Jury Deliberates in Virginia 'Au Pair Affair' Double Murder Case

Former IRS officer accused of conspiring with family's Brazilian au pair to kill his wife

Jan. 30, 2026 at 3:15pm

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Jurors are deliberating on double murder charges against Brendan Banfield, a former IRS law enforcement officer in Virginia, who is accused of plotting with his family's Brazilian au pair, Juliana Magalhães, to kill his wife Christine and pin the death on a stranger named Joe Ryan.

Why it matters

This high-profile case has raised questions about the dynamics of power, trust, and betrayal within families, as well as the challenges of proving guilt in complex murder cases that rely heavily on circumstantial evidence.

The details

Prosecutors allege that Banfield and Magalhães, with whom he was having an affair, created a fake social media account in Christine Banfield's name to lure Ryan to the family's home, where they shot and killed him in an attempt to stage the scene to look like Christine was the victim of a predator. Banfield denies the plot, claiming he shot Ryan to stop him from stabbing his wife, and that both he and Christine had affairs during their marriage.

  • The killings occurred on February 24, 2023.
  • Magalhães pleaded guilty to a lesser charge of manslaughter in 2024.
  • The trial began in January 2026.

The players

Brendan Banfield

A former IRS law enforcement officer in Virginia who is accused of conspiring with his family's Brazilian au pair to kill his wife.

Juliana Magalhães

The Brazilian au pair who was having an affair with Brendan Banfield and is the key witness for the prosecution, testifying against him.

Christine Banfield

Brendan Banfield's wife, a pediatric intensive care nurse, who was killed in the alleged plot.

Joe Ryan

The man who was lured to the Banfield home and killed in an attempt to stage the scene to look like Christine Banfield was the victim of a predator.

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What they’re saying

“We did not have to rely solely on Magalhães' testimony, pointing to what she called a 'plethora of evidence.' That included expert testimony that blood stains on Ryan's hands suggested Christine Banfield's blood had dripped onto him from above.”

— Jenna Sands, Chief Deputy Commonwealth's Attorney

“The state's case was built on a 'fantastic story.' He used a different blood expert to say the stains were inconclusive.”

— John Carroll, Brendan Banfield's Lawyer

What’s next

The jury will continue deliberating to decide whether Brendan Banfield is guilty of the double murders.

The takeaway

This complex case highlights the challenges of proving guilt in murder trials that rely heavily on circumstantial evidence and the testimony of an accomplice, as well as the need for thorough and impartial investigations to uncover the truth.