Crans Montana Fire: Bar Owner Questioned, Meets Victim’s Family – New Images Released

Crans-Montana, Switzerland – Jacques Moretti, co-owner of the Le Constellation bar where 40 people died in a New Year’s Eve fire, met with a victim’s family today, more than a month after the tragedy, as he and his wife, Jessica Moretti, faced renewed questioning from investigators. The meeting, confirmed by sources close to the case, occurred following a fresh round of interviews with the couple conducted by lawyers representing the families of those killed and injured in the blaze.

Jacques Moretti remains a focus of the investigation, with prosecutors arguing he presents a flight risk. A judge extended his detention for 90 days on January 12, 2026, a period that can be renewed. His wife, Jessica Moretti, is currently under house arrest. Both are suspected of manslaughter by negligence, bodily harm by negligence and arson by negligence.

The fire, which erupted shortly after midnight on January 1, 2026, claimed the lives of 40 people, many of them under the age of 20, and injured 116 others. Investigators believe the blaze was ignited by sparklers attached to champagne bottles being raised near sound-insulating foam on the bar’s ceiling.

New images released today show the extensive damage inside Le Constellation, revealing charred remains and structural damage to the basement bar. The images, obtained by reporters, offer a stark visual representation of the scale of the disaster.

Authorities have acknowledged that the bar had not undergone safety checks in five years prior to the fire. The couple purchased and remodeled the bar in 2015, building a successful business and reportedly enjoying a lavish lifestyle, including the ownership of expensive vehicles such as Maseratis, Bentleys, and Porsches.

The investigation has also revealed details about a service door within the bar. Jacques Moretti told investigators that he discovered the door locked from the inside after the fire began and forced it open, finding several people lying behind it. The accessibility of fire extinguishers and compliance of the bar’s exits with safety regulations are also under scrutiny.

In January, Nicolas Féraud, the municipal chief of Crans-Montana, stated that there was “a culture of reckless risk-taking” at the bar, endangering both customers, and staff. The Morettis were previously investigated in 2020 on suspicion of misusing COVID-19 relief funds, but charges were later dropped.

Jacques Moretti publicly expressed his sorrow following the fire, stating, “My constant thoughts are with the victims and those who are fighting today. This represents an unimaginable tragedy.” Jessica Moretti also issued an apology, describing the event as an “unthinkable tragedy.”

The Valais public prosecutor’s office has not released details regarding the outcome of today’s questioning, and no further hearings have been scheduled at this time.