CHRISTINE BANFIELD & JOSEPH RYAN: Virginia vs. Juliana Peres Magalhaes *GUILTY PLEA* & Brendan Banfield for double homicide *TRIAL IN PROGRESS*

Affluent Virginia suburb rocked by mansion murder mystery as nanny faces trial​

Juliana Peres Magalhaes is set to face trial in Fairfax County, Virginia, for second-degree murder in November​

Affluent Virginia suburb rocked by mansion murder mystery as nanny faces trial

A Brazilian au pair charged with murder in connection to a double homicide at her employers' suburban Fairfax County, Virginia, home in February 2023 is set to face trial.

www.foxnews.com

A bucolic Virginia neighborhood. A seemingly normal family of three. A Brazilian au pair. A double murder.

These are all parts of a complex puzzle investigators are still working to determine who killed Christine Banfield — a wife, mother and Fairfax County NICU employee — and Joseph Ryan, the 38-year-old man who showed up at her home armed with a knife, in Herndon, Virginia, in February 2023.

Part of that puzzle is in the process of being solved as Juliana Peres Magalhaes, Banfield's 23-year-old au pair and a Brazilian national, prepares to stand trial for second-degree murder and use of a deadly weapon during the commission of a crime in Ryan's shooting death.

VIRGINIA AU PAIR MURDER: FETISH PLOT, AFFAIR, GUN RANGE TIED TO DOUBLE HOMICIDE AT HOME, PROSECUTORS REVEAL
The mystery began on Feb. 24, 2023, when Magalhaes told police she left Christine and husband Brendan Banfield's home in the 13200 block of Stable Brook Way in Herndon to take their young daughter to the National Zoo. She told authorities that she had begun driving but realized she forgot the lunches she packed for their excursion back inside the house, so she turned around and noticed an unfamiliar car in the driveway.

She then reportedly called Brendan, a former criminal investigative agent for the IRS who had at that point left for work, and told him about the unknown car in their driveway. The pair decided to meet at the Banfields' home and walk inside together, as the Washington Post reported.

Initially, Magalhaes told police that when she and Brendan walked inside, they saw an unknown man, Ryan, holding Christine at knifepoint. She allegedly described him as an intruder. Ryan was apparently fully clothed while Christine was naked in the main bedroom of the house.

It remains unclear exactly what transpired inside the home that Friday morning, but Magalhaes and Brendan apparently both admitted to shooting Ryan while the man was holding a knife to Christine. Ryan died inside the home while Christine suffered stab wounds to the neck and ultimately died in the hospital.

'We believe in justice for both' | Grand Jury indicts au pair in connection to man's death

Juliana Peres Magalhaes, 23, was indicted on charges of second-degree murder and use of a firearm in commission of a felony.

www.wusa9.com

 

[SheWhoMustNotBeNamed]

Au pair takes stand in trial of Virginia man accused of plotting double murder to avoid divorce

Prosecutors alleged that Brendan Banfield killed his wife and planned to frame a stranger amid an ongoing affair with their Brazilian au pair.

www.nbcnews.com

Au pair takes stand in trial of Virginia man accused of plotting double murder to avoid divorce​

A Brazilian au pair testified that her employer planned a double murder using a man he lured from a BDSM website as a patsy to avoid a divorce, prosecutors alleged at the first day of his trial Tuesday.

Juliana Peres Magalhaes, 25, pleaded guilty to a lesser charge of manslaughter for her role in the double murder plot and agreed to testify against Brendan Banfield, with whom she was having an affair while working as the couple's au pair.

Peres Magalhaes took the witness stand Tuesday to testify against Banfield, saying he confided in her as early as October 2022 that he wanted to "get rid of" his wife and that divorce wasn't an option. He was worried about money and custody of the couple's daughter, who was 4 years old at the time of her mother's death.

 

[Regina]

There are a few YTers who will be live streaming it as well.

I've been trying to keep up with another trial that's psycho enough and in the process, I came across this one and while I'm struck by how the cases are fundamentally the same, the plot in this case is even more cold-blooded!

 

[GrandmaBear]

I've been trying to keep up with another trial that's psycho enough and in the process, I came across this one and while I'm struck by how the cases are fundamentally the same, the plot in this case is even more cold-blooded!

