brendan banfield: Brendan Banfield verdict: Brendan Banfield convicted in ‘au pair’ double murder that stunned Virginia suburbs
The verdict closed a case that involved betrayal, secrecy and violence in what once seemed like a quiet suburban home.
What did the jury decide?
A jury in Virginia on Monday found Brendan Banfield guilty of two counts of aggravated murder, along with a firearms offense and child endangerment. The panel deliberated for several days, including nine hours on Monday, before reaching the decision, according to a report by NBC News.
Due to the aggravated murder convictions, Banfield will spend the rest of his life in prison. Prosecutors noted that Banfield’s daughter, who was 4 at the time, was home at the time of the murders.
Banfield was originally charged with four counts of aggravated murder and use of a firearm in the commission of a felony in connection with the deaths on Feb. 24, 2023. The jury ultimately found him guilty of two counts of aggravated murder.
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How did prosecutors explain the conspiracy?
Prosecutors argued that Banfield, a former IRS agent, spent months conspiring with the family’s caregiver, Juliana Peres Magalhaes, to kill his wife, Christine Banfield, and frame another man named Joseph Ryan.
According to testimony, Banfield and Peres Magalhaes had an extramarital affair. Prosecutors said Banfield was trying to avoid a divorce and worked with the babysitter to lure Ryan into the home, NBC News reported.
Peres Magalhaes later told police they created a fake account on the BDSM site FetLife.com using Christine Banfield’s laptop. The account was used to invite Ryan to the house for a staged rape fantasy involving Christine Banfield.
Eight months after the murders, Peres Magalhaes was arrested. In 2024, he pleaded guilty to a reduced charge of involuntary manslaughter and told authorities that he and Banfield planned the murder together, according to a report by NBC News.
What happened on the morning of the murder?
On the morning of February 24, 2023, Peres Magalhaes called 911 to report that a friend was injured. Banfield then picked up the phone and told the dispatcher that an “unknown male” had entered the home and attacked his wife, NBC News and CNN reported.
In the 911 call made at trial, Banfield said, “There’s someone here. I shot them.” “He stabbed her. There are a few marks on her neck. What should I do?”
Police arrived at the home to find 37-year-old Christine Banfield fatally stabbed in an upstairs bedroom. Joseph Ryan had been fatally shot nearby.
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What did Banfield say in his defense?
Continuing the trial, Banfield admitted that he had cheated on his wife with Peres Magalhaes and several other women. However, he denied any murder conspiracy.
In his statement, he said, “I think it was a plan to get rid of my wife, and that it was a ridiculous line of questioning for something that wasn’t serious.” “This is absolutely crazy.”
Banfield claimed that after spotting Ryan’s car in the driveway, he burst into the bedroom and shouted “police”. He said his wife warned him that Ryan had a knife and Ryan said, “He gave himself to me!” He stated that he fired after saying this.
“I didn’t mean to shoot him,” Banfield said. “Um, I wanted him to let her go.”
He also said he would never harm his wife, although she expressed interest in bondage-like situations, and had never heard of FetLife.com before the shooting, NBC News and CNN reported.
Why did the case attract national attention?
The case attracted widespread attention for its lurid details, including its connection to a fetish site and the revelation that both Banfield and his wife were swingers. With the guilty verdict, the courtroom part of the story is over, but its impact continues to reverberate.
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FAQ
Who was convicted in the case?
Brendan Banfield, a former IRS agent, was convicted of murdering his wife, Christine Banfield, and Joseph Ryan.
What penalty did Banfield receive?
Due to the aggravated murder convictions, Banfield will spend the rest of his life in prison.
