Concerning development
Nightclub Owners 'Grabbed Cash and Ran' as 40 Burned Alive in Swiss Bar
French nightclub owners accused of fleeing with cash while 40 died in New Year's fire. Couple at large, deleted social media as victims burned, sparking outrage.
In a disturbing development, the French owners of the "La Constellation" nightclub, Jessica Morty and Jacques Morty, are facing allegations of prioritizing the cash register over rescuing patrons during a catastrophic fire that killed 40 people on New Year's Eve, with the couple still at large as investigations continue.
The blaze, which erupted around 1:30 a.m. from fireworks attached to champagne bottles igniting the ceiling, has led to probes into manslaughter, causing injury, and evidence destruction. Authorities are examining claims that Jessica Morty fled the scene with the venue's cash box instead of aiding trapped clubgoers.
Adding to suspicions of foul play, the nightclub's Facebook and Instagram accounts were deactivated in the early hours of January 1, while emergency teams were still extracting victims. Lawyers representing the 119 injured patrons argue this was a deliberate attempt to erase potential evidence, such as footage from the overcrowded party.
Attorney Romain Jordan stated, "The removal of the accounts indicates that safety concerns were immediately on the managers' minds."The local council has admitted no safety inspection occurred at the venue since 2019, fueling public outrage over enforcement failures. Jacques Morty, however, insisted, "Everything was done in accordance with regulations," claiming the site was checked three times in the past decade.
Morty has a significant criminal record in France, including imprisonment for severe offenses, fraud, and kidnapping.
Victims' advocates express fears that the French-citizen couple may flee to France to avoid prosecution in Switzerland. Jordan urged expanding the probe to include the local council, saying, "My clients want answers. They want the chain of responsibility that led to this drama clearly established. The managers are being investigated, but the local council must also be probed. No question should be ignored."
In an official statement, the Mortys said they are "devastated and thinking of the victims," pledging full cooperation and vowing not to evade responsibility. Demands from the affected parties include arresting the pair or conditioning their release on substantial bail. As of now, the couple remains free.