A Virginia jury has convicted Brendan Banfield of aggravated murder for the killings of his wife and another man, concluding an elaborate scheme where he plotted with the family’s au pair to ‘get rid’ of his spouse. The verdict, reached after nearly nine hours of deliberation, marks a significant development in a case that has drawn widespread attention for its shocking details.
Prosecutors argued that Banfield, a former IRS agent, was having an affair with Juliana Peres Magalhaes, the family’s au pair, and conspired with her to lure Joseph Ryan to their home under false pretenses. They created fake accounts on a fetish website, posing as Banfield’s wife, Christine, to arrange a consensual but violent encounter, with the intention of framing Ryan for her murder. On February 24, 2023, Banfield fatally stabbed his wife and shot Ryan when he intervened, then staged the scene to make it appear as if Ryan had attacked Christine, according to court testimony. The couple’s four-year-old daughter was in the basement at the time, adding a layer of child endangerment to the charges.
During the 11-day trial, the au pair testified against Banfield, detailing how he expressed a desire to marry her and have children, leading to the plot. She pleaded guilty to manslaughter in a deal with prosecutors and received time served for her cooperation. Her testimony was central to the prosecution’s case, describing how Banfield taught her to shoot and involved her in the catfishing scheme to execute the murders.
Banfield took the stand in his own defense, denying any plot and claiming that he acted in self-defense when he found Ryan attacking his wife. He testified that he loved his wife despite their mutual infidelities and that the affair with the au pair was not serious enough to warrant murder. However, prosecutors painted him as cold and dishonest, pointing to inconsistencies in his story and the lack of his DNA on the murder weapon.
The defense challenged the investigation, arguing that evidence was manipulated and that the au pair’s testimony was coerced as part of her plea deal. They emphasized that Banfield’s DNA was not found on the knife used to stab Christine, suggesting an alternative narrative. Despite these arguments, the jury found the prosecution’s evidence compelling, convicting Banfield on all counts, including firearms offenses and child endangerment.
Fairfax County Commonwealth’s Attorney Steve Descano called Banfield’s actions ‘monstrous’ and expressed hope that the conviction brings some justice to the victims’ families. The case has highlighted issues of domestic violence and the lengths to which individuals might go to escape marital strife, resonating with broader societal concerns.
Banfield is scheduled to be sentenced on May 8, where he faces a mandatory life sentence without parole for the aggravated murder charges. The conviction closes a chapter on a tragic story that has captivated the public, while the legal proceedings against the au pair have already concluded with her cooperation. As the community reflects on the verdict, the focus shifts to the upcoming sentencing and the lasting impact on the families involved.
