Suvechha Sarkar
The morning of February 24, 2023, was marked by a tragedy in Fairfax County, Virginia, when 37-year-old Christine Ann Banfield and 39-year-old Joseph Nathan Ryan were found dead in the former’s home. The double homicide led to an intensive investigation that soon unravelled a chilling plot involving a fetish website and a secret affair. ABC’s ’20/20: The Au Pair Affair Murder Trial’ focuses on the court proceedings of the case and the circumstances leading up to the double murders. It further reveals that the two people responsible for Christine and Joseph’s death were Christine’s husband, Brendan Banfield, and her au pair, Juliana Peres Magalhães.
Brendan Banfield and Juliana Magalhães Were Present at the Scene at the Time of the Murders
Brendan Banfield was born sometime around 1985 and gradually built a career for himself. By February 2023, he was working as an officer for the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). In adulthood, he met Christine Ann Benson, and they soon tied the knot. In 2019, they welcomed their beautiful daughter into the world. Brendan came under the spotlight on February 24, 2023, when his 37-year-old wife was attacked in their home in Herndon, in Fairfax County, Virginia. According to reports, Christine and Brendan’s au pair, Juliana Peres Magalhães, called 911, reporting that her friend was stabbed. Shortly after, Brendan reportedly called 911, claiming that someone had stabbed his wife, and he allegedly shot the individual in self-defense.
When authorities arrived, they found a 39-year-old man, Joseph Nathan Ryan, dead from gunshot wounds. Although Christine was rushed to the hospital, she sadly passed away from stab injuries. Once the investigation began, authorities questioned Juliana, who claimed that on February 24, she had set out with Christine and Brendan’s 4-year-old daughter for the zoo before realizing she had forgotten the lunch at home. According to investigative reports, Juliana claimed that when she returned home, she allegedly saw an unknown car and called Christine. She reportedly continued that when Christine didn’t answer, Juliana called Brendan to come home, who then allegedly rushed to the scene. Official records state that Brendan claimed he had originally left for work and visited a nearby McDonald’s before returning home.
As per court records, Brendan claimed that he and Juliana found Joseph stabbing Christine in her bedroom. Brendan told the authorities that he then shot Joseph, allegedly to save Christine, according to reports. In his statements, he reportedly claimed that he then asked Juliana to grab a gun, who also shot Joseph in the end, allegedly in self-defense. Investigative reports suggest that when digital forensic experts checked the family computer of Christine and Brendan, they discovered an account in Christine’s name on a fetish website, FetLife. According to police records, the account communicated with Joseph, where it seemed that Christine communicated with him, allegedly for a consensual sexual encounter, which involved Joseph using restraints on her.
Digital Footprints and Forensic Evidence Led to Brendan and Juliana’s Arrest
As the authorities dug deeper, they reportedly discovered that it seemed Christine had an encounter with Joseph, allegedly asking him to use a knife to cut off her clothes. Court records specify that the communication also indicated violent role-play, where Christine allegedly said that she would act terrified on seeing him. According to reports, discrepancies began arising when experts searched the cell phones of Brendan and Juliana, which revealed that the FetLife account was always active when both of them were present in the home. Furthermore, it is essential to note that the account had no activity on the two specific weekends when Juliana and Brendan weren’t at home, reports say. Investigative reports suggest that officials found that both Brendan and Juliana had called Christine on February 24, claiming they had done so to check on her.
According to official records, investigators later found Christine’s phone in a drawer, which was turned off. Further reports state that in the months leading up to the double homicide, Brendan and Juliana visited a gun range several times. When forensic experts conducted blood-stain analysis and analyzed weapon placement at the scene, they reportedly discovered that it contradicted the initial statements of Brendan and Juliana. As per the records, when detectives further spoke with Christine’s family members, they found no history of her ever using any fetish sites, indicating that someone else was using the site, pretending to be her. In October 2023, authorities reportedly searched Brendan’s home and found pictures of Brendan and Juliana on his bedroom’s bedside table.
Reports indicate that detectives discovered that Juliana had moved into Brendan’s bedroom, suggesting a potential affair. Juliana was arrested on October 19, 2023, and charged with second-degree murder and use of a firearm in the commission of a felony for Ryan’s death. According to court records, almost a year after her arrest, Juliana confessed to the authorities about having an affair with Brendan, which began around October 2022. She reportedly claimed that Brendan told her that he needed to get rid of Christine. In her statements, Juliana claimed that he said to her that divorce wasn’t an option since he allegedly didn’t want to give up his daughter’s custody. On September 16, 2024, Brendan was arrested and indicted on four counts of aggravated murder, use of a firearm in the commission of a felony, and additional charges of child endangerment/cruelty.
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While Brendan is Currently Awaiting His Sentencing, Juliana Appears to be Serving Her Time in State Prison
Following her arrest, Juliana was held in custody without bond before she accepted a guilty plea deal for a reduced charge in exchange for testifying against Brendan during his trial. On October 29, 2024, she pleaded guilty to involuntary manslaughter in relation to Joseph’s death. The jury trial of Brendan finally began on January 13, 2026, during which the prosecution presented several pieces of evidence, including their star witness, Juliana. Court records state that the prosecution claimed Juliana and Brendan impersonated Christine and opened an account in her name on FetLife before allegedly luring Ryan to Brendan’s home.
As per Juliana’s testimony, she admitted to having an affair with Brendan and claimed she saw Brendan stabbing Christine and then shooting Ryan. Reports state that in her statements, Juliana admitted to firing the last shot at Ryan. The prosecution further claimed that Brendan and Juliana placed two decoy calls to Christine’s mobile on that fateful day, although they allegedly turned it off and hid it. On the other hand, the defense claimed that the events on February 24, 2023, were chaotic and there was an alleged unforeseen escalation. They also alleged that Brendan was being framed and insisted that he acted in self-defense. Additionally, the defense questioned the credibility of Juliana’s testimony. Brendan himself took to the stands and denied the conspiracy and killing his wife.
On February 2, 2026, the jury convicted Brendan on two counts of aggravated murder, one count of use of a firearm in the commission of a felony, and one count of child endangerment. In Virginia, a person convicted of aggravated murder reportedly faces life imprisonment with no chance of parole. As of writing, Brendan is in custody and awaiting sentencing, scheduled for May 8, 2026. On the other hand, Juliana received the maximum sentence of 10 years in prison, along with two years of probation, on February 13, 2026. She reportedly received credit for the time served and will face deportation after serving probation. Although Juliana currently appears to be serving her time at a Virginia state correctional facility, the information cannot be confirmed through public records.
