Arizona couple loses youngest in hot car death while hosting baptism celebration

By Leonardo Blair, Senior Reporter Wednesday, September 16, 2026

Hours after watching one of their children get baptized at church on Sunday, the joy of Arizona Christian couple Mihail Sabo and Anca Sabo turned to mourning after they discovered that their 5-year-old son, Theo, had died in their hot family car while they celebrated with friends and family at their Peoria home.

Witnesses who were at the event say the death was an accident, but as Anca Sabo wept at a preliminary hearing in Maricopa County Superior Court on Monday, a judge found probable cause to charge both her and her husband with negligent homicide and child abuse.

The judge set bond for each parent at $150,000 and ordered them to have no contact with each other, KNXV reports.

Police say the family returned home from church around 1 p.m. Sunday, and a “miscommunication” left the sleeping 5-year-old behind in the car as the couple turned their attention to hosting a baptism celebration with about 50 guests, according to Anca Sabo’s attorney.

“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 told KNXV.

When family members found Theo inside the hot car, they pulled him out and tried CPR, but he died at a local hospital.

Mihail’s cousin, Ligia Simon, who was at the event, insisted in a statement on Facebook that the child's death was accidental.

“After the tragedy happened, I went from their house to the hospital because I needed to be near them. I hoped my presence might offer even the smallest amount of support during the worst moments of their lives. I watched the situation unfold, unaware that their grief would soon be accompanied by legal difficulties they could never have anticipated,” Simon wrote.

“Because I was there, I can say from my own experience that what happened was a devastating accident. It is agonizing to watch people I love endure the loss of their precious little boy while also confronting everything that has followed.”

In a message to the "Body of Christ," organizers of a GoFundMe campaign seeking to raise $300,000 urged support for the family.

“If you know the Sabo family, you know how deeply loved they are and how much they have poured into their community through serving, loving, and giving to others. Now, they need our support. There are simply no words for the pain of losing a child,” the message said.

“As the Sabo family walks through these incredibly difficult days, we want to surround them with love, prayer, and practical support so they can focus on grieving, being together, and honoring Theo’s precious life.”

Officer Kennedy urged drivers and caregivers to check vehicles carefully before walking away.

“We like to say, look before you lock. Always ensure and have clear communication on who is taking responsibility for that child,” Kennedy told KNXV. “It takes two seconds to take another look and ensure and go through the car one more time, just to make sure no pets, elderly members or children are left in that car. It could save a life.”