True crime nerds, take note. Netflix is set to revisit one of Monaco’s most perplexing tragedies with Murder in Monaco, a documentary exploring the mysterious death of billionaire Edmond Safra.
The documentary drops Wednesday, December 17, 2025 on Netflix for Australian audiences.
What is Murder in Monaco about?
Murder in Monaco explores the puzzling death of billionaire Edmond Safra – who suffered from Parkinson’s disease – and his nurse Vivian Torrente, who were found dead in Edmond’s luxury penthouse on December 3, 1999.
They died of smoke asphyxiation in a locked room of the home after it was engulfed in flames.
The doco looks into court records and archival footage, as well as interviews with journalists, legal experts and insiders close to the case to work out what went down on the night, and why.
Why is the death of Edmond Safra so strange?
The biggest question in the case is who really lit the fire and why?
Monaco is notorious for having high-security and surveillance throughout the small city-state, making it highly unusual that anyone could get away with murder without being caught on camera or witnessed by someone.
The absence of Edmond’s chief of security, Samuel Cohen, was also deemed suspicious as he usually had tight security.
The bizarre confession from one of his nursing staff also produced even more questions as to what really happened to the billionaire finance executive.
Who are the suspects?
Ted Maher, The Nurse
Ted is a former Green Beret officer who turned to nursing and became one of Edmond’s twelve nurses.
He was the only other nurse on shift with Edmond the night of the murders – as well as victim Vivian – and gave a baffling confession to authorities that he deliberately lit the fire in the penthouse.
He originally stated to authorities that two intruders had broken into the apartment, but he fought them off and got stabbed in the process.
He then says he ordered Edmond and Vivian to lock themselves in the room while he called for help.
He admits he deliberately lit a fire in a bin inside the apartment in order to set off the smoke alarm to get urgent help.
However, it was later announced by authorities that Ted had confessed to starting the fire deliberately to draw attention onto himself out of jealousy of Edmond’s other nurses.
His stab wounds were also said to be self-inflicted to corroborate his story about the intruders.
He was put on trial and later alleges that he was coerced by police into confessing to the murder of Edmond and Vivian, and still maintains his original account.
He was eventually sentenced to 10 years in prison, and was released in 2007 after eight years.
The Russian mafia
The theory that the Russian mafia was responsible for Edmond’s death remains a consistent one, especially voiced by Ted Maher.
Allegedly, Edmond helped expose the Russian mafia’s money laundering activities to the FBI, and this was their payback.
Edmond’s wife, Lily Safra
Lily Safra moved to London in the years after Edmond’s death, and quickly became a target for the city’s tabloids.
Articles circulated that dug up her second husband’s suicide and deemed it as suspicious, as well as reignited old conspiracy theories about Edmond’s death, despite Ted’s conviction.
Where is Ted Maher now?
Ted Maher features in the documentary to state his case and point of view of what happened.
However, as of July 2025, The New York Post reported that Ted is back behind bars after allegedly plotting to kill his wife.
Watch the trailer for Murder in Monaco
