Arizona Couple Charged With Negligent Homicide After Their Five-Year-Old Son Died Inside a Hot Car

An Arizona couple has been arrested and charged with negligent homicide and child abuse after their five-year-old son was left inside a hot car for several hours and later died.

Mihail Sabo and Anca Sabo were arrested after Peoria Police responded to reports of an unconscious child at a home on Sunday, 13 September. The boy was found unresponsive inside the family vehicle after relatives realised he was missing.

Police said the family had returned home at about 1pm after attending church for another child's baptism. The boy was subsequently left inside the vehicle while family members gathered at the property.

Investigators said the family did not realise the child remained in the car until roughly three hours later. His mother eventually found him unresponsive and called for help.

Family members removed the boy from the vehicle and began CPR before emergency crews arrived. He was taken to a nearby hospital, where he was later pronounced dead.

The Phoenix area's temperature reached about 105°F (40.6°C) on Sunday, according to the National Weather Service. The medical cause of the child's death has not been publicly released.

Police Cite Miscommunication Over Child

Peoria Police Officer William Kennedy said investigators believe a miscommunication among family members resulted in the child being left behind.

'It appears that it was a miscommunication between family members of who was actually going to get the child out of the car,' Kennedy told KNXV.

Court reports said the family was hosting a gathering after returning from the baptism. According to the defence, Mihail Sabo believed another relative would retrieve the child from the vehicle.

The couple appeared in court on Monday and were each charged with negligent homicide and child abuse, both Class 4 felonies under Arizona law.

Their defence attorney argued that the couple never intended to harm their son and described the incident as a tragic accident.

'This is a mother in pain,' the attorney told the court.

The defence said the parents tried to save the child and co-operated with investigators. The court found probable cause to proceed.

Parents Given $150,000 Bonds

A judge set a secured bond of $150,000 (£111,000) for each parent. The couple was also ordered not to have contact with each other, although they were permitted supervised contact with their other children, according to local reports.

The family has no known previous criminal history, according to court reporting.

Both parents are scheduled to return to Maricopa County Superior Court for a status conference on 21 September. A preliminary hearing is scheduled for 23 September.

The investigation remains ongoing, and authorities have not released additional details about the child's medical cause of death.

Kennedy used the case to remind parents and carers to check vehicles before leaving them.

'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.'

Experts have warned that children are particularly vulnerable to extreme heat. Arizona has recorded numerous hot-car child deaths in recent decades.