Suvechha Sarkar
Netflix’s ‘Murder in Monaco’ focuses on the heartbreaking case where the billionaire, Edmond Jacob Safra, and his nurse, Vivian Torrente, were killed in a fire in Monaco. The quick investigation revealed that it was deliberately set by another of Edmond’s nurses, Ted Maher, now known as Jon Green. His then-wife, Heidi Maher, had stood by him in the first three years of the case. However, things changed when she eventually got a divorce and cut off her connection with him. The documentary also features her past interviews and additional interviews with Ted, Edmond’s acquaintances, and officials related to the case.
Heidi Maher’s Life Changed Forever After Ted Maher Was Arrested in Monaco
Heidi Wustrau was born sometime in 1970 to her mother, Joan Wustrau, and her father. She pursued her higher studies at Dutchess Community College. It was reportedly around that time that she first met Ted Maher. By 1991, Heidi moved on to study at Pace University, where she crossed paths with Ted again. They soon began dating and finally shared their vows on December 12, 1993. Ted already had a son, Christopher, from his previous marriage. Heidi started to raise him as her own child. Over the next few years, Heidi and Ted welcomed their son, Ian, and daughter, Amber, into their lives. Heidi and Ted both began working at Columbia Medical Center in New York.
Heidi and Ted were residing in Stormville, New York, when Ted received the opportunity to work as a nurse for billionaire Edmond Jacob Safra in Monaco. Everything was going well until things took a dark turn on December 3, 1999, when Edmond and his nurse, Vivian Torrente, passed away during a fire at Edmond’s penthouse. Shortly after, Ted reportedly gave his confession that he had intentionally started a fire in a waste basket and allegedly wanted to act as a hero in front of Edmond. In the confession, he reportedly mentioned that he didn’t want to harm his employer. Ultimately, Ted was arrested in December 1999 and charged with aggravated arson resulting in death. His trial commenced in November 2002, and by the following month, he was convicted and sentenced to 10 years in prison.
Heidi Maher Stood Strong Amid Legal Battles Before Seeking a Divorce From Ted
Following Ted’s arrest, Heidi stood beside her husband, insisting he wasn’t capable of harming anyone. She claimed in interviews that following the ordeal, Edmond’s wife, Lily Safra, and her team had helped bring Heidi and her brother, Todd Wustrau, to Monaco. She further alleged that she believed that instead of taking them to the hospital to see her injured husband, Ted, they were allegedly taken first to the police station. According to reports, in her statements, she claimed that she and her brother were then kept in a hotel room under surveillance, and their passports were allegedly taken. After Ted’s confession, Heidi alleged that the authorities forced him to do so under the threat that she would be harmed.
Further speaking on the matter, she alleged, “It seems like they want a nice, clean ending to all of this and are using my husband as a scapegoat.” However, Monaco authorities and courts rejected the aforementioned assertions, and no evidence was found to substantiate claims of coercion or misconduct by Lily Safra or her representatives. Following his conviction, Heidi had reportedly broken down and claimed that Ted was innocent. In January 2003, Ted reportedly escaped from the prison in Monaco and called Heidi and a pastor. However, according to Ted, on that call, Heidi refused to talk to him and called him a “fugitive.” She and the pastor then reportedly informed the authorities, which led to his re-arrest. In May 2003, Heidi filed a mega-million-dollar civil suit in Dutchess County Supreme Court in New York against Lily Safra and some Safra-associated parties.
In that suit, she reportedly sought pretrial discovery and money damages for the way she claimed she was treated after the December 1999 Monaco events. According to the show, just a few days before the trial, Heidi dropped the lawsuit. In that very same month, Heidi filed for divorce from Ted. During one of her interviews, she stated, “I don’t need him, and I don’t want him.” She further explained that she felt it was not healthy for him to be present in his kids’ lives. After Ted was released in August 2007, he discovered that Heidi had gotten a restraining order against him, preventing Ted from coming near her or their children. According to public reports, it led to a visitation battle in court and resulted in his being barred from meeting his children until September 14, 2007. However, no other reports publicly confirm what happened afterward.
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Heidi Maher Appears to be Leading a Quiet Life Away From the Limelight
According to official reports, after Ted’s arrest, Heidi moved in with her parents, along with her children. She continued her nursing studies and became a registered nurse. The reports indicate that she began working overtime to support Christopher, Ian, and Amber. Whenever she was away for work, her mother, Joan, took on the role of looking after the kids. As per another report, by August 2007, Heidi had found love again and remarried. However, the identity of her partner remains unclear. After the turmoil she had to go through, several reports suggested that she had refrained from making any comments or contacting news outlets. As of writing, Heidi has chosen to remain out of the spotlight. She is likely leading a quiet life rooted in her family.
