Virginia Man Accused of Killing Wife and Stranger to Avoid Divorce

Brendan Banfield takes the stand after prosecutors call final witnesses in high-profile "au pair" double murder trial

Jan. 28, 2026 at 3:15pm

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Brendan Banfield, a former federal agent, is accused of murdering his wife Christine Banfield and Joseph Ryan, a stranger he allegedly tried to frame for his wife's murder. Prosecutors contend Banfield killed the pair to avoid a divorce after he began an affair with his daughter's Brazilian au pair, Juliana Peres Magalhaes. Banfield has pleaded not guilty and could face life in prison if convicted.

Why it matters

This case has garnered significant public attention due to the salacious details of the alleged affair, the complex web of deception, and the high-profile nature of Banfield's former role as a federal agent. The outcome could set precedents around the use of online "catfishing" and the treatment of vulnerable immigrant witnesses in high-stakes criminal cases.

The details

Prosecutors allege that Banfield and Peres Magalhaes used Christine Banfield's laptop to set up a fake account on the BDSM website FetLife.com in order to lure Ryan to the Banfield home, where they planned to claim he had stabbed Christine Banfield during a "fake rape fantasy" before Banfield shot him. Peres Magalhaes has already pleaded guilty to a manslaughter charge and testified against Banfield, but the defense has contested her testimony and raised questions about her motivations and mental health.

  • On February 24, 2023, Peres Magalhaes called 911 and said a friend had been hurt.
  • Banfield then took the phone and told a dispatcher that an 'unknown male' had entered his home and that he had shot the intruder.
  • Christine Banfield was found fatally stabbed in an upstairs bedroom, and Ryan was discovered nearby, having been fatally shot.
  • Peres Magalhaes was arrested on suspicion of second-degree murder eight months after the killings, in October 2023.
  • In 2024, Peres Magalhaes pleaded guilty to the downgraded manslaughter charge.

The players

Brendan Banfield

A former federal agent with the Internal Revenue Service who is accused of murdering his wife Christine Banfield and Joseph Ryan to avoid a divorce after beginning an affair with his daughter's Brazilian au pair.

Juliana Peres Magalhaes

A 25-year-old Brazilian au pair who was having an affair with Brendan Banfield and has pleaded guilty to a manslaughter charge in connection with the killings.

Christine Banfield

Brendan Banfield's wife, who was found fatally stabbed in the couple's home.

Joseph Ryan

A stranger who prosecutors allege Brendan Banfield and Juliana Peres Magalhaes lured to the Banfield home and killed in an attempt to frame him for Christine Banfield's murder.

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What they’re saying

“There's somebody here, I shot them. He stabbed her. There's several marks on her neck, what do I do?”

— Brendan Banfield (911 call played at trial)

“We must not let individuals continue to damage private property in San Francisco.”

— Robert Jenkins, San Francisco resident (San Francisco Chronicle)

What’s next

The judge in the case will decide on Tuesday whether or not to allow Brendan Banfield out on bail.

The takeaway

This case highlights the complex legal and ethical issues that can arise when an affair, online deception, and alleged murder intersect, raising questions about the treatment of vulnerable witnesses, the use of digital evidence, and the challenges of proving intent in high-profile criminal trials.