The owners of Santo Domingo’s Jet Set nightclub, Antonio and Maribel Espaillat, have been formally charged with involuntary manslaughter and involuntary assault and battery after a roof collapse on April 8 killed 236 people during a concert by Rubby Perez. Prosecutors say they have "hundreds of pieces of evidence" and allege the roof was overloaded with air-conditioning equipment and water tanks and that internal warnings were ignored. More than 50 civil suits were filed by victims' relatives amid accusations of favoritism toward the family. President Luis Abinader has pledged to close the legal gap that leaves private buildings without mandatory safety inspections.
Owners of Santo Domingo’s Jet Set Club Charged After Deadly Roof Collapse That Killed 236
The owners of Santo Domingo’s Jet Set nightclub, Antonio and Maribel Espaillat, have been formally charged with involuntary manslaughter and involuntary assault and battery after a roof collapse on April 8 killed 236 people during a concert by Rubby Perez. Prosecutors say they have "hundreds of pieces of evidence" and allege the roof was overloaded with air-conditioning equipment and water tanks and that internal warnings were ignored. More than 50 civil suits were filed by victims' relatives amid accusations of favoritism toward the family. President Luis Abinader has pledged to close the legal gap that leaves private buildings without mandatory safety inspections.
08:05, 08.11.2025Society
Owners of Jet Set nightclub formally charged after deadly collapse
Prosecutors in the Dominican Republic on Friday filed criminal charges, including involuntary manslaughter and involuntary assault and battery, against the owners of the Jet Set nightclub in Santo Domingo. The charge follows a catastrophic roof collapse on April 8 that killed 236 people during a concert by merengue star Rubby Perez.
What happened: The roof of the packed venue gave way in the early hours of April 8. Among the dead were Rubby Perez, 69, two retired Major League Baseball players and a provincial governor — making the collapse one of the country’s deadliest tragedies in decades.
Accusations and evidence: Siblings Antonio Espaillat and Maribel Espaillat were arrested after the disaster and later released on bail set at 50 million pesos (roughly $840,000) while they await trial. The Public Ministry said prosecutors believe the Espaillats "committed manslaughter and involuntary assault and battery" and stated they have "hundreds of pieces of evidence" pointing to the defendants' criminal responsibility.
Prosecutors allege the owners overloaded the roof by installing heavy air-conditioning units and water tanks and that they ignored internal warnings about deterioration of the roof to cut costs.
"The Espaillat siblings committed manslaughter and involuntary assault and battery," the Public Ministry said, adding that investigators have compiled extensive evidence.
Civil suits and public pressure: In June, relatives of victims filed more than 50 civil lawsuits against the Espaillats. The case has generated public outrage and scrutiny amid allegations of preferential treatment toward the family, which also controls a media conglomerate.
Legal penalties and regulatory gap: Under Dominican law, involuntary manslaughter carries a sentence of three months to two years in prison; involuntary assault and battery carries a similar range depending on the severity of harm. The country currently has no law mandating safety inspections for privately owned buildings — a regulatory gap President Luis Abinader has pledged to address in the aftermath of the catastrophe.
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