Virginia Double-Murder Trial Kicks Off Year Of High-Profile Cases — Ex-IRS Agent Accused In FetLife Plot

The long-awaited trial of former Virginia IRS agent Brendan Banfield began on Jan. 12 in a Fairfax County courtroom just outside Washington, D.C. Banfield, 40, is charged in the Feb. 24, 2023, killings of his wife, Christine Banfield, and a man named Joseph Ryan. Prosecutors allege Banfield conspired with the family’s Brazilian au pair, Juliana Peres Magalhaes, to lure a victim to the home via a sexual-fetish dating site and stage the crimes.

Police found the couple’s upstairs bedroom shortly after 8 a.m. on Feb. 24, 2023. Christine, 37, a pediatric nurse, was found dying from multiple stab wounds to the neck. Joseph Ryan, 39, lay nearby; the medical examiner concluded he had been shot twice, sustaining fatal wounds to the head and chest.

Prosecution View

Prosecutors say Banfield had an affair with 25-year-old Juliana Peres Magalhaes, who cared for the Banfields’ then-4-year-old daughter. They allege the two created a FetLife profile using Christine’s devices to contact users and convinced Ryan to come to the house to participate in a so-called "rape fantasy." According to the prosecution, Banfield stabbed his wife and shot Ryan with his service revolver; Peres Magalhaes testified she fired a second shot at Ryan when she saw him move.

Peres Magalhaes pleaded guilty to a reduced charge of manslaughter in exchange for cooperation. Prosecutors recommended she receive time served — instead of the typical up-to-10-year sentence — provided she continues to cooperate through sentencing, which is scheduled after Banfield’s trial. If Banfield is convicted on the murder charges, he faces a possible life sentence.

Evidence and Testimony

Jurors were shown "before and after" photos from a second search of the Banfield home in October 2023 that prosecutors say show Peres Magalhaes moving out of a guest room and into the primary bedroom with Banfield. She appeared at times frustrated on cross-examination, citing trauma and memory gaps while testifying. At the defense’s request, she also read portions of jailhouse letters describing contacts from media and production companies and alleging offers of money for exclusive interviews.

After the prosecution rested, the defense began calling witnesses. The trial was originally expected to last about four weeks.

Other High-Profile Murder Trials This Year

Dale And Dee Warner — Lenawee County, Michigan

Dale Warner, 57, is charged with murdering his wife, Dee Warner, who went missing in April 2021. Her remains were discovered in June 2024 inside a sealed chemical storage tank on his rural property. Dale pleaded not guilty to murder and evidence-tampering charges; the family has also filed a $100 million wrongful-death lawsuit.

Kouri And Eric Richins — Utah

Kouri Richins, 35, was arrested in May 2023 on charges she poisoned her husband, Eric Richins, with a lethal dose of fentanyl in March 2022. Prosecutors amended charges to include attempted murder and financial-fraud counts; Kouri has pleaded not guilty. Authorities allege financial motive and multiple suspicious insurance and estate actions preceding Eric’s death.

Larry And Maya Millete — Chula Vista, California

Larry Millete faces charges in the disappearance and presumed murder of his wife of 20 years, Maya Millete, who vanished on Jan. 7, 2021. Prosecutors say they will show a pattern of controlling and abusive behavior. Maya’s body has not been found; Larry has pleaded not guilty and has been jailed without bond since 2021.

Jared Bridegan Shooting — Jacksonville Beach, Florida

Shanna Gardner and Mario Fernandez Saldana are accused of hiring a hitman who ambushed Microsoft executive Jared Bridegan in February 2022 amid a custody dispute. The triggerman, Henry Tenon, pleaded guilty and agreed to testify. Prosecutors point to financial records and checks allegedly connected to the payments.

Rex Heuermann — Gilgo Beach, New York

Accused Gilgo Beach serial killer Rex Heuermann is scheduled to stand trial in September on charges in the long-running cold-case killings of multiple victims dating from the 1990s through 2011. Heuermann has been held since his July 2023 arrest; judges have pressed to move the case forward after delay-related frustrations.

Sandra Birchmore And Matthew Farwell — Canton, Massachusetts

Federal prosecutors charged former police officer Matthew Farwell in connection with the 2021 death of Sandra Birchmore, a pregnant 23-year-old whose death was initially ruled a suicide. The indictment alleges Farwell strangled Birchmore and staged the scene to hide an abusive relationship and her pregnancy; he has pleaded not guilty. Prosecutors declined to seek the death penalty.

These cases — spanning multiple states and a range of alleged motives — mark a year of high-profile murder trials that have garnered intense public attention from true-crime followers and families seeking answers.

Have a tip or a case you want explored? Email the reporter at drumoorhouse@buzzfeed.com.