Former MLB Player Octavio Dotel’s Wife Speaks Out After He’s Killed in Dominican Republic Nightclub Collapse

Dotel and 112 others were killed when the roof of Jet Set nightclub in Santo Domingo collapsed on April 8

Friends and family said goodbye to Octavio Dotel at the former MLB player’s funeral following the deadly nightclub collapse in Dominican Republic.

Services for Dotel, who was 51 when he was tragically killed along with 112 others at Jet Set nightclub on April 8, took place at Jardin Memorial in Santo Domingo on Thursday, April 10.

His widow, Massiel Dotel, said she didn’t “have much to say” as she began her eulogy at the service and thanked everyone for their support amid the tragedy, as seen in video shared by Massiel from the service.

“I know that each one of you takes with you in your memory something special that you lived with him and I invite you to keep that,” Massiel said, translated from Spanish.

“Let’s remember him as he would have liked to be remembered,” she continued, saying her late husband was “happy” and someone who “gave a lot of love” to those around him. “Because just as Octavio’s death surprised us and surprised him, it will happen to all of us,” Massiel continued.

“I invite you to seek Christ. I invite you to know the Lord. He is the one who has the control of the times and although we do not understand, I do not understand anything, I know that this was the perfect will of Christ and I accept it.”

Massiel shared videos of the services on social media after they concluded. “The same God that called you to his home, is the same God that fills me with strength to say, ‘See you soon,’ to the love of my life,” she wrote, translated from Spanish, over a video from the funeral.

In another Instagram Story, Massiel wrote, “Proud of you my king.”

According to the Associated Press, NBC News and CNN, the death toll has risen to 113 following the deadly nightclub collapse. Another former baseball player, Tony Blanco, as well as Nelsy Cruz, the governor of the Dominican Republic province of Montecristi, are among the deceased.

Dotel was reportedly rescued from the rubble initially, but died on his way to the hospital. “His legacy on and off the field leaves an indelible mark on national baseball history,” the Dominican Republic Ministry of Sports and Recreation said after his death. “Peace to his soul and strength to his family and loved ones.”