

💡Murderer

A murderer is someone who unlawfully and intentionally kills another human being. In the context of the video, Christopher Schultz is being treated like a murderer due to the tragic death of his daughter, Parker, who was found unresponsive in a hot car. The term is significant as it sets the tone for the legal and emotional turmoil Christopher is facing, suggesting he may be held responsible for his daughter's death.

💡911 Call

A 911 call is an emergency call to the authorities in the United States. In the video, Christopher Schultz's wife makes a 911 call after finding their daughter unresponsive in the car. This keyword is crucial as it marks the beginning of the emergency response and investigation into the incident, highlighting the urgency and distress of the situation.

💡CPR

CPR stands for Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation, a first aid technique used to manually preserve intact brain function until further measures are taken to restore spontaneous blood circulation in a person who is in cardiac arrest. The script mentions CPR being performed on Parker, indicating the severity of her condition and the desperate measures taken to save her life.

💡Distraught

Distraught describes a state of being extremely upset and agitated. Christopher Schultz is described as distraught after the discovery of his daughter, which illustrates the emotional turmoil and panic he is experiencing. This keyword helps to convey the raw emotions and the gravity of the situation to the audience.

💡First Responders

First responders are emergency personnel who are among the first to arrive at the scene of an accident or disaster. In the video, first responders are mentioned as being on the scene, which is critical in establishing the immediacy of the emergency and the professional response to the incident involving Parker.

💡Body Camera Footage

Body camera footage refers to video recordings captured by a camera worn by a police officer. The script mentions body camera footage being blurry, indicating the chaotic nature of the scene and providing a sense of realism to the narrative. It also suggests the potential use of this footage as evidence in the investigation.

💡Child Abuse

Child abuse is the physical, emotional, or sexual mistreatment or neglect of a child. In the video, Christopher Schultz is charged with child abuse, suggesting that the authorities believe his actions, or lack thereof, contributed to the harm of his child. This keyword is significant as it frames the legal implications of the incident.

💡Second Degree Murder

Second degree murder is a legal term referring to a homicide that is not premeditated or planned but is committed with intent to cause serious bodily harm. The script mentions Christopher Schultz being charged with second degree murder, indicating the severity of the crime he is accused of and the potential legal consequences.

💡Indictment

An indictment is the process of charging someone with a crime. In the video, Christopher Schultz is indicted on a first-degree murder charge, which is an upgrade from the initial charge. This keyword is important as it signifies the formal accusation and the progression of the legal process against him.

💡Plea

A plea in a legal context refers to the defendant's answer to a criminal charge. Christopher Schultz pleads not guilty to the charges, which is a critical step in the legal process. This keyword is important as it sets the stage for the forthcoming legal battle and his defense strategy.

💡Distraction

Distraction refers to a state of being diverted from one's usual or expected attention. The script suggests that Christopher Schultz became distracted, which may have contributed to the tragic incident. This keyword is significant as it implies a possible explanation for how the father failed to notice his daughter's perilous situation.

Highlights

Christopher Schultz's daughter, Parker, was found unresponsive in a hot car in their driveway.

Christopher Schultz's wife, Erica, an anesthesiologist, called 911 after finding their daughter in the car.

911 call reveals the urgency and distress as Erica reports their daughter is not breathing.

Body camera footage captures Christopher Schultz pacing and distraught in the background.

Christopher Schultz claimed he left the car's AC on when he left Parker in the car.

Police later disputed Schultz's claim that he checked on Parker, stating it was not true.

Erica Schultz performed CPR, but it was too late to save their daughter.

Christopher Schultz's statement to the police about the car's AC and the duration Parker was left in the car.

Christopher Schultz was prevented from showering as the scene was treated like a crime scene.

Christopher Schultz was arrested and charged with child abuse and second-degree murder.

Schultz's wife allegedly sent a text message reminding him of previous warnings about leaving the children in the car.

Christopher Schultz responded to his wife's text with remorse, apologizing and expressing disbelief.

The grand jury indicted Christopher Schultz on a first-degree murder charge and child abuse.

Christopher Schultz pleaded not guilty to both charges.

The case highlights the tragic consequences of leaving children unattended in vehicles.

The episode of Crime Fix provides a detailed account of the events leading to the tragic incident.

The investigation's findings and the legal proceedings are thoroughly discussed in the episode.

