Legal Proceedings Continue Over Deadly Nightclub Collapse in Dominican Republic
A former employee of Santo Domingo’s renowned Jet Set nightclub has revealed in court that the club’s owners were aware of the deteriorating condition of the building before its roof collapsed last year, resulting in 236 fatalities. The revelation came during a hearing where Gregory Adames, testifying against Antonio and Maribel Espaillat, stated that he had provided them with photographic and video evidence of the structural issues.
The siblings, who face charges of involuntary manslaughter and involuntary assault and battery, are accused by prosecutors of attempting to intimidate or manipulate employees. During the court proceedings, attorneys representing the victims’ families petitioned for the charges to be elevated to voluntary manslaughter. Jean Carlos Martínez Segura, representing nine families, expressed hopes for such a development in the case.
The potential sentence for voluntary manslaughter could be as high as 20 years, while involuntary manslaughter carries a maximum sentence of two years. The hearing is scheduled to continue on Friday, as the judge assesses whether the evidence suffices to proceed to trial. Families of the victims have voiced concerns over the slow pace of the judicial process.
Prosecutors have compiled hundreds of pieces of evidence against the Espaillat siblings, who were detained in June last year. Miguel Valerio, their attorney, emphasized post-arrest that “Nobody wanted that to happen.”
The tragedy occurred on April 8, 2025, during a concert attended by numerous prominent figures, including merengue artist Rubby Pérez, Nelsy Cruz—governor of Montecristi and sister to MLB All-Star Nelson Cruz—and former MLB pitcher Octavio Dotel. Over 100 individuals sustained injuries, and rescuers worked tirelessly to extract survivors from the debris.
Antonio Espaillat, a notable businessman owning high-end entertainment venues and several local radio stations, is among those under scrutiny. For further details on the collapse, visit the original report.
