At a Glance
- Juliana Peres Magalhaes is testifying that Brendan Banfield plotted to kill his wife and frame a stranger
- She pleaded guilty to manslaughter in the death of Joseph Ryan and says she came forward because it was “the right thing to do”
- Prosecutors allege Banfield used a fetish website to lure Ryan to their Virginia home
- Why it matters: The au pair’s testimony could determine whether Banfield is convicted of murdering both his wife and the stranger he allegedly tried to frame
An au pair who once lived with a Virginia family is now the prosecution’s key witness against her former lover, Brendan Banfield, claiming he masterminded a plot to murder his wife and make it appear as a home invasion gone wrong.
The Alleged Plot
Brendan Banfield is on trial for the February 2023 murders of his wife, Christine Banfield, and Joseph Ryan, a man prosecutors say he lured to their Herndon home through a fetish website.
Prosecutors outlined a chilling plan:
- Banfield allegedly created a profile on Fetlife.com, a bondage site, posing as Christine
- He messaged Ryan about a “consensual sexual encounter involving restraints used on her, her clothing being cut off with a knife he brought, and other violent sexual role play”
- Banfield gave Juliana Peres Magalhaes, the family’s Brazilian au pair, a gun
- She was to call Christine’s phone once Ryan entered the home, then alert Banfield, who waited at a nearby McDonald’s
Peres Magalhaes testified that Banfield changed his routine in the weeks before the murders so his presence at McDonald’s wouldn’t seem unusual, according to NBC4.
Night of the Killings
When Ryan arrived, the plan shifted violently:
- Peres Magalhaes called Banfield as agreed
- Banfield drove home and allegedly shot Ryan in the head
- He then stabbed Christine to death, attempting to frame Ryan for her murder
- Peres Magalhaes told the court she shot Ryan again after seeing him move
Both victims died at the scene. Christine was stabbed; Ryan was shot.
The Au Pair’s Guilty Plea
In 2024, Peres Magalhaes pleaded guilty to manslaughter in Ryan’s death. She struck a deal to testify against Banfield, who faces aggravated murder charges and has pleaded not guilty.
On the stand, prosecutors asked why she ultimately admitted her role.
“The thought of being the right thing to do, I guess,” she replied, per CNN. “The world deserved to know what really happened and I just couldn’t hold it – I just couldn’t keep it to myself, the feeling of shame and guilt and sadness and all those feelings.”
Affair and Motive
Prosecutors say the motive was simple: Banfield wanted to “get rid” of his wife so he could be with Peres Magalhaes. The au pair testified that Banfield told her “divorce was not an option,” NBC4 reported.
The pair began concocting the murder plot after the affair started, she told the court.
Defense Strategy
Banfield’s attorney, John Carroll, countered that authorities arrested Peres Magalhaes solely to “flip her against my client,” NBC4 said.
The trial, underway this week, is expected to hinge on whether jurors believe the au pair’s account of a calculated scheme or the defense claim that she acted independently and is now shifting blame.
Key Takeaways
- The prosecution’s case rests almost entirely on Peres Magalhaes’ testimony
- Her guilty plea and detailed narrative provide a timeline and motive
- Banfield faces life if convicted of the double murder
- The defense must undermine her credibility without appearing to attack a woman who has already admitted partial responsibility
