Christine Banfield/Facebook
In a complex case involving an affair, alleged manipulation, and violent acts, 24-year-old Brazilian au pair Juliana Peres Magalhaes has pled guilty to manslaughter in the death of Joseph Ryan, one of two victims in a double homicide in Fairfax County, Virginia. The plea agreement represents a significant development in the investigation, according to Fairfax County Commonwealth’s Attorney Steve Descano, who called it “an important step forward in our pursuit of justice for the victims and their families.”
The case revolves around Peres Magalhaes’ former lover, Brendan Banfield, who is also implicated in the crimes. Prosecutors allege that Banfield, a former IRS criminal division agent, manipulated Peres Magalhaes into participating in the violent plot, ultimately leading to the deaths of his wife, 37-year-old Christine Banfield, and Ryan, a 39-year-old mixed martial arts enthusiast, told Toronto Sun.
The tragedy unfolded on February 23, 2023, when Christine Banfield was found stabbed at her home in Herndon, Virginia, later dying in the hospital. Joseph Ryan was discovered nearby with gunshot wounds to the head and chest. Following her plea deal, Peres Magalhaes is facing a potential 10-year prison sentence.
The events leading up to the murders reportedly began with an affair between Peres Magalhaes and Banfield in August 2022. At the time, she was living in the home shared by Banfield and his wife Christine, a pediatric intensive care nurse, along with their 4-year-old daughter. Banfield’s motives allegedly intensified in January 2023 when he created a profile on a bondage website, Fetlife.com, and established contact with Ryan.
Prosecutors allege Banfield then directed Peres Magalhaes to impersonate Christine over an encrypted messaging platform to lure Ryan into a violent sexual scenario. Banfield reportedly instructed Peres Magalhaes to act as if Christine was willingly engaging in the encounter with Ryan, with specific details coordinated to establish “that both parties were willing participants,” according to lead investigator Clingan.
Ryan, unaware of the violent plan, allegedly arrived at the Banfield home on February 24, 2023, under the impression he would participate in consensual sexual role-play. Clingan stated that Peres Magalhaes was given a gun by Banfield, and she was instructed to call Christine’s phone as a pretext to stage an emergency. Banfield had allegedly turned Christine’s phone off and stashed it away, ensuring the call would go straight to voicemail.
He then waited at a nearby McDonald’s to return quickly once Ryan arrived at the house. According to the prosecution, when Ryan entered the house, Banfield returned, shooting Ryan in the head and stabbing his wife. Peres Magalhaes reportedly saw Ryan moving and then shot him, carrying out her part of what prosecutors argue was a premeditated plot.
The crime scene was initially presented to authorities as a case of Ryan attacking Christine, with Banfield and Peres Magalhaes reportedly staging the events to depict him as an intruder. However, during a follow-up investigation in October 2023, investigators uncovered photographs of Banfield and Peres Magalhaes in intimate poses throughout the house, as well as other suggestive items in the bedroom. This discovery, along with other evidence, ultimately led to the charges against Peres Magalhaes.
Just days before her trial, Peres Magalhaes agreed to provide what prosecutors called a “detailed account” of the events that aligned with the evidence gathered. In exchange, prosecutors agreed to recommend that she be released with credit for time served after Banfield’s trial, contingent on her continued cooperation.
Banfield, meanwhile, faces multiple charges, including four counts of aggravated murder, and is scheduled to stand trial on February 3, 2025. Peres Magalhaes’ sentencing hearing is set for March 21, 2025, concluding a grim chapter that has captivated and horrified the local community.
