A Peoria hot car death has led to the arrest of two parents after their 5-year-old remained inside a vehicle. Mihail and Anca Sabo face negligent homicide and child abuse charges following the September 13 incident.
Police said the family returned from a church baptism around 1 p.m. and discovered the child missing shortly after 3:45 p.m., according to FOX 10 Phoenix.
Family Found Boy Unresponsive
The boy’s mother found him inside the vehicle. Relatives removed him and performed CPR before emergency crews took him to a hospital, where he was pronounced dead.
The family had been hosting dozens of guests following the baptism, according to their defense attorney’s account reported by KJZZ. The station reported that the Phoenix area reached 105 degrees that afternoon, citing the National Weather Service.
Accounts Differ Over Who Would Bring Him Inside
According to court documents cited by FOX 10, Mihail told investigators he asked the couple’s 14-year-old son to bring the younger child inside. The teenager told police his father had not asked him to do so.
Those conflicting accounts remain part of the investigation. They do not establish responsibility on the teenager’s part.
Defense Calls Death a Tragic Accident
At the parents’ September 14 court appearances, defense attorney Leah Dodd argued that a miscommunication left the child asleep in the vehicle. She disputed that the circumstances warranted criminal charges.
Dodd also emphasized the parents’ efforts to help after discovering the boy. Prosecutors, meanwhile, pointed to the length of time he remained in the car without his parents knowing his location.
Judge Sets Bond and Contact Restrictions
The judge set bond at $150,000 for each parent and prohibited contact between them. They may have supervised visits with their other children.
The investigation remains ongoing. Both parents are presumed innocent unless proven guilty, and the court has not determined their criminal responsibility.