Parents blame 14-year-old for their young son's hot car death, claiming they returned home and asked teen to get the boy out of vehicle: Cops

A 5-year-old Arizona boy was allegedly left trapped inside a scorching hot car for hours after his parents returned home from a baptism celebration and forgot he was in there.

Police officials tell Law&Crime that Mihail Sabo and his wife Anca Sabo claim that a “miscommunication between family members of who was going to get the child out of the car” ultimately led to the death of their young son, Theo Sabo, on Sunday at their home in Peoria.

The couple’s attorney stated during a Monday court appearance that Mihail Sabo asked their 14-year-old son to get Theo out of the car, according to AZ Family. The teen told the court that he did not remember being asked to do so.

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“The Peoria Police Department received multiple 911 calls regarding an unresponsive 5-year-old boy who had been found inside a vehicle at a residence in the 6800 block of West Mariposa Grande Lane,” the Peoria Police Department said in a press release and statement sent to Law&Crime.

“The initial investigation determined that the family returned home from church at approximately 1 p.m. for a gathering celebrating the baptism of another child,” the department explained. “At approximately 3:46 p.m., family members realized the 5-year-old was missing and began searching for him. His mother subsequently located him unresponsive inside the family’s vehicle.”

Theo was rushed to a local hospital, where he was pronounced dead. AccuWeather reports that temperatures reached a high of 103 degrees in Peoria on Sunday.

Following interviews and other “investigative steps,” Mihail Sabo and Anca Sabo were both arrested and booked into the Maricopa County Jail on charges of negligent homicide and child abuse.

The couple’s attorney insisted Monday in court that they never intended to harm their son. “This is a mother in pain,” the attorney reportedly said.

A GoFundMe launched by friends of the Sabos describes them as being “deeply loved” in their church community. It says the parents “experienced the unimaginable heartbreak of losing their precious little boy” and claims they need people’s support.

“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,” the GoFundMe says. “We are raising funds to help ease the unexpected financial burdens their family is facing, including funeral and memorial expenses, time away from work, meals, and other immediate needs in the weeks ahead.”

The Sabos are both scheduled to return to Maricopa County Superior Court for a status conference on Sept. 21 and a preliminary hearing on Sept. 23. They were ordered held Monday on a $150,000 bond and told not to have contact with each other.

The post Parents blame 14-year-old for their young son’s hot car death, claiming they returned home and asked teen to get the boy out of vehicle: Cops first appeared on Law & Crime.