Updated Feb. 2, 2026 — A Virginia man was found guilty Monday of killing his wife and another man in a case prosecutors say grew out of an affair with his family’s Brazilian au pair.
Brendan Banfield, 40, a former IRS law enforcement officer, was convicted of aggravated murder in the Feb. 24, 2023, deaths of his wife, Christine Banfield, and Joseph Ryan. Banfield had pleaded not guilty and testified in his own defense, saying he discovered Ryan attacking his wife with a knife and that he shot Ryan; he also said the au pair, Juliana Magalhães, fired at Ryan. Prosecutors told jurors Banfield fabricated that account and orchestrated a plan to lure Ryan to the home as a fall guy.
The affair between Banfield and Magalhães emerged during the investigation. Magalhães pleaded guilty to manslaughter in 2024 and testified against Banfield at trial, describing how she and Banfield impersonated Christine on a fetish website to entice Ryan to the house for a sexual encounter that involved a knife. She said the scene was staged to appear as though an intruder had been shot while attacking Christine.
Defense attorney John Carroll sought to undermine Magalhães’ testimony, noting she was cooperating with prosecutors under a plea agreement to avoid a long sentence and calling her account “absolutely crazy.” The defense also pointed to internal disagreement in the police probe over whether Christine had been impersonated on social media, noting an officer who concluded the account belonged to Christine was later transferred; the defense argued the transfer reflected pressure to follow a theory favored by department leadership.
Prosecutors urged jurors to consider additional evidence beyond Magalhães’ statements. Among that evidence was expert testimony that blood stains found on Ryan’s hands were consistent with Christine Banfield’s blood having been dripped onto him from above, which prosecutors said supported their theory the scene was staged.
The jury deliberated nearly nine hours across two days before returning the guilty verdict. Banfield showed little emotion as the verdict was read. He faces the possibility of life in prison; his sentencing is scheduled for May 8.
Magalhães is to be sentenced after Banfield’s trial. Attorneys have said she could be allowed to walk free if she is sentenced to time already served.