Virginia Jury Convicts Brendan Banfield Of Double Murder In Plot With Au Pair

A Fairfax County jury on Monday found Brendan Banfield guilty of murdering his wife, Christine Banfield, and another man, Joseph Ryan, in a scheme prosecutors say he carried out with the family’s au pair, Juliana Peres Magalhães.

Verdict and Penalties

Banfield was convicted of two counts of aggravated murder, a firearms offense and child endangerment. Under Virginia law the aggravated murder convictions carry a mandatory life sentence; Banfield is scheduled to be sentenced on May 8.

Prosecution’s Case

Prosecutors told jurors Banfield — who they say was having an extramarital affair with the au pair — conspired with Peres Magalhães to lure Ryan to the family home using fake profiles on a fetish website. According to the prosecution and Peres Magalhães’s testimony, the profiles purported to be Christine and arranged what was represented as a consensual but violent encounter; when Ryan arrived, the au pair says Banfield stabbed his wife and then shot Ryan, and they staged the scene to make Ryan’s death appear to be self-defense.

Defense Case and Banfield’s Testimony

Banfield, an armed IRS special agent, maintained his innocence and testified in his own defense. He acknowledged an affair with Peres Magalhães beginning in August 2022 but denied planning to kill his wife. He told the jury that on Feb. 24, 2023, he returned home after the au pair called to say a stranger was in the house; he said he found Ryan attacking his naked wife, announced himself as law enforcement, and fired after Ryan allegedly stabbed Christine. Banfield said Peres Magalhães fired a second shot with his personal firearm, which she had obtained earlier that day. Prosecutors challenged Banfield’s credibility, and a prosecutor described the defendant as unemotional on the stand.

In this image taken from video, Juliana Peres Magalhães testifies during the trial of Brendan Banfield on January 13 in Fairfax, Virginia. - Court TV/Pool/AP

Key Evidence and Witnesses

The prosecution’s case relied heavily on Peres Magalhães’s account. She was arrested in October 2023 in connection with Ryan’s death and later agreed to cooperate with prosecutors in return for a recommendation of time served. Prosecutors called roughly 20 witnesses over a four-day trial and two rebuttal witnesses; the defense called law enforcement witnesses and a digital forensics analyst who disputed the prosecution’s catfishing theory based on data recovered from Christine Banfield’s devices.

Forensic testing did not recover Brendan Banfield’s DNA on the knife that fatally stabbed Christine; analysts reported only Christine’s and Ryan’s DNA on the weapon. Investigators found Banfield kneeling over his wife with his hands on her neck when officers arrived; Banfield said he was applying pressure at his wife’s request to slow bleeding while she was still conscious. Prosecutors argue Ryan brought the knife to the home while posing as Christine at Banfield’s direction.

Trial Timeline

The trial began on Jan. 12. The jury received the case midday Friday and deliberated much of Monday before returning its verdict. Banfield was not charged in the killings until September 2024; Peres Magalhães agreed to cooperate with prosecutors approximately a year after her October 2023 arrest.

Steve Descano, Fairfax County commonwealth’s attorney, called Banfield’s actions “monstrous” and said the defendant would have to live with the consequences of his crimes.

This remains a developing story and may be updated as additional information becomes available.