Authorities in the Dominican Republic have arrested the owners of a nightclub that collapsed in April, leading to the deaths of 236 people. Siblings Antonio and Maribel Espaillat, owners of the Jet Set nightclub in Santo Domingo, were taken into custody on June 12, 2025, and charged with involuntary manslaughter, according to a statement from the prosecutor’s office.
The tragedy occurred in the early hours of April 8 during a performance by famed merengue singer Rubby Perez, who was among those killed. Also among the victims were two retired Major League Baseball players and a provincial governor, marking the event as one of the most devastating in the country’s recent history.
Antonio Espaillat, 59, acknowledged after the incident that the nightclub’s roof had been leaking for years and had never undergone official inspection. Despite the deterioration, no repairs were made, and authorities say this failure contributed directly to the disaster.
Prosecutors described the siblings’ actions as “immense irresponsibility and negligence” for not maintaining the building’s safety. Currently, the Dominican Republic does not have laws mandating safety inspections for privately owned structures.
In response to public outrage, President Luis Abinader announced that the government is preparing legislation that would require regular inspections of private buildings.
The Espaillat family, who also owns a media company and a restaurant, is facing more than 50 lawsuits filed by relatives of the victims. Despite the mounting legal pressure, the family has pledged full cooperation with the ongoing investigation.
