Arizona Parents Charged After 5-Year-Old Dies Following Hours Inside Family Car

A family’s return home from a baptism celebration ended in tragedy after a 5-year-old boy was discovered unresponsive inside a vehicle — and investigators now believe a devastating breakdown in communication may have played a role.

Anca and Mihail Sabo, of Peoria, Arizona, have been charged with negligent homicide and child abuse following the death of their son. Both parents have pleaded not guilty, while their attorney maintains that what happened was a “tragic accident.”

At the center of the investigation is one critical question: who was supposed to make sure the child got out of the car?

Family Returned Home After Baptism Celebration

According to police, the family arrived home from church at approximately 1 p.m. on Sunday, Sept. 13, following a baptism celebration.

Nearly three hours later, at around 3:45 p.m., family members realized the 5-year-old was missing.

His mother eventually found him unresponsive inside a vehicle.

The boy was removed from the car before police arrived, and family members performed CPR. He was transported to a hospital, where he later died.

Police Point to a Possible Miscommunication

Investigators believe confusion among family members may have contributed to the child being left behind.

“It appears that it was a miscommunication between family members of who was actually going to get the child out of the car,” Peoria Police Officer William Kennedy said.

Prosecutors allege Anca asked her husband, Mihail, to remove their son from the vehicle.

However, the family’s attorney offered a different account, saying Mihail then asked the couple’s 14-year-old child to get the boy out of the car. According to the attorney, the teenager did not remember receiving that instruction.

That sequence of events is now a central part of the case.

Defense Calls It a ‘Tragic Accident’

Anca and Mihail appeared in court on Monday, Sept. 14.

Their attorney argued that negligent homicide and child abuse charges were inappropriate, describing the boy’s death as a tragic accident rather than intentional wrongdoing.

The defense also emphasized Anca’s actions after finding her son, saying she immediately called 911, attempted lifesaving measures and cooperated with detectives.

The criminal charges remain allegations, and the case has not yet been resolved.

Parents Released Under Strict Conditions

A judge set a $150,000 secured appearance bond for each parent.

Both were subsequently released on bond but were ordered not to have contact with each other.

They may have contact with their four other children only under the supervision of the Department of Child Safety or another approved responsible adult.

The investigation remains ongoing as authorities continue examining how a routine return home from a family celebration ended with a 5-year-old unknowingly left inside the vehicle — and whether the alleged chain of miscommunication amounts to criminal negligence.