Yeah, it is pretty twisted. I watched a few minutes of it was it yesterday or the day before? I was going to watch a recap of the day but never did. I followed the case but not extremely closely.

What other one are you watching? I know there's a "mansion murders" or some such going on.

So many start early in the year from judges I think putting cases off til past the holidays which seems to be pretty standard. I know the Sarah Grace Patrick one has been delayed. Til August or September if I recall.

 

[Regina]

Yeah, it is pretty twisted. I watched a few minutes of it was it yesterday or the day before? I was going to watch a recap of the day but never did. I followed the case but not extremely closely.

What other one are you watching? I know there's a "mansion murders" or some such going on.

So many start early in the year from judges I think putting cases off til past the holidays which seems to be pretty standard. I know the Sarah Grace Patrick one has been delayed. Til August or September if I recall.

I'm not sure I've heard of the Patrick case.
The other one is Kevin West. Basically, he was having an affair but didn't want a divorce because he thought it would cost too much.

https://www.koin.com/news/crime/trial-camas-washougal-fire-battalion-chief-wife-murder/

 

[Regina]

The plot in this case brought to mind this other case: Mark Winger - Wikipedia
(I'd recalled so little that it wasn't exactly easy-peasy to find that case!)

 

[GrandmaBear]

I'm not sure I've heard of the Patrick case.
The other one is Kevin West. Basically, he was having an affair but didn't want a divorce because he thought it would cost too much.

https://www.koin.com/news/crime/trial-camas-washougal-fire-battalion-chief-wife-murder/

In Patrick she killed her mom and stepdad in their bed. She was a teenager, 17 I think...? Not sure but somewhere around there. Then let her 5 year old sister discover the bodies. She has some family support and is this trying to come across as church going, butter would not melt in her mouth young girl. His family on the other hand is fully sure she is guilty (the stepdad's). I think the pastor supports her and her mom's side I think. Her bio dad too maybe...? I didn't follow the case closely but have heard of it over time when it is talked of when I watch videos on other cases where they will touch on a few/more than one.

On the flip side of her "pure" act, she was highly sexual with a number of boys and did drugs.

I think she has tried to claim a drug deal gone wrong was related to the parents' deaths and someone from that probably killed them. Uh-huh. Yeah right.

A bit of the "fame" of the case too is that she tried to get a YTers attention on the case and reached out to the person to cover it.

Anyhow that trial is now delayed over some expert. I think they may be exploring some kind of mental defense. Not sure.

Not sure I've heard of the Kevin West one. The theme though, not uncommon right? Divorce costs too much... Murder is better... Smh.

 

[GrandmaBear]

The plot in this case brought to mind this other case: Mark Winger - Wikipedia
(I'd recalled so little that it wasn't exactly easy-peasy to find that case!)

Took a quick read. So yeah, he involves an almost stranger in her murder. He'd plot to kill a friend too who refused to pay his high bond? Sounds like a totally vengeful person all around. Selfish, probably narcissistic. Screws around with wife's friend, using her most likely, then dumps her and marries the "nanny". Such a nice guy...

 

[GrandmaBear]

I haven't been watching the trial even though a few have it on. I've caught some minutes here and there but not a lot. I think if anyone was waiting for anything it was the au pair's testimony.

So here is a short that probably has the key part of her testimony. Just a short clip.

 

[Tresir]

This story is like the plot of a movie. It really is unbelievable.

 

[Guess Who]

This story is like the plot of a movie. It really is unbelievable.

Except very similar has happened several times now, that we know of.

 

[Regina]

In Patrick she killed her mom and stepdad in their bed. She was a teenager, 17 I think...? Not sure but somewhere around there. Then let her 5 year old sister discover the bodies. She has some family support and is this trying to come across as church going, butter would not melt in her mouth young girl. His family on the other hand is fully sure she is guilty (the stepdad's). I think the pastor supports her and her mom's side I think. Her bio dad too maybe...? I didn't follow the case closely but have heard of it over time when it is talked of when I watch videos on other cases where they will touch on a few/more than one.

On the flip side of her "pure" act, she was highly sexual with a number of boys and did drugs.

I think she has tried to claim a drug deal gone wrong was related to the parents' deaths and someone from that probably killed them. Uh-huh. Yeah right.

