A Virginia man having an affair with his family's Brazilian au pair was found guilty Monday of murdering his wife and another man prosecutors say was lured to the house as a fall guy.
Brendan Banfield, a former IRS law enforcement officer, alleged he found Joseph Ryan attacking his wife, Christine Banfield, with a knife on February 24, 2023. He claimed he shot Ryan, and then Juliana Magalhães, the au pair, shot him, too.
However, during the court proceedings, officials pointed out inconsistencies in Banfield's story, illustrating it was too perfect. They argued it was part of a scheme devised by Banfield to eliminate his wife, especially after revealing his affair with Magalhães.
Magalhães pleaded guilty to manslaughter in 2024 and provided testimony against Banfield, detailing how they had impersonated Christine on a website catering to sexual fetishes. This plan involved enticing Ryan to the couple's home for a sexual moment that turned deadly. Under this plot, they attempted to stage it as if Banfield shot an intruder threatening Christine.
Defense attorney John Carroll contended that Magalhães' testimony couldn't be trusted, accusing her of cooperating with prosecutors for a lighter sentence. Banfield himself described the allegations and Magalhães' testimony as 'absolutely crazy.'
Carroll also brought to light dissent within the police force regarding the investigation's narrative, asserting that evidence suggested Christine was tied to the social media account used in their deceptive scheme. An officer attempted to present this evidence but reportedly faced repercussions for going against the department's favored theory.
In her closing remarks, prosecutor Jenna Sands emphasized the strength of the evidence presented, which included expert testimony indicating blood evidence on Ryan's hands collected from the crime scene.
After nearly nine hours of deliberation, the jury reached a guilty verdict for Banfield, who faces a potential life sentence. Magalhães is expected to be sentenced following the conclusion of Banfield’s trial, with possibilities of a reduced sentence for her cooperation.
