The Virginia courtroom crackled with tension as Juliana Peres Magalhães, the former au pair, began to unravel a chilling tale of betrayal and murder. Her testimony marked the opening of Brendan Banfield’s trial, where he stands accused of orchestrating a horrific double killing to conceal a clandestine affair.
Prosecutors paint a disturbing picture: Banfield, a former IRS special agent, allegedly spent weeks meticulously planning the deaths of his wife, Christine, and Joseph Ryan. The motive? A desperate attempt to silence the truth about his relationship with Magalhães, then a 22-year-old Brazilian national entrusted with the care of his family.
The scheme, as detailed by the prosecution, was shockingly calculated. Banfield allegedly created a false online persona, using his wife’s identity on a fetish website to lure Ryan into a deadly trap. He crafted an elaborate narrative, a twisted fantasy designed to justify the unthinkable.
Magalhães’s account revealed a gradual descent into a dangerous intimacy. What began as a professional arrangement blossomed into a sexual relationship, and with it, a terrifying awareness of Banfield’s dark intentions. She testified that he first hinted at eliminating his wife during a trip with their young child, initially unsure of how to proceed.
The planning extended to constructing airtight alibis. Banfield, aware of the scrutiny a murder investigation would bring, deliberately altered his routine, even fabricating mundane excuses like a visit to McDonald’s to deflect suspicion. Every detail was considered, every contingency accounted for.
The prosecution alleges Banfield and Magalhães specifically targeted men through the website, seeking someone willing to participate in a staged encounter. Ryan was ultimately chosen, lured under the false pretense of a consensual meeting, a scenario meticulously crafted by Banfield posing as his wife online.
Magalhães described a chilling conversation where Banfield outlined the horrific scenario he envisioned, instructing Ryan on how to enter the home, what to do upon arrival, and even suggesting the act be “simple and fun.” The calculated cruelty of the plan is staggering.
On the night of the murders, Magalhães recounted a frantic phone call, warning Banfield of a stranger in the house. His response, she testified, was to instruct her to stay put while he returned home, attempting to contact his wife. The scene was set for a brutal confrontation.
The couple allegedly placed their young child in the basement with an iPad before confronting Ryan and Christine in the bedroom. A chaotic struggle ensued, culminating in Banfield shooting Ryan with his service weapon and brutally stabbing his wife while Magalhães stood by, holding a firearm purchased just weeks prior.
Magalhães’s testimony became intensely graphic as she described witnessing Banfield’s violent attack on his wife, detailing the moment he climbed atop her and stabbed her in the neck. She spoke of the visceral sensation of blood soaking into the carpet, her hands, and even her shoes.
Following the murders, Banfield allegedly staged the scene to resemble a home invasion, attempting to mislead investigators. Magalhães then made the 911 call, falsely claiming Ryan was an intruder who had attacked Christine. The deception was complete, or so they hoped.
Magalhães pleaded guilty to manslaughter in October 2024 and will face sentencing after the conclusion of Banfield’s trial. Her testimony is a crucial piece of the prosecution’s case, a harrowing account of a meticulously planned and brutally executed crime. The trial is expected to last four weeks, promising further revelations in this disturbing saga.
