Employee testifies owners knew of problems at Jet Set club before roof fell

Former Employee Testifies Nightclub Owners Knew of Structural Issues Before Fatal Collapse

A former employee of the Jet Set nightclub in Santo Domingo testified Monday that the owners were fully aware of the deteriorating structure before its roof collapsed last year, killing 236 people in one of the Dominican Republic’s deadliest structural failures.

Gregory Adames delivered his testimony against siblings Antonio and Maribel Espaillat, who face charges of involuntary manslaughter and involuntary assault and battery following the April 8, 2025 tragedy.

“They knew because I sent them photos, I sent them videos of all the problems that were there. That shouldn’t have happened; not a single person should have died there,” Adames told the court.

The testimony comes amid growing frustration from victims’ families about what they perceive as slow judicial proceedings. The siblings were arrested last June, two months after the collapse, with prosecutors claiming hundreds of pieces of evidence implicate them in the disaster.

Attorneys representing the victims’ families have asked the court to elevate the charges to voluntary manslaughter, which carries a potential 20-year prison sentence, compared to just two years for involuntary manslaughter.

“We hope that happens,” said Jean Carlos Martínez Segura, who represents nine families affected by the tragedy.

Monday’s court hearing is scheduled to continue Friday, after which a judge will decide whether there is sufficient evidence to proceed to trial. The case has drawn significant public attention in the Dominican Republic, particularly given Antonio Espaillat’s prominence as a powerful businessman who owns numerous upscale entertainment venues and dozens of local radio stations.

Prosecutors have also accused the Espaillats of attempting to intimidate or manipulate employees. Miguel Valerio, the siblings’ attorney, previously told reporters after their arrests that “nobody wanted that to happen.”

The nightclub collapse occurred during a concert attended by hundreds of people, including numerous high-profile Dominicans. Among the 236 fatalities were popular singer Rubby Pérez; Nelsy Cruz, the governor of Montecristi province and sister of Major League Baseball All-Star Nelson Cruz; and former MLB pitcher Octavio Dotel.

More than 100 people were injured in the incident, which prompted an intense rescue effort as workers searched around the clock to locate survivors trapped beneath the rubble.

The Jet Set nightclub was a legendary establishment in Santo Domingo’s entertainment scene, making the collapse particularly shocking to the local community. The incident has raised serious questions about building safety standards and enforcement in the country’s entertainment venues.

Structural failures of this magnitude often prompt regulatory reviews and heightened scrutiny of similar venues. While the Dominican Republic has building codes in place, critics have pointed to inconsistent enforcement and inspection procedures, particularly for older structures that may have been modified over time.

The case highlights the potential consequences of neglecting structural warnings and the responsibility of property owners to ensure public safety. If the allegations are proven true, it would represent a particularly egregious example of negligence, given Adames’ claim that explicit warnings with photographic evidence were provided to the owners.

The Monday hearing represents a crucial step in the judicial process, as victims’ families continue to seek justice and accountability for what many view as an entirely preventable tragedy.