A bit of the "fame" of the case too is that she tried to get a YTers attention on the case and reached out to the person to cover it.

Anyhow that trial is not delayed over some expert. I think they may be exploring some kind of mental defense. Not sure.

Not sure I've heard of the Kevin West one. The theme though, not uncommon right? Divorce costs too much... Murder is better... Smh.

That Patrick case, wow; she even spoke at their funeral!
What a psycho!

 

[Regina]

This story is like the plot of a movie. It really is unbelievable.

It really does sound more like a movie plot than what actually happened in real life!

 

[Regina]

Took a quick read. So yeah, he involves an almost stranger in her murder. He'd plot to kill a friend too who refused to pay his high bond? Sounds like a totally vengeful person all around. Selfish, probably narcissistic. Screws around with wife's friend, using her most likely, then dumps her and marries the "nanny". Such a nice guy...

I just heard testimony from his mistress- they're now engaged- and I don't believe she's anywhere near as clueless- or forgetful- as she tried to come across.

 

[GrandmaBear]

That Patrick case, wow; she even spoke at their funeral!
What a psycho!

Oh yes, her talking at the funeral. Another notable thing to many...

 

[Regina]

I stopped listening to the testimony from the au pair. In the first place, it was too hard to comprehend what she was saying.
The defendant's doing a lot of writing, and I can't imagine what that's all about.
It'll be interesting to whether he takes the stand.

 

[GrandmaBear]

I stopped listening to the testimony from the au pair. In the first place, it was too hard to comprehend what she was saying.
The defendant's doing a lot of writing, and I can't imagine what that's all about.
It'll be interesting to whether he takes the stand.

I did see he was writing a lot. I went in just for a few moments yesterday I think. I haven't really gotten into the trial but then I haven't really tried to. How long has she been on the stand? I shared a clip of her testimony the other day, just a short one. I thought I'd listen to recaps at least but I haven't even done that lol. I guess because I really did not follow this case closely to begin with.

 

[Regina]

I did see he was writing a lot. I went in just for a few moments yesterday I think. I haven't really gotten into the trial but then I haven't really tried to. How long has she been on the stand? I shared a clip of her testimony the other day, just a short one. I thought I'd listen to recaps at least but I haven't even done that lol. I guess because I really did not follow this case closely to begin with.

I didn't watch the clip you posted but I did hear her testimony where she explained she and the husband would go online to that fetish website when the wife was home so that it'd appear it was the wife who was online.
(What I remember most is that there seemed to be a heck of a lot she said she couldn't remember. )

 

[GrandmaBear]

I didn't watch the clip you posted but I did hear her testimony where she explained she and the husband would go online to that fetish website when the wife was home so that it'd appear it was the wife who was online.
(What I remember most is that there seemed to be a heck of a lot she said she couldn't remember. )

It was a very brief clip. Sad that Christine begged her to call 911. Was about the very time of the murders.

They are both a couple of sick and evil individuals imo. The husband AND the au pair. Stupid but evil.

 

[GrandmaBear]

21 minutes. He doesn't feel the State did very well before they rested in this one. Didn't drive home points they could have made. Didn't seize opportunities. Commenters seem to feel similar. Defense now is up and will try to dismantle and change interpretation and did so with P witnesses too. I guess. I haven't followed this closely.

Hopefully the P drives things home in closings.

I think it's a case where the truth is pretty obvious. Hopefully jurors can figure that out without the P driving points home. This is his opinion of course but I've seen others that are similar. I can't say as I haven't really watched it so won't act as if I have. The few times I went in it just didn't hold my attention. Maybe was just at the wrong time or as said here, perhaps the P just wasn't driving things home. Not sure. Did not watch enough to have an opinion.

I DO have an opinion on what happened and I sure HOPE the prosecution drives it home and does their job. Sounds like thus far, not so well maybe... I don't know but he does cover facts and feels they kind of fell flat with her dad and the last witnesses and more and ended very flat. It isn't over but HOPEFULLY they do better if that's true...

 

[GrandmaBear]

Nate has a video too. Most comments say this entire trial has fallen flat and they don't feel EITHER attorney did very well and the whole thing just kind of fizzled. Why I wonder when what happened here was outrageous.

It isn't over yet but in the hands of the defense now I think. People are saying defense atty doing very poorly as well...