Arizona Parents Charged After 5-Year-Old Son Is Found Unresponsive in Hot Car During Family Celebration

Theo Sabo, 5, died in a hot car in Arizona while his family hosted a party on Sunday.GoFundMe

A family celebration in Peoria, Arizona, ended in tragedy after a 5-year-old boy was found unresponsive inside a vehicle nearly three hours after his family returned home from church.

Theo Sabo was rushed to a nearby hospital on Sunday, September 13, but was later pronounced dead. His parents, Mihail Sabo, 50, and Anca Sabo, 45, were subsequently arrested on suspicion of negligent homicide and child abuse.

Authorities are investigating how Theo remained inside the vehicle while dozens of relatives and friends gathered at the family’s home. The accounts provided about who was supposed to bring him inside have also become a central issue in the case.

Family returned home after a baptism

During a hearing in Maricopa County Superior Court Monday, Anca wept and pleaded to see her children.Maricopa County Superior Court

The Sabo family arrived at their Peoria residence at approximately 1 p.m. after attending another child’s baptism at church.

A large gathering was being held at the house, with reports indicating that around 50 friends and relatives were present. Theo was reportedly asleep when the family arrived.

At approximately 3:46 p.m., family members realized the boy was missing and began searching for him. His mother eventually found him unresponsive inside the family vehicle.

Relatives removed Theo from the car and began performing CPR before police and emergency crews arrived. He was transported to a hospital, where he was pronounced dead.

Temperatures in the Phoenix area reached approximately 105 degrees that afternoon, according to the National Weather Service. Police have not publicly released Theo’s official cause of death, and court documents related to the arrests remain sealed. The investigation is continuing. (KJZZ, Arizona Republic)

Conflicting accounts emerge over who was responsible

The couple were hosting a party at their Peoria, Arizona home Sunday while Theo was left in their car for over 2.5 hours.Anca Sabo / Facebook

Initial information suggests that a breakdown in communication may have contributed to Theo being left in the vehicle.

Peoria police spokesperson William Kennedy said it appeared there had been confusion over which family member was supposed to bring the child inside.

During the parents’ court hearings, defense attorney Leah Dodd said Anca believed her husband would retrieve Theo. Mihail, in turn, reportedly told investigators that he had instructed the couple’s 14-year-old son to get the boy out of the car.

The teenager, however, reportedly said he did not remember receiving that instruction.

Dodd argued that asking a 14-year-old to help a younger sibling was not inherently unreasonable, particularly amid the activity surrounding the gathering. She described Theo’s death as a devastating accident rather than conduct warranting criminal charges.

Prosecutors emphasized that Theo’s parents did not know where he was for more than two and a half hours.

Mother breaks down during court appearance

Anca was seen clutching her chest throughout the court hearing while weeping loudly.GoFundMe

Mihail and Anca appeared separately before a judge in Maricopa County Superior Court on Monday.

Anca cried throughout much of her hearing and was seen clutching her chest. At one point, she pleaded with the judge to allow her to see her four surviving children, who are 18, 15, 14 and 9 years old.

“I want to see my kids. Please let me see my kids,” she said.

Dodd told the court that Anca called 911, participated in efforts to revive Theo and answered investigators’ questions. The attorney said neither parent attempted to flee or avoid cooperating with authorities.

Mihail appeared immediately after his wife and remained largely silent, frequently looking downward during the proceedings.

The couple have been married for nearly 20 years and have lived in Arizona since 2011, according to their attorney.

Parents each receive $150,000 bond

Mihail, however, appeared defeated and hung his head low during his court hearing.Maricopa County Superior Court

A judge found probable cause for the cases to proceed and set a secured appearance bond of $150,000 for each parent.

Mihail and Anca were designated co-defendants and ordered not to communicate with each other. They are permitted to have supervised contact with their other children.

The defense maintained that the negligent homicide and child abuse allegations were not appropriate, calling the case an “unimaginable tragedy.”

Prosecutors have not publicly provided the complete evidence supporting the charges. Because the relevant arrest documents remain sealed, several important details—including the precise sequence of decisions made after the family reached the house—have not been released.

Both charges are allegations, and Mihail and Anca have not been convicted.

Community remembers Theo

Temperatures in Peoria, Arizona reached a scorching 106 Farenheit the day Theo was left in the car.GoFundMe

An online fundraiser created for the Sabo family described Theo as a deeply loved child whose life would not be forgotten.

“Theo was deeply loved, and his precious life will never be forgotten,” the tribute read. It also thanked those offering prayers and support to the family as they grieve.

Mihail and Anca are scheduled to return to court on September 21.

The Maricopa County Attorney’s Office has declined to comment while the cases remain active. Peoria police continue to investigate the circumstances surrounding Theo’s death, including the conflicting accounts of who was expected to bring him inside from the vehicle.