A new true crime documentary on Netflix is compelling viewers to revisit one of the most perplexing and tragic deaths in recent financial history. 'Murder in Monaco' delves into the 1999 demise of billionaire banker Edmond Safra, unravelling a tale of misguided heroism that ended in catastrophe.
The Fateful Night in a Monaco Penthouse
On 3 December 1999, a fire broke out in the luxurious Monaco penthouse of 67-year-old banking magnate Edmond Safra. The financier, who suffered from Parkinson's disease, was inside with his carer, Vivian Torrente. Believing armed intruders had broken into the residence, the pair barricaded themselves in a reinforced bathroom for safety.
In a devastating twist, when firefighters arrived to tackle the blaze, Safra and Torrente refused to open the door, mistaking the rescuers for the supposed criminals. Both ultimately succumbed to smoke inhalation. What initially appeared a tragic accident soon revealed a far more sinister plot.
The Twisted Plot of an Employee
The investigation quickly uncovered that the fire was no accident. It was set by Ted Maher, a U.S. Army veteran hired by Safra in August 1999 to serve as both a bodyguard and a nurse. On that December night, Maher was covering an overnight shift.
Prosecutors concluded that Maher concocted an elaborate scheme to win his wealthy employer's favour. He falsely warned Safra and Torrente of armed burglars, urging them to lock themselves in the bathroom. He then set a fire in a wastepaper basket and, in a chilling act, stabbed himself to fabricate evidence of a struggle.
His plan was to stage a dramatic 'rescue' and emerge a hero. Tragically, he grossly miscalculated the fire's rapid spread and his own blood loss, rendering him unable to save anyone.
Conviction, Escape, and Further Crimes
After confessing days later, Ted Maher was tried and in December 2002 was found guilty of causing the deaths of Edmond Safra and Vivian Torrente. He received a 10-year prison sentence. His time behind bars was marked by a brief escape just two months in, where he sawed through cell bars before being recaptured in Nice hours later.
Maher's criminal activity did not end with his release. In 2022, he was imprisoned again in the United States for burglary, forgery, and fraud. Most shockingly, in March 2025, he was convicted of orchestrating a murder-for-hire plot against his wife, aiming to steal money from her home via a fentanyl overdose. He was handed an additional nine-year term and remains incarcerated in the US.
The documentary 'Murder in Monaco' is now available for streaming on Netflix, offering a comprehensive and gripping examination of this complex case that blends immense wealth, a fatal misjudgement, and enduring mystery.
