Fri Sep 20 08:00:46 UTC 2024: ## Au Pair and Husband Charged in Virginia Double Homicide

**Herndon, VA** – A Brazilian au pair, Juliana Peres Magalhaes, and her employer’s husband, Brendan Banfield, have been charged in connection with the February 2023 double homicide of Christine Banfield and Joseph Ryan in their Herndon, Virginia, home.

Magalhaes, 23, faces charges of aggravated murder and use of a firearm in commission of a felony for the death of Ryan, who was found with fatal gunshot wounds in the upstairs bedroom of the home. Banfield, a former IRS criminal investigative agent, faces four counts of aggravated murder and use of a firearm in commission of a felony for the deaths of both Christine and Ryan.

Police responded to a 911 call at the Banfield residence on February 24, 2023, and found Christine with stab wounds to the neck. She was transported to the hospital, where she was later pronounced dead.

Initially, Magalhaes told police that she and Brendan had encountered Ryan, whom she described as an intruder, holding Christine at knifepoint. However, prosecutors allege that Magalhaes and Brendan were involved in a romantic relationship and both admitted to shooting Ryan while he was holding Christine.

The investigation revealed that a computer at the Banfield home was linked to a sexual fetish website, which had a profile of Christine in a bathing suit. Prosecutors also found a framed photo of Magalhaes and Brendan along with lingerie in the room where the murders occurred.

Magalhaes’ trial is scheduled for November 2024. Brendan Banfield is no longer employed by the IRS.

The connection between Ryan and the Banfield family or Magalhaes remains unclear, as the investigation continues.

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