Transcripts

so I'm being treated like a murderer no

I just lost my not at all that's

Christopher Schultz right after his

daughter Parker was found in a hot car

in their driveway we have the footage

and what schultes told 911 and

detectives that day last month welcome

to Crime fix I'm Anette Levy Christopher

schultes was distraught when his wife

came home from work on July 9th and

found their daughter in a car in their

driveway in Morana Arizona just outside

of Tucson Parker was only 2 years old

and schultes had left the little girl in

her car seat after returning home hours

earlier Christopher schultes and his

wife Erica Schultz she's actually an

anesthesiologist called 911 after Erica

returned home and asked where Parker was

and she wasn't in the house what are you

reporting she was in the car sleeping

she's

unresponsive okay and who is she please

please my daughter my daughter

please please

please and this was out in the

driveway

yes is she still breathing no she's not

breathing right now okay we need to

start CPR right now yes we are we're CPR

yes oh my God oh my God how long has it

been half

hour you have it was but but it turns

off I've been checking my

God okay is she breathing yet is she

breeding no police would later say that

Christopher schulz's claim that he

checked on Parker was not true Erica

schultes tried to revive Parker by

performing CPR EMTs also tried to save

her as Christopher stood by anything

anything my God the body camera footage

is blurry at many points but you can see

Christopher Schulz pacing in the

background his hands around his

head what's going on why why are you

with me because we were First Responders

and we were on scene and time call

us anything like this happens they call

us Christopher schules then talks about

his car it's parked in the driveway he

said he left Parker in it with the AC on

just as he claimed in that 911 call the

AC was on

what car is it you guys all hear for my

MDX one parked driveway the black one

okay the blue no

blue are you guys here for

me we want to do everything we can

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crifix now Christopher Schulz is clearly

upset and worried what parent wouldn't

be there's no other way to put it he's

distraught and freaking out schelter

submits to leaving Parker in the car and

it was hot outside this is Arizona in

July EMTs took Parker out of the home

but Christopher schulz's wife Erica she

simply knew it was too late I she's

she's dead like I need to be with her oh

my God my

no

no she

dead sir

oh my God oh my

God they going to

Northwest yeah they're going to Banner

right now we're going to keep you

updated with everything okay we just

need to stand by with you right now all

right is that your wife out there yes

okay we're going to make sure she gets

down there okay all right we have

officers escorting her down there um if

we need to we will drive her down there

and we'll make the same accommodations

for you all

right we'll keep you updated with

everything they have Christopher

schultes remained in the family's home

and officers stayed with him

number thank you

now as you saw Christopher shus got a

glass of water and stood there somewhat

in shock then his wife called him and

told him that she wanted him to come to

the hospital

she wants me to try and get a ride to

the hospital hey we will we'll

accommodate that for you all right um

we're just going to need to get a

statement from you about what happened

what's been going

on obviously I know this isn't easy for

you okay it's not easy for anyone around

right now we're going to keep you

updated with everything we

hear do you want to sit down somewhere

where would you be most comfortable sure

like

you want me to refill this for

you TR said is that all right it's fine

what what happened

today we went to go uh back around and

we

um stop we didn't stop we just came home

my daughters were at Elevate with uh my

friend next door they got home about

about uh

245 or

so and

then

um we've just been hanging out at home

she was sleeping in the car and I had

the car

on um but it has a sensor where every 30

minutes or so it'll turn off if haven't

moved um I swore she was in the house

playing with her sisters like she always

always does just been right now haven't

been doing anything else really on the

house

and just fucking

like what's we never do this anywhere

but I'm the home right like you're

you're you're home you're safe you're

like your kids are home Schultis then

explained why he parked in the driveway

and how long Parker was in the car I'm

I'm sorry this is all going on we always

Park that car in the garage usually but

I just got a pelaton recently and the

pelaton is in the garage now so that's

why it's not even in the garage but and

how long was she sleeping in the car out

there I want to say it was no more than

30 45 minutes and I don't think their

air was off that entire time I think

there was a time in between I checked on

her last it was still running she was

still sleeping and then when I went back

out the car was off that statement from

Christopher schules will become

important later according to police and

prosecutors because they say Parker was

in the car far longer than 30 to 45

minutes and that home security video

proves that Parker was actually in the

car for three hours after Christopher

schultes gave a statement to the officer

a first responder told him about how

they tried to help Parker we weren't

able to change anything for her she

wasn't BR it on on we didn't have a CSE

so we contined the CPR and and in order

to try to

to to regain that uh I don't know what

that's going to look like from this

point okay as you know she's very she's

very hot right now and we're going to do

everything we can to to mitigate that so

with that said I have some folks that

are coming by they're with the fire

department and they're going to help you

walk through some of the things now I

understand that you're wiing it with her

correct okay so uh you know and we have

some other folks that are going to her

over there as well okay so uh along with

law enforcement and uh and our community

Assistance uh people you know they'll

they'll walk through some of the things

get you ready to go uh down to the to

the hospital

okay

baby I'm very sorry for this this is not

something we ever plan

for Chris do you have any questions

oh my God after this schulas is reminded

that his dogs are actually still outside

remember it's Arizona and it's jly and

it's hot and he needs to get ready to go

to the hospital to meet his wife Chris

your your dogs are they uh usually

outside dogs no I just put them out for

you guys goad and get those inside shus

then prepares to get to go to the

hospital but it didn't go as he had

planned just to let you know I don't I

don't want to feel like we're intruding

but we're going to have to stand by with

you for a while all right um is there a

reason why so any any death we have to

treat like a crime

scene it I I know this is extremely

difficult for you um this is a normal

process that that we have to follow

through with I don't want you to be

blindsided by anything

but that's that's what's going to be

going on for right now okay so I'm being

treated like a murderer no I just lost

my not at all I know that and I know

this isn't easy for you that's that's

why I'm trying to be straightforward and

honest with you okay I don't want to

keep any secrets I don't want to hide

anything for you someone's going to talk

to you about what happened though all

right we will keep you updated with

everything

my whole family my my whole family is

going to be

[Music]

