One man with two identities behind crimes from Monaco to New Mexico – Image for illustrative purposes only (Image credits: Unsplash)
New Mexico authorities recently closed a case that stretched across continents and decades. Ted Maher, a former nurse once tied to a deadly blaze in Monaco, had built a fresh life under a different name. Yet the pattern of deception resurfaced when prosecutors accused him of arranging a murder-for-hire scheme against his estranged wife.
A Fire That Claimed a Billionaire
On December 3, 1999, flames swept through the penthouse of Lebanese banker Edmond Safra in Monaco. The billionaire and his private nurse, Vivian Torrente, died from smoke inhalation after barricading themselves in a bathroom. Ted Maher, then working as one of Safra’s caregivers, survived the incident and initially described masked intruders. He later admitted to starting a small fire, claiming it was meant to create a heroic rescue. Monaco courts convicted him of arson causing death and handed down a ten-year sentence.
Maher served roughly eight years before his release in 2007. Throughout the case he maintained that his confession had been forced, though the conviction stood. The tragedy drew international attention because of Safra’s wealth and the unusual circumstances inside the heavily secured apartment.
A Fresh Start Under a New Name
After leaving prison, Maher legally changed his name to Jon Green and relocated to New Mexico. He married a local physician, Dr. Kim Lark, in 2020. The couple’s relationship later deteriorated, leading to separation and legal disputes over property and finances. By 2022, Green faced charges in Carlsbad for stealing his wife’s vehicle, three search-and-rescue dogs, and forging checks in her name. He pleaded guilty to larceny and forgery and received a prison term.
The Murder-for-Hire Scheme Emerges
While incarcerated, Green allegedly turned to another inmate, Greg Markham, for help. Prosecutors said he paid Markham’s bail and promised additional money in exchange for killing Lark by staging a fentanyl overdose. The goal, according to court records, was to collect on life insurance, retirement accounts, and the couple’s home. The plan collapsed when Markham cooperated with investigators. In March 2025 a jury found Green guilty of solicitation to commit first-degree murder. He received the maximum sentence of nine years in June 2025 and is now serving time at a medical facility in Albuquerque while receiving treatment for throat cancer.
Patterns Across Two Continents
Crime analysts have noted recurring elements in Maher’s record: repeated use of false narratives, shifting identities, and attempts to position himself as a victim or hero. The Monaco fire and the later New Mexico plot both involved elaborate staging and financial motives. Authorities in both cases described a man who appeared to escalate rather than reform after earlier punishment. Maher’s current incarceration marks the latest chapter in a story that began more than twenty-five years ago on the French Riviera.
The dual convictions leave open questions about how someone with such a documented past could reappear in another jurisdiction under a new identity. Law enforcement agencies now emphasize better cross-border record sharing to prevent similar reinventions. For the victims’ families, the recent sentencing brings a measure of closure, though the full arc of Ted Maher’s actions continues to draw scrutiny from true-crime observers and legal experts alike.
