# Arizona boy, 5, dies in hot car during family party

> Theo Sabo was left in a 106-degree vehicle for over 2.5 hours while his parents hosted 50 guests.
- Title: Arizona boy, 5, dies in hot car during family party | Shortify
- Summary: Theo Sabo was left in a 106-degree vehicle for over 2.5 hours while his parents hosted 50 guests. A 5-year-old Arizona boy died after being left in a hot car…
- Keywords: theo sabo, mihail sabo, anca sabo, peoria, arizona, hot car death, negligent homicide, child abuse, maricopa county superior court, leah dodd, brooke gaunt, news
- Source: New York Post — https://nypost.com/2026/09/15/us-news/arizona-boy-5-dies-in-blistering-hot-car-while-family-hosts-party-on-106-f-day-dad-pins-blame-on-teen-son
- Published: 2026-09-16T00:08:15+00:00
- Read time: 1 min
- Topics: theo sabo, mihail sabo, anca sabo, peoria, arizona, hot car death, negligent homicide, child abuse, maricopa county superior court, leah dodd, brooke gaunt, news
## Five-year-old dies in hot car
Theo Sabo was left in his family's car for over 2.5 hours after returning from a church baptism. His parents were hosting a party with 50 guests when they realized he was missing.
## Discovered unresponsive in 106-degree heat
The family found Theo unresponsive in their vehicle outside their Peoria home. Temperatures reached 106 degrees that day, and CPR couldn't save him.
## Parents charged with negligent homicide
Mihail Sabo, 50, and Anca Sabo, 45, were both charged with negligent homicide and child abuse. The couple have four other children aged 18, 15, 14, and 9.
## Father blames 14-year-old son
Mihail told police he asked his 14-year-old to get Theo out of the car. The teen told cops he was never asked to do so.
## Defense calls it a tragedy
Attorney Leah Dodd argued the charges weren't warranted, saying Theo was sleeping and there was a lot going on. She insisted asking a 14-year-old to help was reasonable.

> This was a, I can't overstress this, a tragedy.
## Mother pleads to see her children
Anca wept loudly in court and clutched her chest throughout the hearing. She pleaded with the judge to let her see her four surviving children.

> I want to see my kids. Please let me see my kids.
## Both parents released on bond
Each parent was given $150,000 bond and barred from contacting each other. They can have supervised visits with their four other children and are due back in court Sept. 21.
## Key takeaway

A 5-year-old Arizona boy died after being left in a hot car for over 2.5 hours while his parents hosted a party with 50 guests.