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The investigation into a New Year’s Eve fire in Crans-Montana, Switzerland, that left 40 people dead has taken a complex turn, with scrutiny falling on the actions of investigators and potential conflicts of interest. The case has drawn international attention, including concern from Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, who called the release of a key suspect a “scandal.”
At the center of the unfolding questions is the death of 24-year-old Cyane P., a bartender who worked at the “Constellation” bar where the fire originated. Her family’s lawyer advised against an autopsy, a recommendation quickly challenged by the lead prosecutor, Beatrice Pilloud.
The two lawyers are familiar with each other through a large tax and document forgery case involving Dominique Girod, a prominent figure in the Valais wine industry. Yannis Sakkas, the head of Cyane’s family’s legal team, was Girod’s primary defense attorney, while Pilloud previously defended a co-defendant in the case before becoming a state prosecutor in early 2024.
Pilloud’s husband is also involved in the wine business, operating a wine shop. During her time as a lawyer, Pilloud reportedly coordinated with Sakkas on the defense of clients involved in the Girod case. Those primary charges ultimately expired at the end of 2025.
This followed Pilloud’s intervention, just two years prior, into the investigation led by another prosecutor who had been building a case against Girod and his associates. That investigator was subsequently placed on medical leave for months before being removed from the case by Sakkas, who filed a motion of bias. The case was then transferred to a special prosecutor, who ultimately ran out of time to pursue charges. The original prosecutor was found dead in October 2025, with authorities suspecting suicide.
The fact that Pilloud was compelled to recuse herself from the Girod case due to bias, yet remains involved in the Crans-Montana fire investigation, has raised eyebrows. Pilloud had also recommended lawyers to the victims’ families who sit on the council that oversees the public prosecutor’s office.
One of those lawyers, the president of the council, is reportedly the attorney for the municipality of Crans-Montana, which itself may be subject to criminal investigation. This creates a direct conflict of interest, according to reports. Pilloud also initially declined to authorize autopsies, stating they were not a priority.
Jacques Moretti, the primary suspect in the fire, was not taken into custody for nine days after the blaze, while his partner remained free throughout the initial investigation. Moretti was later released on bail – 200,000 Swiss francs paid by an acquaintance – prompting the strong reaction from Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, who called his release “an insult to the victims.”
An autopsy on Cyane P. could have been crucial to understanding the circumstances surrounding her death. Investigators are examining how she escaped the basement of the “Constellation” bar and subsequently died.
According to initial reports, Cyane ignited a 10-year-old plastic ceiling decoration around 1:26 a.m. on January 1st. She had been standing on a colleague’s shoulders while holding sparklers near the ceiling. Jessica Moretti, the bar’s co-owner and Cyane’s boss, filmed the incident on her phone. Moretti had sent Cyane to the basement because of staffing needs.
Moretti immediately realized the ceiling was on fire, while Cyane, wearing a helmet for a planned display, did not immediately recognize the danger. Moretti ran upstairs and allegedly alerted everyone to evacuate. She claims to have alerted emergency services at 1:28 a.m., approximately 50 seconds after discovering the fire.
However, the first responders were actually officers from the Valais Canton Police, who received an anonymous emergency call at 1:30 a.m. Cyane apparently managed to escape the most dangerous area of the fire, as her body was not found at the foot of the stairs leading to the ground floor, where the majority of the victims perished.
Only six of the 40 people who died made it upstairs, including Cyane. Jacques Moretti and Jean-Marc G., the son of Moretti’s former partner, reportedly found Cyane unconscious behind a service door. Moretti later stated in interviews that they had to force the door open, which was locked with a PIN code to prevent patrons from leaving without paying.
Cyane would have known the door was locked, as she was responsible for managing the bar and following Moretti’s instructions. Investigators are questioning why she would attempt to escape through the service door instead of the main entrance, which was a direct route to safety.
Moretti reportedly sent his wife home to care for their young child. Shortly after the fire, the “Constellation’s” Facebook and Instagram pages were deleted. Security camera footage from the nightclub is only available until shortly before 1:30 a.m., meaning there is no visual record of the “flashover” – the rapid and deadly spread of the fire. Officials later stated the cameras malfunctioned.
Police arrived on the scene shortly after 1:30 a.m., followed by ambulances and firefighters. Moretti and Jean-Marc G. did not take Cyane to paramedics, but instead carried her to a nearby bar, where they allegedly attempted to revive her for at least 40 minutes. Moretti later stated they placed Cyane in the recovery position, questioning how they knew that was the correct course of action in such a critical situation and why they didn’t call for professional medical help. Moretti described Cyane as being “like a daughter.”
A paramedic eventually told them to stop resuscitation efforts, stating they were futile. Cyane P. had filed a complaint with the labor court in December regarding her long working hours and conditions at the “Constellation.” Jacques Moretti was convicted of employing undocumented workers in Switzerland in 2016, a year after the “Constellation” was renovated.
