Brendan Banfield verdict: Brendan Banfield convicted in ‘au pair’ double murder that stunned Virginia suburbs

Brendan Banfield verdict: The long and disturbing case surrounding the deaths of Christine Banfield and Joseph Ryan has reached its legal conclusion. After nearly three years of investigation, testimony, and national attention, a Virginia jury has found Brendan Banfield guilty. Prosecutors said the killings were the result of a calculated plot involving the family’s au pair.

The verdict closes a case that mixed betrayal, secrecy, and violence inside what once appeared to be a quiet suburban home.

What did the jury decide?

On Monday, a Virginia jury convicted Brendan Banfield of two counts of aggravated murder, along with a firearms offense and child endangerment. The panel deliberated for several days, including nine hours on Monday, before reaching its decision, as per a report by NBC News.

Because of the aggravated murder convictions, Banfield will spend the rest of his life in prison. Prosecutors noted that Banfield’s daughter, who was 4 years old at the time, was inside the home during the killings.

Banfield had originally been charged with four counts of aggravated murder and using a firearm in the commission of a felony in connection with the deaths on Feb. 24, 2023. The jury ultimately convicted him on two aggravated murder counts.

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How did prosecutors describe the plot?

Prosecutors argued that Banfield, a former IRS agent, spent months conspiring with the family’s au pair, Juliana Peres Magalhaes, to murder his wife, Christine Banfield, and frame another man, Joseph Ryan.

According to testimony, Banfield and Peres Magalhaes were having an extramarital affair. Prosecutors said Banfield was trying to avoid a divorce and worked with the au pair to lure Ryan to the home, as per a report by NBC News.

Peres Magalhaes later told police that they used Christine Banfield’s laptop to create a fake account on the BDSM website FetLife.com. The account was used to invite Ryan to the house for what he believed was a staged rape fantasy involving Christine Banfield.

Eight months after the killings, Peres Magalhaes was arrested. In 2024, she pleaded guilty to a downgraded manslaughter charge and told authorities that she and Banfield had planned the murder together, as per a report by NBC News.

What happened the morning of the killings?

On the morning of Feb. 24, 2023, Peres Magalhaes called 911 and reported that a friend had been hurt. Banfield then took the phone and told the dispatcher that an “unknown male” had entered the home and attacked his wife, as per a report by NBC News and CNN.

“There’s somebody here. I shot them,” Banfield said in the 911 call played at trial. “He stabbed her. There’s several marks on her neck. What do I do?”

Police arriving at the home found Christine Banfield, 37, fatally stabbed in an upstairs bedroom. Joseph Ryan had been fatally shot nearby.

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What did Banfield say in his defense?

Taking the stand, Banfield admitted to cheating on his wife with Peres Magalhaes and several other women. However, he denied any murder conspiracy.

“I think that it’s an absurd line of questioning for something that is not serious that a plan was made to get rid of my wife,” he testified. “That is absolutely crazy.”

Banfield claimed he burst into a bedroom after seeing Ryan’s car in the driveway and yelled “police.” He testified that his wife warned him Ryan had a knife and that he fired after Ryan allegedly said, “She gave herself to me!”

“I did not want to shoot him,” Banfield said. “Um, I wanted him to let her go.”

He also testified that while his wife had expressed “interest in bondage-type situations,” he would never hurt her and had never heard of FetLife.com before the shooting, as per a report by NBC News and CNN.

Why did the case draw national attention?

The case drew widespread attention because of its lurid details, including its connection to a fetish website and revelations that both Banfield and his wife were swingers. With the guilty verdict, the courtroom chapter of the story has ended, but its impact continues to resonate.


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FAQs

Who was convicted in the case?
Brendan Banfield, a former IRS agent, was convicted of killing his wife Christine Banfield and Joseph Ryan.

What sentence did Banfield receive?
Due to the aggravated murder convictions, Banfield will spend the rest of his life in prison.