Brendan Banfield Convicted of Aggravated Murder in Double Slaying

A Virginia jury has convicted Brendan Banfield on two counts of aggravated murder for the killings of his wife, Christine Banfield, 37, and Joseph Ryan, 39. The verdict, delivered nearly three years after the February 2023 deaths, also included convictions for a firearms offense and child endangerment. Banfield had pleaded not guilty to all charges throughout the trial, which featured conflicting testimonies and arguments regarding the investigation's integrity.

Verdict and Sentencing

Brendan Banfield now faces a mandatory life sentence in Virginia for the aggravated murder charges. Sentencing is scheduled for May 8.

Case Background: An Affair and Alleged Plot

Prosecutors alleged Banfield conspired with the family's au pair, Juliana Peres Magalhães, to murder his wife and frame Joseph Ryan.

Juliana Peres Magalhães began working as an au pair for the Banfield family in late 2021. In August 2022, Brendan Banfield and Peres Magalhães reportedly began an extramarital affair. Banfield acknowledged the affair during his testimony, describing it as volatile, but denied it as a motive for murder. He also testified that both he and his wife had engaged in outside affairs during their nearly 20-year marriage but had no intention of ending their relationship, having undergone couples therapy.

Prosecutors alleged that Banfield, a former IRS agent, and Peres Magalhães developed a plan to kill Christine Banfield and frame Joseph Ryan. This alleged planning reportedly began in the fall of 2022. Approximately two months before the killings, Banfield and Peres Magalhães visited a shooting range. Weeks later, Banfield purchased the firearm subsequently used to shoot Ryan.

Prosecution's Theory: Catfishing and Conspiracy

Prosecutors alleged that Banfield and Peres Magalhães used an adult fetish website, Fetlife.com, to create a fake account impersonating Christine Banfield. They reportedly lured Joseph Ryan to the Banfield home under the premise of a consensual sexual encounter, which involved "violent sexual role play" with a knife. Peres Magalhães reportedly confirmed details with Ryan in a phone call and stated Banfield taught her how to fire a gun. Banfield testified he was unaware of FetLife.com before the incident but noted his wife had expressed interest in "bondage-type situations."

On February 24, 2023, the day of the killings, Banfield's 4-year-old daughter was present in the home.

Prosecutors alleged that Banfield and Peres Magalhães orchestrated and staged the crime scene to "get rid" of his wife.

Based on Peres Magalhães' testimony, prosecutors outlined the following sequence of events:

• Banfield was waiting at a nearby McDonald's while Peres Magalhães contacted him about a "strange man" at the house. Banfield's testimony corroborated stopping for breakfast at McDonald's.
• Banfield and Peres Magalhães went upstairs, armed, after placing Banfield's child in the basement.
• They allegedly entered the bedroom where Ryan was holding Christine Banfield down.
• Banfield shot Ryan.
• Banfield then stabbed his wife multiple times. An autopsy later revealed seven neck wounds on Christine Banfield. Peres Magalhães testified that she hid during Christine's stabbing.
• Peres Magalhães shot Ryan again when he was still moving.
• Peres Magalhães initially called 911 but ended the call at Banfield's instruction. She then called 911 again, reporting the killings as if Ryan was an intruder who had stabbed Banfield's wife. Banfield later took the call, stating he had shot someone who had stabbed his wife.
• Peres Magalhães testified that Banfield orchestrated and staged the crime scene to "get rid" of his wife, including moving Ryan's body and applying Christine's blood to Ryan to frame him.

Banfield's Defense: Denials and Counter-Allegations

Brendan Banfield maintained his innocence, denying any plot with Peres Magalhães to harm his wife or Ryan.

He called the suggestion "absurd."

His account of the events on February 24, 2023, differed significantly:

• He testified that he returned home after Peres Magalhães called him, sounding distressed, and after attempts to reach his wife went directly to voicemail. He stated he instructed Peres Magalhães not to enter the house.
• Upon entering an upstairs bedroom, he stated he observed Ryan holding a knife to his naked wife.
• Banfield testified that Christine cried out, "Brendan, he has a knife," and Ryan refused to drop the weapon, allegedly saying Christine was "his."
• Banfield claimed he, as an armed IRS special agent, fired one shot at Ryan after seeing him make a "downward stabbing stroke" or after Ryan repeatedly stabbed Christine. He stated he announced himself as police and did not want to shoot but aimed to de-escalate.
• He testified that after he shot Ryan, Christine told him she was bleeding and expressed her love. Prosecutors questioned the feasibility of Christine holding a conversation given the seven neck wounds.
• Banfield then stated he heard another gunshot and observed Peres Magalhães holding a firearm she had retrieved from his safe.
• He denied stabbing his wife and stated he was attending to her wounds when officers arrived, finding him kneeling over her.

The defense challenged the prosecution's case by arguing:

• Law enforcement exhibited a rush to judgment and manipulated evidence.
• Initial digital forensics analysis indicated Christine Banfield maintained control over her devices prior to her death, which the defense argued countered the catfishing theory. A digital forensic examiner testified that Christine Banfield used her phone and laptop simultaneously and maintained control of her devices, and that no indication was found that Christine Banfield lost control of her devices. Banfield testified he did not know his wife's laptop password and never accessed her devices without her.
• Detectives who did not support the catfishing theory were allegedly removed from the case.
• The defense accused prosecutors of offering Peres Magalhães a reduced sentence in exchange for false testimony against Banfield. They highlighted notes she wrote in jail regarding negotiating payment with a true-crime author and producers after her plea deal. Peres Magalhães admitted to negotiating with a true-crime author for money.
• Banfield's boss testified that no work meeting was scheduled for Banfield on the morning of the killings, contradicting Banfield's testimony about leaving for a work meeting that could lead to a promotion.

Evidence Presented During Trial

• DNA Evidence: DNA analysis of the knife used in Christine Banfield's stabbing found DNA from Christine Banfield and Joseph Ryan, but not Brendan Banfield. Prosecutors suggested Ryan brought the knife to the scene at Banfield's direction.
• 911 Calls: Recordings of the 911 calls made by Peres Magalhães and Banfield were played at the trial.
• Blood Evidence: Prosecutors emphasized "blood evidence" to support their claims, arguing it placed Brendan Banfield "standing over Christine, stabbing her in the neck until she died."
• Digital Evidence: While the defense presented expert testimony questioning the catfishing narrative, the prosecution relied on Peres Magalhães' testimony regarding the use of Christine's devices to lure Ryan. During cross-examination, the digital forensics expert conceded he could not identify a time when Banfield and Peres Magalhães' devices were away from the home while accounts linked to the fetish website were active on Christine's devices.
• Other Details: Police discovered a framed photo of Banfield and Peres Magalhães on Banfield's bedside table upon arrival.

Juliana Peres Magalhães' Plea Deal

Peres Magalhães was arrested in October 2023 for Ryan's murder, initially charged with second-degree murder. She subsequently pleaded guilty to a reduced charge of involuntary manslaughter for her role in Ryan's death as part of a plea agreement. In exchange for her cooperation with prosecutors against Banfield, she received a recommended sentence of time served. Her sentencing is scheduled after Banfield's trial concludes.

Child Endangerment Conviction

Banfield was also indicted on felony child abuse and neglect and felony child cruelty charges in December 2024, stemming from his 4-year-old daughter's presence at the residence during the killings. These charges were addressed during the aggravated murder trial.