Teen's fatal fall down Staten Island elevator shaft leaves family with unanswered questions

NEW BRIGHTON (WABC) -- The NYPD and the building department are investigating how 16-year-old Marcos Castillo fell to his death inside a vacant hospital on Staten Island.

Marcos' parents, Jorge and Angela wanted to visit the exact spot where their oldest son was fatally injured after falling 7 stories down an elevator shaft on Friday afternoon. The prayed, left holy water and a cross covered with flowers - all of this such a stark contrast to the dismal, abandoned property.

"He was a good kid - why he was here - that's what we want to know, why he was here," said Marcos' cousin, Pablo Mendez.

Pablo and other relatives are now haunted by the thought that if someone had called for help right away, just possibly, maybe Marcos would be there playing with his family.

Police say the 16-year-old and four other teens were playing inside the building. After the fatal plunge, police say, the kids left, went home and came back with an adult who called 911. Pablo tells Eyewitness News that the entire process took about three hours - he believes precious minutes wasted.

"They were supposed to be playing hide and seek - they were looking for him for about 30 minutes, and then after that, they went down and saw one of his shoes and then they left, thought he was home" adds Pablo.

By then, it was around 5 in the evening. Angela and Jorge were worried, and tried calling Marcos on his cell phone, but got no answer.

"It's hard. It's really hard right now," says Castillo's parents, clinging to each other and fighting through tears.

"He is only 16 years old, and he is beautiful - he is lovely," they said.

Investigators say Castillo sided of severe head trauma after falling down the elevator shaft at an abandoned hospital on Castleton Avenue in New Brighton. Neighbors say the building, once Staten Island Hospital has been closed off since 1992.

People who live in the area say it is no secret that teens make their way beyond fences and into the building, known as a hangout spot.

Construction workers are now putting a fence in place in front of the property - this, as Police Detectives and Building Department Investigators make their way through the property.

Meanwhile, Castillo's parents say his dog is still waiting for him to come home - they believe the building should have been more secure.

"They have to do something, because I don't want it to happen to other kids," they added.

Castillo's parents say they grew concerned when their son didn't come home from school on time on Friday, and that they still don't fully understand what happened.