Family protests search for worker in collapse

Miami-Dade brings in second crane to find Robert Budhoo

DORAL, Fla. – Family members protested the search for an electrician Saturday at the site of the Miami-Dade College West garage that collapsed while he was working inside.

Robert Budhoo, a father of three who moved to South Florida from Jamaica, has been missing since the structure crumbled Wednesday.

Tasha Budhoo told Local 10's Christina Vasquez that her family is protesting because the county is taking too long to find her father.

"What happened when the building collapsed? They left him there like he was nobody," she said.

Three men have died as a result of the collapse; two bodies were found inside and one man later died at a hospital after his legs were amputated.

The mission to find Budhoo has been considered a recovery operation since Friday.

As 15 workers searched for Budhoo among the rubble Saturday, the man's family stood outside the construction site turned disaster and shouted, "Get him out!" in unison.

Henrietta Robinson said her family cannot function knowing that her brother is stuck beneath tons of debris.

"It's tearing us apart. We can't eat. We can't sleep," said Robinson.

Through it all, Donovan Budhoo said he is holding out hope that he'll see his brother again.

"I believe he's alive. It's just that they gave up on him," he said.

The family's frustration gave way to anger as they confronted Ricky Gomez, Doral's police chief, Saturday.

"Why is it that there are only 15 people working when at first there were 300?" Budhoo's daughter asked.

"I'm trying to tell you that we are trying our best," said Gomez.

Miami-Dade County homicide detectives later walked immediate family members to the site of the collapse for a private briefing.

The family told Local 10 that officials brought in a second crane and promised them two search updates each day Budhoo is missing.

"Seeing the site definitely painted a better picture," said Tasha.

"We definitely understand what they are going through now," Donovan said. "They have the dogs there. I thought they were no dogs but they still have dogs. They said they are sorry for the way they handled it. From now on, they are going to do it differently."

On Friday, rescuers used a crane to move the large concrete slabs left in the pile of the rubble. The search had been focused on the western side of the rubble where investigators believe Budhoo was last working.

Family members said they will remain at the site until Budhoo is found.