FAMILY’S CELEBRATION TURNS INTO UNIMAGINABLE LOSS — THEO SABO, 5, DIES AFTER BEING FOUND UNRESPONSIVE IN FAMILY VEHICLE

What was supposed to be a day of family celebration ended in unimaginable heartbreak for the Sabo family after their five-year-old son, Theo, was found unresponsive inside a family vehicle.

Theo was identified by a fundraiser created to support the family. Police have not publicly released the child’s name.

The tragedy happened on Sunday, Sept. 13, in Peoria, Arizona, after the family returned home from a church baptism celebration.

His parents, Mihail and Anca Sabo, are now facing charges of negligent homicide and child abuse in connection with their son’s death. They have not been convicted, and their attorney has described the incident as a tragic accident rather than a criminal act.

A DAY THAT BEGAN WITH A FAMILY CELEBRATION

According to Peoria police, the family returned home at around 1 p.m. after attending a baptism celebration for another child.

The family was then gathering at their home with relatives and friends.

Several hours later, at approximately 3:45 p.m., family members realized that five-year-old Theo was missing and began searching for him.

His mother eventually found him unresponsive inside the family’s vehicle.

Family members removed him from the vehicle and began CPR before emergency responders arrived.

Theo was taken to a hospital, where he was later pronounced dead.

TEMPERATURES WERE ABOVE 100 DEGREES

The incident occurred during a period of extreme heat in the Phoenix area.

Temperatures in Peoria reached above 100 degrees Fahrenheit that afternoon, with local reports citing readings around 102–105 degrees.

Police are investigating the circumstances surrounding Theo’s death, while the medical examiner had not publicly released a final cause and manner of death in the latest reports.

Authorities have also not publicly stated exactly how long Theo remained inside the vehicle.

A MISCOMMUNICATION IS AT THE CENTER OF THE CASE

Investigators said an apparent miscommunication within the family may have led to Theo being unintentionally left inside the vehicle.

According to prosecutors, Anca believed Mihail would retrieve their son.

The family’s attorney, however, said Mihail had asked the couple’s 14-year-old son to get Theo out of the vehicle.

The teenager reportedly told the court that he did not remember being asked to do so.

That disagreement is now part of the circumstances being examined in the criminal case.

PARENTS FACE CRIMINAL CHARGES

Mihail and Anca Sabo were arrested and booked on charges of negligent homicide and child abuse following the investigation.

They appeared in court on Sept. 14.

A judge set a $150,000 secured bond for each parent and ordered them not to have contact with one another. They were permitted supervised contact with their other children.

Their attorney argued that the parents did not intend to harm Theo and emphasized that Anca called 911 and participated in efforts to save her son after he was discovered.

The defense has characterized the death as an “unimaginable tragedy” and argued that the criminal charges are not appropriate.

The allegations remain unresolved in court.

A FAMILY NOW MOURNS A LITTLE BOY

While the legal case continues, Theo’s family is facing a loss that cannot be undone.

A fundraiser established for the family described Theo as deeply loved and said his life would never be forgotten.

The campaign was created to help with funeral and memorial expenses, meals, time away from work and other immediate costs as the family grieves. More than 770 donations had been made by Sept. 15, according to local reporting.

For the people who loved him, Theo was not defined by the circumstances of his final day.

He was a five-year-old boy who should have had years ahead of him — growing, learning, playing and making memories with his family.

Instead, his family is now left remembering the child they loved and mourning the future they will never get to see.

“HIS PRECIOUS LIFE WILL NEVER BE FORGOTTEN”

The investigation into Theo’s death remains ongoing, and his parents’ criminal cases are still moving through the court system.

But beyond the legal questions is a grieving family trying to comprehend the loss of a five-year-old child.

Theo was loved.

Theo mattered.

And according to the family’s fundraiser, his precious life will never be forgotten.