Shivangi Sinha
Netflix’s ‘Murder in Monaco’ revisits the mysterious death of Edmond Safra and pieces together interviews with individuals who were either directly involved or closely connected to him at the time of his death in December 1999. Among the most significant voices featured is Sonia Herkrath, Safra’s chief nurse. Her testimony is central to the narrative, as she was part of his daily care team and later took the stand against Ted Maher and offered firsthand insight into the final hours and the events that followed.
Sonia Herkrath Alleged That Ted Maher Was Scheduled to Work on the Night of the Incident
Sonia Herkrath served as the lead nurse overseeing the team of healthcare professionals employed to care for Edmond Safra since March 1998. In that role, she coordinated staff rotations, managed daily schedules, and ensured continuity of care, a responsibility made more complex by Safra’s Parkinson’s diagnosis and the strict security protocols surrounding his residence. By all accounts presented in the documentary, it was a role she handled with discipline and familiarity. On the night of December 3, 1999, Herkrath was not inside the apartment when the fire broke out, but she soon learned of the emergency and that Ted Maher had been present in the home.
In the documentary, she addresses conflicting accounts about that evening, firmly disputing Maher’s claim that he had been called in unexpectedly. According to Herkrath, Maher had been scheduled to work that shift well in advance and was not allegedly summoned at the last moment, as he later suggested. She further stated that the day had unfolded normally and that before leaving, she provided clear, detailed instructions to Maher and Vivian Torrente regarding Safra’s care for the remainder of the night. Herkrath recalled sensing an unusual urgency from Maher to have the staff leave the apartment. Shortly afterward, she learned of the fire and of the deaths that followed.
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Sonia Herkrath Testified Against Ted Maher at the 2002 Trial
Sonia Herkrath has consistently alleged that she never accepted Ted Maher’s claims that he was abducted or coerced into committing the crime. She has publicly rejected his version of events and his assertions of innocence, stating that she didn’t find his account credible. In December 2002, when she was called as a prosecution witness, Herkrath alleged that Maher had frequently expressed dissatisfaction with his work schedule and had wanted additional shifts to earn more money. During her testimony, she described him as a temporary hire, what she termed the “flavor of the month,” and stated that she never believed he would remain part of the care team for a long time. Her testimony also drew attention because of the comments she made regarding Lily Safra, who had claimed that police actions were responsible for her husband’s death.
Lily later explained that those remarks were allegedly made in a moment of intense grief and frustration and did not reflect her settled view of events. The defense, however, alleged that Herkrath had long disliked Maher and accused her of manipulating his schedule and allegedly providing him with incorrect information. Despite these claims, Herkrath’s testimony was considered significant by prosecutors and ultimately supported their case, which ultimately led to Maher’s conviction. Since the conclusion of the trial, Herkrath has largely remained out of public view. In the documentary, she reiterated her position, again alleging that she never believed Maher’s explanations or his claims of innocence. She also denied any claims that she had been paid money by Lily to testify against Maher.
