Michael Griffith: This is something like a classic incompetence and cover up. And I don't know whether we'll ever get to the bottom of this.

The mystery of billionaire banker Edmond Safra and his nurse had to some added up to a muddle of half-truths and unproven accusations.

Boaz Bismuth: Everybody in this story believes what suits him.

Ted Maher believes that he was witness to an assassination attempt gone awry, but we had some more questions about his version of events.

Sara James, Dateline NBC: Can you help me understand a few more things. Let’s go back to the night in question.

Remember, Ted says he was abducted two days before the attack and told that a window shutter needed to be left open.

Sara James, Dateline NBC: What I don't understand about these guys is why tell you that they're going to attack?

Ted Maher: I didn't -- there was no telling me they were going to attack. I was told one thing specific. I was told to make sure that the valence was kept open.

Sara James, Dateline NBC: You're told that by guys who are wearing masks.

Ted Maher: Right.

Sara James, Dateline NBC: If that's not an indication that they're planning an attack, I don't know what is.

Ted Maher: Yeah, you're right. You're right.

Sara James, Dateline NBC: So, why tell a Green Beret? Why warn you?

Ted Maher: I don't know.

Sara James, Dateline NBC: You are the last person I would warn.

Ted Maher: I don't know. I don't know.

Sara James, Dateline NBC: And then, not only do they warn you, but then they come and they're just armed with knives.

Ted Maher: I’m sure that they had guns. I’m sure.

Sara James, Dateline NBC: But you didn't see any guns.

Ted Maher: I didn't see any. I mean, this whole incident. This thing didn't transpire over a five minute fight. I mean, this was happening in seconds, OK? Boom. I'm stabbed. I'm out unconscious. I wake. I come to. These people are I don't know where.

Ted believes the men who stabbed him and left him unconscious had come to murder Edmond Safra.

But why then did they flee before finishing the job?

Sara James, Dateline NBC: If this is an assassination attempt, as you say you suspect it was, why not assassinate him? He's in his bed. Who could be more defenseless?

Ted Maher: I don't know. I don't -- I can't answer questions that you're asking--

Sara James, Dateline NBC: And where did they go? I mean, where did they go?

Ted Maher: I don't know. That's a really good question.

Outside on the street, police say their cameras blanketing the city picked up no sign of fleeing intruders.

But there's something else about Ted’s story we thought didn't quite add up.

Remember that weight he say he used to fight off the intruders?

Sara James, Dateline NBC: You'd been working out.

Ted Maher: I had done some things with my arms, yeah.

Sara James, Dateline NBC: Because it's the middle of the night and you're -- it's easy to fall asleep.

Ted Maher: Right.

Sara James, Dateline NBC: But I don't understand. Because you know that that particular night--

Ted Maher: Something may happen. Something's--

Sara James, Dateline NBC: Something huge is going to happen. The valence is open. I mean, that's not a typical night. You're not going to have any trouble falling asleep that night.

Ted Maher: No. I mean--

Sara James, Dateline NBC: You're going to be on pins and needles.

Ted Maher: Yes, you're right. And I was. I mean, but, I mean, after 36 hours on without any sleep at all and being under that stress. By 4:30 in the morning I was exhausted.

Ted Maher, who was briefly hailed as a hero, then cast as the villain, says he's really been just a victim all along.

Sara James, Dateline NBC: Is there one other possibility though? That the Monaco police were incredibly inefficient. That the fire department was utterly incompetent. That your trial was a complete fraud. And that it is also true you concocted this. Is it possible both those things are true?

Ted Maher: No. Because I already explained several times before. I mean, there's no motive. I've been put on permanent staff. I don’t have to prove myself as a hero. There's no more pieces of the puzzle. What, after I’ve been given everything, I want to...

Sara James, Dateline NBC: But does the story of the intruders sound far-fetched even to you?

Ted Maher: I don’t know.

Ted's wife Heidi stood by him during his trial, but divorced him in 2006 and today has full custody of their children.

The penthouse in Monaco has been rebuilt, though Lily Safra, now in her seventies and one of the richest women in the world, spends most of her time in London -- far away from what was once their luxurious, safe haven.

Vivian Torrente’s daughter would like to move on as well.

Genevieve Torrente: Like, you want to believe that's the end of the story. But, you know, in the back of my head I always kind of felt that it's not the end of the story. It's not what really happened. Or -- and, like, you know, part of me thinks that I’ll never find out what happened.

Two lives are gone, an undeniable loss whatever version of the story you choose to believe.

Sara James, Dateline NBC: This is the question, really, Ted. Were you lying then or are you lying now?

Ted Maher: No. I'm not lying. I'm telling the truth.

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