SANTO DOMINGO, Dominican Republic — A judge has ordered the sibling owners of a Santo Domingo nightclub to stand trial following a deadly roof collapse that claimed 236 lives and left more than 100 others injured last year.
Magistrate Reymundo Mejía Zorrilla of the First Court of Instruction of the National District in Santo Domingo issued the ruling Monday, determining that Antonio and Maribel Espaillat, owners of the Jet Set nightclub, will face charges of involuntary manslaughter. If convicted, each could receive up to two years behind bars.
The catastrophic collapse occurred on April 8, 2025, sending shockwaves throughout the Dominican Republic as rescue workers spent days desperately trying to pull survivors from the debris.
The decision drew sharp disappointment from families of the victims, who had gathered outside the courthouse beforehand — roughly 30 relatives holding hands and praying together. Many had been pushing for homicide charges, which carry far heavier penalties of up to 20 years in prison.
Prosecutors had previously accused the Espaillat siblings of attempting to intimidate or manipulate employees. Antonio Espaillat is described as a prominent business figure with ownership of upscale entertainment venues and dozens of local radio stations. The Public Prosecutor’s Office has said it holds hundreds of pieces of evidence connecting the two to the collapse.
At the time of the disaster, the venue was packed with hundreds of attendees — including athletes and politicians — who had come to see a performance by singer Rubby Pérez, who was among those killed. Former Major League Baseball pitcher Octavio Dotel was also at the event; he was pulled from the wreckage alive but later died at a hospital.
The Espaillat siblings will be tried together, though no trial date has been announced.
