BOISE, Idaho — *The following interview was conducted in Spanish and translated into English
The brother of 32-year-old Guatemalan Mario Sontay Tzi, one of the victims in the deadly Boise Airport hangar collapse, spoke to KTVB's Brenda Rodriguez Wednesday - seven days after the tragic incident that killed three men and injured nine others as they were building the structure. Mario's brother asked to remain unnamed in the interview.
Mario's family, including his brother, reside in Guatemala. His brother expressed in the interview that the return of Mario's body to his home country, is of top concern for the family at the moment.
"We feel bad, but we have to live with the company's [Big D Builders] decision. Right now, we have no choice but to find a way to get him to his destination in Guatemala," Mario's brother explained.
Mario was employed by Big D Builders. Idaho Secretary of State records confirmed that Big D Builders was the construction company building the hangar at the time of the collapse.
Big D Builders is providing financial assistance to return the bodies of collapse victims Mario and Mariano Coc Och, 24, both from Guatemala, to their families, according to Mario's brother.
However, he stated that the company is only funding for transport to the United States/Mexico border; leaving the family to determine how to bring the two deceased men the remaining (approximate) 1,240 miles of the 3,220-mile total distance between Boise, Idaho and their hometown of Carcha, Guatemala. *(Approximate distance if transported by vehicle with U.S./Mexico border endpoint located in McAllen, Texas).
"His [Mario] mom and wife spoke to his boss. They won't give a reason and haven't responded," Mario's brother expressed over the phone as the sounds of kids playing can be heard in the background. "Put yourself in his position, right. His children have a future ahead. So, now that they don't have a dad, who is going to take care of them financially?"
Mario lived in Idaho for five years, according to his brother. He has a wife and three children, all of whom are in Guatemala.
On the same day the interview with Mario's brother was conducted, KTVB learned that the families of Mario Sontay Tzi and Mariano Coc Och retained legal representation, vowing to hold everyone responsible for the incident accountable.
Serna & Associates PLLC, a personal injury law firm based in both Idaho and Texas, said in a statement that it had been hired to represent the families of the two victims. The firm stated it plans to gather information from all entities involved and independently conduct an investigation with their own experts and engineers to determine the cause of the structure collapse.
"We will hold every single entity who contributed to this horrific accident responsible for their actions and will seek justice on behalf of all of those who grieve today," said Enrique G. Serna owner of Serna & Associates PLCC.
Mario Sontay Tzi, 32, Mariano Coc Och, 24, and Craig Durrant, 59, died from blunt force trauma sustained when the hangar that was being constructed at the time, collapsed.
The brother of Big D Builders' owner was among the dead.
Members from Boise Fire Department, Boise Airport, Ada County Paramedics and Boise Police Department took turns addressing the public in a news conference on Feb. 2, recognizing the disaster and applauding the first responders.
Officials also briefly discussed the status of the collapse investigation - essentially stating that they could not discuss much, as the incident is actively being investigated by Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA).
Rodriguez also spoke with the family of Mariano Coc Och. You can read that story here.
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