5-Year-Old Theo Sabo Dies After Being Found Unresponsive in Family Car Following Baptism Celebration

A family celebration turned into tragedy in Peoria, Arizona, after 5-year-old Theo Sabo was found unresponsive inside his family’s vehicle on September 13, 2026. His parents, Mihail and Anca Sabo, were later arrested and charged with negligent homicide and child abuse.

The family had returned home at about 1 p.m. after attending the baptism of another child. Relatives and friends had gathered at the home for a celebration. Nearly three hours later, at approximately 3:46 p.m., family members realized Theo was missing and began searching for him.

His mother eventually found him unresponsive inside the family vehicle. Relatives removed the child from the car and began performing CPR before emergency responders arrived. Theo was transported to a hospital, where he was pronounced dead.

Temperatures in Peoria were extremely high that afternoon. National Weather Service observations cited by investigators showed temperatures of about 102°F around 12:50 p.m. and 104°F around 2:50 p.m. Police said the circumstances were being investigated as potentially heat-related, but the official cause and manner of Theo’s death had not yet been released by the Medical Examiner.

A central issue in the investigation is an apparent misunderstanding among family members about who was responsible for bringing Theo inside. Prosecutors said the parents described a miscommunication over who would remove the child from the vehicle.

The family’s attorney said Mihail had asked the couple’s 14-year-old son to get Theo out of the car. The teenager reportedly told authorities that he did not remember receiving that request. Police have described the situation as a miscommunication among family members.

The parents’ attorney has characterized Theo’s death as a heartbreaking accident rather than criminal negligence. During the initial court proceedings, the defense pointed to Anca’s actions after discovering her son, including calling 911, participating in lifesaving efforts and cooperating with investigators.

Mihail and Anca Sabo were each ordered to post a $150,000 bond. They were also ordered not to have contact with one another and may have contact with their other children only under court supervision. A judge found probable cause for the case to proceed.

The charges are allegations, and the parents have not been convicted. The investigation and court proceedings will determine what responsibility, if any, the parents bear for Theo’s death.

For the Sabo family and those who gathered with them that Sunday, an occasion meant to celebrate a child’s baptism became a devastating loss. As the legal case moves forward, the official determination of how Theo died remains an important unresolved part of the investigation.

Source: The Sun