A Virginia man having an affair with the family’s Brazilian au pair was found guilty Monday of murdering his wife and another man that prosecutors say was lured to the house as a fall guy.
Brendan Banfield, a former IRS law enforcement officer, reported discovering Joseph Ryan attacking his wife, Christine Banfield, with a knife on the morning of February 24, 2023. He shot Ryan, and in a confusing twist, the au pair, Juliana Magalhães, also shot him.
Prosecutors disputed Banfield's account, suggesting he orchestrated a plan to eliminate his wife, with Ryan as the scapegoat. It was revealed that Brendan Banfield and Magalhães had engaged in an extramarital affair.
Magalhães entered a guilty plea for manslaughter in 2024 and testified against Banfield in court, revealing their devious actions, including impersonating Christine Banfield on a fetish website to lure Ryan into a staged incident that would appear like a home invasion.
Defense attorney John Carroll questioned Magalhães' reliability, noting her cooperation with prosecutors to mitigate her potential punishment. Banfield described her testimony as “absolutely crazy.”
The state presented compelling evidence against Banfield, such as blood stains on Ryan indicating Christine's blood, leading to a swift jury deliberation.
The jury spent nearly nine hours over two days before delivering their verdict, and Banfield now faces potential life imprisonment. Meanwhile, Magalhães awaits her sentencing and may receive leniency based on her cooperation.
