A 5-year-old Arizona boy died after being left inside a sweltering vehicle for more than two hours while his family hosted a gathering at their home, authorities said.

Theo Sabo was left in the family’s vehicle at around 1 p.m. Sunday after returning home from a baptism for another child at their church, according to police and local reports.

At the time, Sabo’s family was hosting a party attended by roughly 50 relatives and friends at their Peoria home.

More than two and a half hours later, the family realized that Theo was missing.

He was found unresponsive inside the vehicle outside the home. Temperatures in Peoria reached approximately 106 degrees Fahrenheit that day, according to historical weather records.

Boy Found Unresponsive in Vehicle
Family members discovered Theo inside the vehicle and began performing CPR before emergency responders transported him to a nearby hospital.

The young boy was later pronounced dead.

His death has led to criminal charges against his parents, Mihail Sabo, 50, and Anca Sabo, 45.

The couple have each been charged with negligent homicide and child abuse.

Parents Give Different Accounts
According to reports, Mihail told investigators that he had asked his 14-year-old son to remove Theo from the vehicle after the family arrived home from the baptism.

The teenager reportedly told police that he had never been asked to do so.

That conflicting account became a significant point during the parents’ court hearings.

Their defense attorney, Leah Dodd, argued that the circumstances represented a tragic mistake rather than conduct warranting the charges.

Prosecutors, however, pointed to the fact that Theo remained inside the vehicle for more than two and a half hours while his parents were unaware of his whereabouts.

Mother Pleads to See Her Children
During Anca Sabo’s court hearing, she was visibly distraught and repeatedly cried as she asked the judge to allow her to see her other children.

“I want to see my kids. Please let me see my kids,” she pleaded.

Her attorney argued that Anca called 911 and immediately attempted life-saving measures after Theo was discovered.

Mihail appeared largely silent during his own hearing, keeping his head down for much of the proceeding.

The couple have four other children, ages 18, 15, 14 and 9.

Parents Released on Bond
A judge set bond for each parent at $150,000. They were also ordered not to have contact with one another.

They are permitted to have supervised visitation with their four surviving children.

The couple have been married for nearly two decades and have lived in Arizona since 2011, according to statements made in court.

Both cases remain ongoing, with the parents scheduled to return to court on September 21.

A Family Mourning Theo
An online fundraiser described Theo as a deeply loved child whose life would never be forgotten.

The tragedy serves as another devastating reminder of how quickly temperatures inside a parked vehicle can become deadly, particularly during extreme heat.

For Theo’s family, however, the consequences extend far beyond the criminal case. A birthday, a family gathering and an ordinary Sunday became a day marked by an unimaginable loss.

Course: NY Post