The Brendan Banfield Case: Everything We Know About the Virginia Au Pair Double Murder Plot
January 14, 2026 (Updated)
Victims Christine Banfield and Joseph Ryan
Day 1 - Tuesday, Jan 13, 2026: Opening Statements & The Au Pair Testifies
After opening statements this morning, prosecutors detailed the FetLife catfish plot and then the defense attacked the au pair's credibility, the au pair herself, Juliana Peres Magalhães, took the stand in the afternoon. She testified that her affair with Brendan Banfield began in August 2022 and that he told her "divorce was not an option" due to money and custody of their child. She stated that Brendan first mentioned his plan to "get rid of" his wife in October 2022. During her testimony, she looked very mild, and meek, and Brendan sat in the courtroom scribbling on paper, or just keeping his head down. Come back tomorrow for more updates on the case.
VA v. Brendan Banfield Case Overview
In a quiet, affluent Virginia suburb, a shocking story of deception, infidelity, and murder is unfolding in a Fairfax County courtroom. The trial of Brendan Banfield, a 40-year-old IRS agent, began this week, pulling back the curtain on a diabolical plot allegedly born from a desire to escape a marriage without facing a divorce. At the center of the case is a love affair with the family’s Brazilian au pair, a catfish scheme on a BDSM website, and the brutal murders of two people: Banfield’s wife and a stranger he allegedly lured to his home to be a scapegoat.
As the trial gets underway, with national media like Court TV, NBC, and CNN broadcasting every development, we’re breaking down everything you need to know about the Brendan Banfield case.
Who is Brendan Banfield?
On the surface, Brendan Banfield was a successful family man. A 40-year-old IRS agent living in Herndon, Virginia, he was married to Christine Banfield, an ICU nurse, and they had a young daughter. However, prosecutors paint a very different picture: a man entangled in an affair with his family’s 25-year-old au pair, Juliana Peres Magalhães, and so desperate to avoid a costly divorce and custody battle that he would resort to murder.
The Victims
Christine Banfield, a dedicated ICU nurse, was by all accounts a loving mother. She was found stabbed to death in her own bedroom in February 2023. The second victim, Joseph Ryan, was a stranger to the family. Prosecutors allege he was an innocent man lured to the Banfield home from the BDSM and kink community website FetLife.com under false pretenses, only to be murdered and framed for Christine’s death.
The Au Pair
Juliana Peres Magalhães, the family’s Brazilian au pair, is the prosecution’s star witness. Initially charged with second-degree murder, she later pleaded guilty to a lesser charge of manslaughter in exchange for her testimony against Brendan Banfield. She claims she was not only having an affair with Brendan but was also a reluctant participant in his deadly plan. Her testimony is the cornerstone of the prosecution's case, detailing how the plot was allegedly conceived and carried out.
The Alleged Murder Plot
According to prosecutors, the plan was as intricate as it was evil. In the months leading up to the murders, Brendan Banfield allegedly confided in Juliana that he wanted to “get rid of” his wife. The plot involved:
Creating a Fake Profile: Banfield allegedly used his wife’s laptop to create a fake profile for her on FetLife.com.
2. Luring a Victim: Posing as Christine, he connected with Joseph Ryan and invited him to their home for a staged “rape fantasy” scenario, instructing him not to stop even if the woman screamed for help.
3. The Ambush: On the day of the murders in February 2023, after Juliana signaled that Ryan had arrived, Banfield allegedly shot Ryan in the head, stabbed his wife Christine to death with the knife Ryan had brought, and then directed Juliana to shoot Ryan a second time to implicate her.
The Investigation and Arrests
The initial 911 call came from a frantic Juliana Peres Magalhães. For eight months, the investigation unfolded until she was arrested and charged. Her eventual cooperation with prosecutors led to the aggravated murder charges against Brendan Banfield, who now faces life in prison if convicted.
The defense, however, argues that Juliana is a liar, manipulated by prosecutors into a deal to save herself. They claim it was Christine Banfield, not Brendan, who was communicating with Joseph Ryan on FetLife and that they will present digital forensic evidence to prove it.
The Trial: Latest Updates (January 13, 2026)
The trial began today with explosive opening statements from both the prosecution and the defense. The prosecution laid out their theory of the catfish murder plot, while the defense immediately attacked the credibility of their star witness, Juliana.
Juliana Peres Magalhães took the stand as the first witness, testifying that Brendan Banfield told her he wanted to get rid of his wife as early as October 2022 and that they visited a shooting range together twice before the murders.
What’s Next?
The trial is expected to last for several weeks, with more shocking details and testimonies to come. Will the jury believe the au pair’s story of a manipulative boss who roped her into a murder plot? Or will the defense succeed in painting her as the true mastermind?
We will be covering this entire case in-depth on our upcoming podcast episode, releasing January 22nd. Make sure you’re subscribed so you don’t miss it!
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