The families of the more than 230 victims of the Jet Set nightclub roof collapse gathered in Santo Domingo’s courtroom Monday, demanding answers and retribution. Siblings Antonio and Maribel Espaillat, the venue’s owners, sat in the dock for their first hearing, where the presiding judge delayed any further proceedings until April 6.
Prosecutors allege the Espaillats are responsible for involuntary manslaughter and involuntary assault and battery, offenses that carry a maximum sentence of two years in prison if they are found guilty. The Public Prosecutor’s Office says it has “hundreds of pieces of evidence” tying the siblings to the tragedy, which rocked the capital on April 8, 2025, killing 236 people and wounding more than 100 others.
Antonio Espaillat, described as a powerful businessman who controls upscale entertainment venues and dozens of local radio stations, was arrested more than two months after the disaster. The siblings’ detention and the subsequent legal actions come amid mounting public anger; as the siblings exited the courtroom, a group of onlookers shouted, “Damn you!” and “Murders, both of you are murderers!”
The disaster unfolded during a concert by popular singer Rubby Pérez, which attracted hundreds of fans to the club. Among the dead were notable figures such as Montecristi province governor Nelsy Cruz and former Major League Baseball pitcher Octavio Dotel, who initially survived the crush only to die later in hospital.
Lawyers for the victims’ families crowded the courtroom, demanding swift justice and accountability. While the hearing was postponed, the case has already highlighted broader concerns about building safety standards and regulatory oversight in the Dominican Republic, a nation still reeling from one of its deadliest peacetime disasters.