PEORIA, Arizona — Five-year-old Theo Sabo died after being found unresponsive inside his family’s vehicle in Peoria on Sunday afternoon, and his parents are now facing negligent homicide and child abuse charges as investigators examine how he remained in the car for nearly three hours.
The tragedy unfolded after the family returned home from another child’s baptism and began hosting a large gathering. Theo was later discovered inside the vehicle after relatives realized he was missing.
His parents, Mihail Sabo, 50, and Anca Sabo, 45, were arrested following the child’s death. The case has focused on an apparent breakdown in communication over who was supposed to bring Theo inside.
Family returned home after a baptism
Police said the family arrived at its Peoria home at around 1 p.m. after attending a baptism. Dozens of people were gathering at the home, and Theo was reportedly asleep when the family returned.
At about 3:56 p.m., the family realized the five-year-old was missing and began searching for him. Anca then found Theo unresponsive inside the vehicle.
Family members removed him and performed CPR before emergency crews arrived. Theo was transported to a nearby hospital, where he was pronounced dead.
The Phoenix area reached around 105°F that afternoon. Authorities have not publicly released the medical examiner’s final determination of Theo’s cause and manner of death.
Father and teenage son gave different accounts
A central issue in the investigation is what happened when the family arrived home.
According to defense attorney Leah Dodd, Mihail said he asked the family’s 14-year-old son to get Theo out of the vehicle. The teenager reportedly told investigators that he did not remember being asked to do so.
Prosecutors have focused on the length of time Theo remained in the vehicle and the parents’ responsibility for knowing where their young child was. The defense has characterized the incident as a tragic accident caused by miscommunication.
Parents face negligent homicide and child abuse charges
Mihail and Anca were each booked on allegations of negligent homicide and child abuse. The charges are allegations, and neither parent has been convicted.
Dodd told the court that Anca called 911, participated in efforts to save Theo and cooperated with detectives after he was found. The defense disputes that the circumstances justify criminal charges.
The couple have four other children, ages 18, 15, 14 and 9. Their attorney also said neither parent had a previous criminal record.
Judge sets $150,000 bond for each parent
A judge set a $150,000 secured appearance bond for each parent. Mihail and Anca were ordered not to have contact with each other while the cases proceed, although supervised contact with their other children is permitted.
The court proceedings will determine whether prosecutors have sufficient evidence to move forward with the charges. Until then, the parents are defendants and the allegations against them have not been proven in court.
Hot vehicles pose a serious risk to young children
The circumstances surrounding Theo’s death have also renewed attention on the danger children face inside parked vehicles during extreme temperatures.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration says a child’s body temperature rises three to five times faster than an adult’s. More than 1,000 children have died from vehicular heatstroke in the United States over the past 25 years.
NHTSA advises parents and caregivers never to leave a child unattended in a vehicle and to check the entire car before locking it. Its “Stop. Look. Lock.” guidance is designed to make that check part of every journey.
The risk is not limited to the United States. In a separate France heatwave tragedy, two young children were found dead inside a family car as dangerously high temperatures affected parts of the country.
Extreme heat can also turn an unexpected vehicle problem into a life-threatening emergency. A French tourist died after his vehicle became stranded in Death Valley during 116°F conditions, highlighting how quickly severe heat can increase risk when people cannot reach safety.
Clear responsibility can help prevent a similar tragedy
The Peoria case highlights another practical risk for families: assuming that someone else has taken responsibility for a child when several people are leaving a vehicle at the same time.
A direct visual check can provide an extra safeguard when normal routines change, a child falls asleep during a journey or a busy family event creates distractions. Caregivers can also keep bags or other essential items in the back seat as a reminder to check the vehicle before walking away.
Investigation remains active
Police are continuing to examine the timeline between the family’s arrival home and the discovery of Theo, along with statements from relatives and the differing accounts surrounding who was expected to remove him from the vehicle.
The medical examiner’s findings will also be important. Until an official cause and manner of death are released, the confirmed circumstances are that Theo was found unresponsive after spending an extended period inside the vehicle during extreme heat and later died at a hospital.
Further court proceedings are expected to provide more detail about the prosecution’s evidence and the defense response as the case moves forward.
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