Au Pair Sentenced to 10 Years in Virginia Double Murder

Juliana Peres Magalhães pleaded guilty to manslaughter for her role in the 2023 killings of Christine Banfield and Joseph Ryan.

Published on Feb. 14, 2026

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

Brazilian au pair Juliana Peres Magalhães was sentenced to 10 years in prison with 2 years of probation for her role in a 2023 double murder plot in northern Virginia. Magalhães pleaded guilty to manslaughter for going along with former IRS agent Brendan Banfield in the killings of his wife Christine Banfield and Joseph Ryan, who was lured to the Banfield home under a false social media profile.

Why it matters

The case highlights the dangers of online deception and the tragic consequences that can result when individuals become consumed by an illicit affair. It also raises questions about the role of accomplices in violent crimes and how the justice system should weigh their culpability.

The details

According to prosecutors, Magalhães and Banfield created a fake social media profile posing as Christine Banfield to lure Ryan, a 39-year-old stranger, to the Banfield home. Once there, Ryan was stabbed to death. Magalhães and Banfield then each fired a shot, killing Ryan. Magalhães later turned on Banfield, testifying against him in exchange for a plea deal that reduced her charge to manslaughter.

  • On February 24, 2023, the murders of Christine Banfield and Joseph Ryan took place inside the Banfield home.
  • In October 2023, Magalhães was charged with the second-degree murder of Ryan.
  • In 2024, Magalhães pleaded guilty to manslaughter.
  • On February 13, 2026, Magalhães was sentenced to 10 years in prison with 2 years of probation.
  • Banfield's sentencing hearing is set for May 8, 2026.

The players

Juliana Peres Magalhães

A 25-year-old Brazilian au pair who pleaded guilty to manslaughter for her role in the 2023 double murder.

Brendan Banfield

A former IRS agent who was found guilty on all counts, including two counts of aggravated murder, for his role in the 2023 killings of his wife Christine Banfield and Joseph Ryan.

Christine Banfield

Brendan Banfield's 37-year-old wife who was murdered inside the Banfield home in 2023.

Joseph Ryan

A 39-year-old man who was lured to the Banfield home and killed in 2023.

Deirdre Fisher

The mother of Joseph Ryan.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“I have caused pain that cannot be measured. I pray for forgiveness from the Benson family, and from the Joseph Ryan family.”

— Juliana Peres Magalhães

“There is nothing I could possibly do to make it up to you, for your loss. There are so many regrets, this is my biggest. It's a tragedy I have been carrying with me, and I know I can never take back the devastation of what I have done.”

— Juliana Peres Magalhães

“I say good morning to him each day when I turn on the tree's lights, and I tell him I love him each night when I turn off the lights.”

— Deirdre Fisher, Mother of Joseph Ryan

“He was fun-loving and loved from the beginning. He was inquisitive, curious, smart, charming, and so dang talkative.”

— Sangeeta Ryan, Aunt of Joseph Ryan

What’s next

Brendan Banfield's sentencing hearing is set for May 8, 2026, where he is expected to receive a sentence of life in prison without parole.

The takeaway

This case serves as a tragic reminder of the dangers of online deception and the devastating consequences that can result when individuals become consumed by an illicit affair. It also highlights the complex issues surrounding accomplice liability in violent crimes and the challenges the justice system faces in determining appropriate sentences.