Crans-Montana tragedy: Bar owner arrested as death toll reaches 40

The current 40 deaths and 116 injuries from the fire at Crans-Montana during New Year’s Eve celebrations didn’t quite match the initial decision not to detain the two owners of the “Le Constellation” bar, Jessica and Jacques Moretti. The prosecutor had initially ruled that there was no risk they would flee abroad, however on Friday morning, January 9, and after extensive questioning, the Sion city prosecutor decided to arrest the 47-year-old. The Valais court, which had initially released them, is set to confirm the decision. Detention is now necessary, meaning the circumstances have changed.

Read: Shock at Crans-Montana: Video shows owner fleeing with cash register after deadly fire

One of these factors was the video showing Jessica Moretti during the crisis, grabbing the cash register and fleeing the establishment. The authenticity of the footage has not been verified, but it may have played a role. The 40-year-old herself tearfully apologized to the victims’ families after leaving the prosecutor’s office. Both her testimony and that of her husband had preceded this. While Jessica Moretti may not have been detained, she is also being investigated for involuntary manslaughter. Additionally, the victims’ families have filed lawsuits with the Swiss prosecutor’s office regarding the fire at the “Le Constellation” bar. “We are devastated, our thoughts are constantly with the victims, their loved ones who lost them so violently and so prematurely, and with all those fighting for their lives,” they stated in their January 6 announcement.