Key Takeaways:
- Netflix’s new Murder in Monaco documentary investigates the 1999 Monte Carlo penthouse fire that killed billionaire banker Edmond Safra.
- The documentary revisits why Safra’s nurse Ted Maher was convicted of arson causing death after confessing to starting the fire.
- Murder in Monaco also updates what happened afterward, including Maher’s prison escape attempt and later crimes under the name Jon Green.
Billionaire Edmond Safra died in 1999 in his Monaco penthouse after a fire broke out. While authorities initially thought the 67-year-old was the victim of a bungled burglary, the reality was far stranger.
Netflix’s new documentary Murder in Monaco revisits the Lebanese-Brazilian banker’s mysterious death for the first time in decades. Murder in Monaco, which begins streaming on December 17, unpacks the high-profile murder and features exclusive interviews with Ted Maher, the American nurse who was convicted of starting the fire that killed Safra and another of the billionaire’s nurses, Vivian Torrente.
At the time, the suspicious circumstances surrounding Safra’s death ignited an international media storm, which gave way to various conspiracies about who was really responsible. The film explores some of these theories, which place blame not on Maher, but on much more elusive and powerful culprits.
Netflix’s Murder in Monaco offers a fresh look at Safra’s perplexing murder and the eventual conviction of Maher.
How Did Edmond Safra Die? Inside the 1999 Monaco Penthouse Fire
On December 3, 1999, Safra died from smoke inhalation after a fire ravaged his penthouse in Monte Carlo, a prestigious district in Monaco. The Republic National Bank founder, who was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease and required round-the-clock care, had a team of nurses on staff at his home, which included Torrente and Maher.
In the early hours of the morning, Maher was alone at the nursing station when he alerted staff that intruders had broken into the penthouse. Wounded and bloody, he instructed Safra and Torrente to barricade themselves in the bathroom, which functioned as a panic room, and call the authorities. But by the time police and firefighters arrived, both Safra and Torrente were dead.
Murder in Monaco: Ted Maher’s Confession, Conviction, and Prison Escape
Maher initially claimed two hooded men broke into the penthouse, stabbed him repeatedly at his desk, and then set the fire on their way out. After authorities found no evidence of intruders, however, the former Green Beret eventually confessed he staged the whole attack and started the fire himself in a wastebasket. But why?
According to Maher, he never wanted to hurt Safra. The registered nurse claimed he had been mistreated by his superiors and was afraid of losing his lucrative job. In an attempt to curry favor with his employer, he started the fire so he could rescue Safra and save the day. But instead of becoming a hero, Maher waited too long to put out the fire, and it quickly spread out of control.
“I couldn’t believe that such a terrible tragedy came from such a small fire,” he later said in court. “What’s happened is and always will be a terrible accident.”
Even after admitting his guilt, Maher insisted the victims would have lived if police had not delayed firefighters from entering the building. But the whole reason for the delay was because police believed the alleged assailants were still at large. In December 2002, Maher was convicted of arson causing death and sentenced to 10 years in prison. The following month, he escaped from prison in Monaco and fled to France—but was apprehended just hours later.
Murder in Monaco Conspiracy Theories: Russian Mafia and Other Claims
Despite Maher’s conviction, the unusual case fueled widespread speculation, leading to an array of conspiracies. Latching on to the strange circumstances and the fact that Maher, who only spoke English, was forced to write his confession in French, many looked to Safra’s business dealings for a possible explanation.
The most popular theory involved the Russian Mafia. Not long before his death, Safra worked with the FBI to expose Russian money laundering at his bank. For years, he had concerns about his safety. A globe-trotter, Safra owned homes all over the world, each equipped with bodyguards and state-of-the-art security and surveillance systems.
Other rumors involved drug cartels and terrorists, despite a lack of evidence. In the end, Maher was the sole perpetrator found responsible for Safra’s death.
Where Is Ted Maher Now? Updates on “Jon Green” and His Current Prison Term
Maher was released from prison in October 2007, after which he began professing his innocence, reverting to his original claim he had been attacked the night Safra died. In an interview with Dateline in March 2008, the former nurse insisted he fought off his attackers and set the fire to set off the smoke alarm in an effort to get help. He also claimed his confession had been coerced by Monaco police. But his efforts to clear his name were to no avail.
Maher soon changed his name to Jon Green and tried to go back to nursing, but his license was revoked by the Texas Board of Nursing in 2013, after he failed to disclose his conviction to employers. In April 2022, Maher broke into the office of his fourth ex-wife, Kim Lark, and stole $600 in cash, a gun, and her checkbook, among other items. He also unsuccessfully tried to cash a check for $44,000. After returning to kidnap her three search and rescue dogs, he was arrested in June 2022 and was found guilty on two counts of forgery in 2023.
While still behind bars, Maher paid another inmate to kill Lark and steal her money. Following an investigation, he was charged with solicitation to commit first-degree murder. In March 2025, he was found guilty of the murder for hire plot and sentenced to an additional 9 years in prison. Maher is currently imprisoned at a medical correctional facility in Albuquerque, New Mexico, where he is undergoing treatment for throat cancer.
How to Watch Murder in Monaco on Netflix
The new 90-minute documentary, directed by Hodges Usry, examines the unusual case through a new lens. Murder in Monaco is available to stream on Netflix on December 17.
Catherine Caruso joined the Biography.com staff in August 2024, having previously worked as a freelance journalist for several years. She is a graduate of Syracuse University, where she studied English literature. When she’s not working on a new story, you can find her reading, hitting the gym, or watching too much TV.
