In the early hours of April 8, an anniversary celebration at Santo Domingo’s iconic Jet Set nightclub turned into a national nightmare when the venue’s roof collapsed mid-concert.
236 people lost their lives, including beloved merengue icon Rubby Pérez, former MLB stars like Octavio Dotel and Tony Blanco, and even Dominican governor Nelsy Cruz all in the blink of an eye.
Now, two months after that heart-wrenching tragedy, authorities have arrested nightclub owner Antonio Espaillat and his sister Maribel.
Prosecutors accuse them of “immense irresponsibility and negligence”—claiming the pair ignored long-standing water damage issues and failed to act when it mattered most.
They’ve also been accused of allegedly attempting to intimidate employees who might testify.
This wasn’t a small gathering—it was a packed show with over 500 people in attendance, hosting Jet Set’s 50th anniversary celebration when disaster struck. Warning signs were reportedly ignored: roof repairs made just hours before, ongoing AC leaks, and unauthorized structural alterations were all overlooked.
President Luis Abinader described it as “the worst non‑atmospheric disaster” in the country’s history. Rescue crews worked over two straight days, pulling nearly 190 survivors from the rubble but for far too many, it was tragically too late.
Antonio, who inherited the club from his mother, initially expressed sorrow and pledged cooperation.
But prosecutors say the Espaillats are now under scrutiny not just for neglect, but for manipulating witnesses before they were arrested on June 12.
