Jury deliberates in Virginia 'au pair affair' double murder case

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Jurors in Virginia began deliberating on Friday whether a former IRS law enforcement officer conspired with his family's Brazilian au pair, with whom he was having an affair, to kill his wife and pin it on a stranger. Brendan Banfield allegedly plotted for months to get rid of his spouse so he could be with their nanny, Juliana Magalhães, who is now the key witness for the prosecution and testified against him.

Why it matters

This case highlights the complex dynamics of infidelity, murder, and the abuse of power within a family. It raises questions about the credibility of witness testimony, the role of digital evidence, and the challenges of prosecuting a case built on circumstantial evidence.

The details

Prosecutors allege that Banfield and Magalhães created a social media account in the wife's name on a fetish-focused platform to lure a man, Joe Ryan, to their home for a sexual encounter involving a knife. They say the lovers then shot Ryan and staged the scene to look like he was a predator stabbing the wife. Christine Banfield, a pediatric intensive care nurse, was mortally wounded with stab wounds to her neck. Banfield testified in his own defense, denying any plot and saying he shot Ryan to stop him from stabbing his wife.

• On February 24, 2023, the alleged incident took place.
• In 2024, Juliana Magalhães pleaded guilty to a lesser charge of manslaughter.
• The trial began in January 2026.

What they’re saying

What’s next

The judge in the case will decide on Tuesday whether or not to allow Walker Reed Quinn out on bail.