FAIRFAX, Va. — The double homicide trial unfolding in Virginia reveals a web of deception and betrayal involving a Brazilian au pair who has taken a plea deal. Juliana Peres Magalhães, the family's former au pair, pleaded guilty to manslaughter and testified against her former employer, Brendan Banfield, who faces aggravated murder charges.
Banfield is accused of orchestrating the tragic deaths of Christine Banfield and Joseph Ryan in 2023, as part of a plan to eliminate his wife. The prosecution outlines a relationship steeped in deceit, where both Banfield and Magalhães allegedly engaged in an elaborate scheme involving online impersonation and manipulation.
Magalhães testified that together, they created a phony social media narrative to lure Joseph Ryan before proceeding with the killings under the guise of self-defense against what they staged as an intruder. Banfield has pleaded not guilty, but the details emerging from the trial paint a chilling portrait of their relationship.
Magalhães, who was initially charged with murder, accepted a lesser manslaughter charge in exchange for her cooperation with authorities and will be sentenced after Banfield’s trial concludes. Her emotional testimony included expressions of despair from letters addressed to Banfield and reflections on her deteriorating mental state during the process.
Banfield is also charged with child abuse and felony child cruelty regarding the couple's young daughter who was present during the incident. The trial is expected to highlight the intersection of domestic violence, deception, and the consequences of a tragic relationship.
