Dominican authorities have arrested the owners of Jet Set nightclub months after a deadly roof collapse killed 236 concertgoers.
Siblings Antonio and Maribel Espaillat now face manslaughter charges, as calls for justice and stricter safety laws intensify nationwide.
Authorities in the Dominican Republic have arrested the owners of the Jet Set nightclub in Santo Domingo, two months after the tragic roof collapse that claimed the lives of 236 people during a live concert event. The arrests were confirmed by prosecutors on Thursday, June 12, 2025, who charged siblings Antonio and Maribel Espaillat with involuntary manslaughter following what is being described as one of the deadliest incidents in the nation’s recent history.
The catastrophic event occurred in the early hours of April 8, 2025, when the roof of the iconic Jet Set nightclub gave way during a packed concert by beloved 69-year-old merengue legend Rubby Perez. The acclaimed singer, who was among the victims, had been a celebrated figure in Latin American music for decades. Also killed in the tragedy were two former Major League Baseball players and a provincial governor, compounding the national grief and sparking calls for justice.
An aerial view taken a day after the incident showed rescue teams working through the debris-strewn ruins of the once-popular venue. The devastation drew national and international attention, with images from the site widely circulated in the media. The collapse left hundreds of families grieving and prompted public outrage over perceived negligence and lack of oversight.
Prosecutors say the Espaillats, who co-owned the Jet Set nightclub along with other business interests in media and hospitality, failed to address long-standing structural problems at the venue. Antonio Espaillat, 59, had previously admitted in interviews that the club’s roof had been leaking for years, a sign of underlying structural issues that were never rectified. “The roof had issues, yes. But it was never checked by authorities,” he was quoted as saying shortly after the incident.
However, authorities argue that the responsibility lay with the owners to ensure the building’s integrity. “This was an act of immense irresponsibility and negligence,” the prosecutor’s office said in an official statement. “By failing to make critical repairs, the Espaillat siblings put hundreds of lives at risk.”
The Dominican Republic currently has no legislation requiring periodic structural inspections of privately owned commercial buildings. Following the Jet Set collapse, President Luis Abinader announced that his administration was in the process of drafting new safety regulations to make such inspections mandatory, in an effort to prevent future tragedies.
The Espaillat family’s influence stretches beyond the nightclub scene. They also own a media conglomerate and a well-known restaurant chain. Despite their social prominence, the siblings now face more than 50 lawsuits filed by families of the deceased. Legal experts anticipate a protracted legal battle that could set a precedent for future cases involving building safety and liability.
In response to the growing scrutiny, the Espaillat family has publicly stated their intention to fully cooperate with authorities. “We are devastated by what has happened and are committed to supporting the investigation in every way possible,” a family spokesperson said in a brief statement to the press.
As the case unfolds, it continues to fuel national discourse on building safety, corporate accountability, and the need for stronger regulatory frameworks. For the grieving families, the arrests mark a critical step toward justice, but the wounds from that devastating night will take far longer to heal.