ruined shower so we we can't let you do

that right now we have to stand by with

you okay as soon as you can we will let

you know you stay in the room if you

want but I'm going

to I know this isn't easy for you but

the quicker we get this done and finish

up the sooner you can be with your wife

all right I'm trying I'm trying so I can

go to the hospital be with my wife we're

not going to shower anything right now

you need to stand by with us I don't

understand why okay just to explain the

officers are treating this like a crime

scene so they can't let Christopher

Schultz shower because at this point

they really don't know what they're

dealing with they can't let him possibly

wash away evidence of a crime and he is

not happy that he cannot shower please I

don't understand

why I I tried explaining that to you we

just need to stand by I'm standing by

why can't I take a shower while you

stand by what what is it's it's not

necessary right now I'm not going to

stand here and watch you shower there'll

be time for that but it's not right now

okay the officers stay with schultes but

he wants to go to the hospital but they

don't let him leave I go with you guys

can we leave now about right now what

the delay is what's the delay so we're

waiting on some of our detective to go

right

now um for me and they've been here

at one point in the video you can hear

one of the officers tell another officer

about what Schulz told him about leaving

Parker in the car shus later tells the

detective what happened oh I got to get

home because the girls are going to

probably head back

soon so we got home and girls weren't

home yet but uh baby was sleeping in the

car and so I had uh taken some stuff

inside and I had came back out and the

girls were there they had just pulled up

um and so they came inside and I checked

on the baby she was still

sleeping and then um came back

inside and that's where I just kind of

like I was I was I don't know thinking

that she was playing with her sisters I

think the me coming home and thinking

that you know the girls were going to be

home so I got to like come back in and

out kind of thing I don't know what like

caus me to to do it but you know I just

we're at home like you think when you're

at home with your kids like you're safe

right now you heard schulta say that he

had checked on Parker and the last time

he had done so was around 2:30 that

afternoon his wife arrived home around

4: and then had you done anything like

this before where you just let her sleep

in the car or anything like that no

that's normally I mean I have the girls

with me usually and their girls are

always you know good about like Dad get

the baby you know like we walk to one

side together um but yeah the only time

they whatever happened would be like at

home in the driveway kind of thing

schules told the detective he thought

Parker was in the house with his other

children but police say his other

daughters told detectives that he became

distracted by his food in playing a

video game and that he had left the kids

in the car 59 times before Schultis was

arrested and charged with child abuse

and second deegree murder 3 days later

so remember how we talked about the

investigation and things that would

transpire okay and I told you I'm always

going to tell you guys the truth there's

no and there's no secrets here right so

based off of our investigation at this

point right we have determined that

there's proba costs to go ahead and

charge you for what happened

okay come out

Christopher it's okay it's okay no okay

so listen listen listen this doesn't

change this doesn't change what what's

going on okay

what happens at this point it's simple

okay what happens at this point is you

are going to be taken in custody all

right and you will be booked and then

after you are booked you have an initial

appearance with the judge within the

first 24 hours okay after the first 24

hours right the judge will determine

Bond and things like that as far as what

happens next at that point the case goes

to the courts it'll be between you it'll

be between your attorney

and it'll be between the County

prosecutor so again I can't change the

consequences of what happened all right

but what I what I'm going to ask of

you okay can I just have you stand up

for me please come on Chris let's let's

go out here can you grab him some shoes

please come Christopher it's okay it's

okay it's okay it's

okay the original complaint charging SCH

with second deegree murder showed

schulz's wife sent a text message to him

as Parker was being taken to the

hospital it said I told you to stop

leaving them in the car how many times

have I told you and Schultis responded

babe I'm sorry his wife responded we've

lost her she was perfect shelus then

responded babe our family how could I do

this I killed our baby this can't be

real but the detective actually asked

shelus about whether he regularly left

the children in the car this is what he

said

okay and again just for confirmation

this is not something that you've done

before you know the kids just been left

in the vehicle all R anything like that

no we're at home what what would be the

reason for me the grand jury later met

an indicted Christopher schultes on a

first-degree murder charge and child

abuse so they upgraded the charge he has

pleaded not guilty to both charges and

that's it for this episode of crime fix

I'm me and Janette leevy thanks so much

for being with me I'll see you back here

next time