Suvechha Sarkar
When 37-year-old Christine Ann Banfield and 39-year-old Joseph Nathan Ryan began their day on February 24, 2023, they never expected that their life would turn into a nightmare. Both of them were at Christine’s house in Herndon, Virginia, when they were brutally killed. The episode titled ‘The Au Pair Affair Murder Trial’ of ABC’s ’20/20′ sheds light on the circumstances surrounding the double homicide and the investigation that soon uncovered a string of betrayal and a secret relationship. It turned out that the killers were Christine’s husband, Brendan Banfield, and her au pair, Juliana Peres Magalhães. It also features interviews with the officials who helped bring the truth to light.
Juliana Magalhães and Brendan Banfield Both Called 911 on the Day of the Double Homicide
Juliana Peres Magalhães was born sometime in 2001 in Brazil. She eventually came to Virginia as an Au pair and started working for Christine Ann and Brendan Banfield in 2022. Consequently, she moved into the couple’s home in the 13200 block of Stable Brook Way in Herndon, Virginia. Things took a dark turn when, on February 24, 2023, Juliana called 911, claiming that a person had attacked Christine. A second 911 call was reportedly made by Brendan, who claimed that a man was attacking his wife, and he shot him, allegedly in self-defense. The man who was shot was identified as Joseph Nathan Ryan and was declared dead on the spot. Unfortunately, despite rushing her to the hospital, Christine succumbed to her stab wounds.
According to reports, when officials questioned Juliana at the scene, she claimed that she and Christine’s 4-year-old daughter had plans to go to the zoo, but after they left the residence, she allegedly realized she hadn’t brought their packed lunch. Court records indicate that Juliana told officials that upon returning home, she saw an unknown vehicle parked outside. In her statements, Juliana claimed that she promptly called Christine but received no response, which allegedly led her to call Brendan. As per police records, Juliana and Brendan claimed that when they reached the bedroom, they found Joseph stabbing Christine. They continued that, being a law enforcement officer, Brendan used his authorized gun to shoot Joseph, while Juliana shot him for the last time, reports say.
Authorities initially checked Brendan and Christine’s family computer, which reportedly revealed that there was an account in Christine’s name on FetLife, a fetish website. According to court records, when detectives questioned Christine’s loved ones, they emphasized that she never had any prior history of involvement in such a site. Reports suggest that as they dove deeper, they discovered the account with Christine’s name shared messages with Joseph, where she allegedly communicated about having a violent sexual encounter involving her being restrained, but she appeared to have said that it was consensual. The account revealed that she would allegedly meet Joseph at her house, where they would likely engage in role-play in which Christine would “act” terrified.
Juliana’s Confession After Her Arrest Led the Investigators to Brendan
According to the investigative records, detectives were unable to find any connection between Christine running the account, suggesting that someone was impersonating her. Forensic experts reportedly examined the mobile phones of Juliana and Brendan, which uncovered that during the two weeks the FetLife account had no activity, Juliana and Brendan weren’t at home. Furthermore, the account was only active during the time Juliana and Brendan were specifically present at home, records suggest. The red flags continued to rise, and in October 2023, the detectives reportedly discovered that Juliana had moved into the primary bedroom of Brendan and Christine. According to police records, they also found several pictures of Juliana and Brendan together, including one on Brendan’s bedside table.
Further reports indicate that the investigators also learned that Juliana and Brendan often went on weekend trips together. Another court record suggests that in January 2023, Brendan bought a firearm, which Juliana had used to shoot Ryan. Based on all the evidence, Juliana was arrested on October 19, 2023. She was indicted on the charges of use of a firearm in the commission of a felony and second-degree murder of Ryan. In October 2024, Juliana admitted to the prosecution about her affair with Brendan, which she claimed started around October 2022. Official records state that she confessed that in the months leading up to the murder, Brendan took her to the gun range several times.
During further interviews, Juliana reportedly claimed that Brendan told her that he wanted to get rid of his wife. In her statements, she reportedly claimed to have asked him to get a divorce, but she said that he allegedly didn’t want to lose money and his daughter’s custody. According to court records, during the interrogation, Juliana claimed that she and Brendan created the account on FetLife, pretending to be Christine, and allegedly planned to bring Ryan to their home. She claimed that Brendan wanted to orchestrate both the murders as an act of self-defense and allegedly wanted to pin Christine’s death on Joseph. Ultimately, Brendan was arrested and charged with use of a firearm in the commission of a felony, four counts of aggravated murder, and charges of child endangerment and neglect.
While Juliana is Seemingly Incarcerated at a State Prison Facility, Brendan is Awaiting His Sentencing
Following her arrest, Juliana was held in custody without any bond. Ultimately, after her confession, the prosecution offered her a plea deal in exchange for testifying against Brendan in court. On October 29, 2024, Juliana pleaded guilty to the lesser charge of involuntary manslaughter of Joseph. Brendan’s jury trial commenced in January 2026, during which the prosecution presented Juliana as a key witness. As per court records, she testified that Brendan attempted to frame Joseph for Christine’s murder and lured Joseph to the house while impersonating his wife. At the stand, Juliana also testified that Brendan allegedly told her that “divorce was not an option.”
According to her testimony, Juliana and Brendan each reportedly placed decoy calls to Christine’s mobile on February 24, 2023, after they allegedly turned the cell phone off and hid it. On the other hand, the defense reportedly questioned Juliana’s credibility as a witness, pointing out that she had reached a deal with the prosecutors. Moreover, they claimed that Brendan acted in self-defense during the unexpected circumstances. After much deliberation, the jury convicted him of two counts of aggravated murder, child endangerment, and use of a firearm in the commission of a felony. According to Virginia Law, he now faces life in prison without the possibility of parole.
Currently, Brendan remains in custody and is set to have his sentencing hearing on May 8, 2026. Juliana received a 10-year prison term, which is the maximum sentence for manslaughter, on February 13, 2026. She also received two years of probation, after which she may face deportation, as she is a Brazilian citizen. During her sentencing hearing, Juliana apologized to Joseph and Christine’s family, stating, “I have caused pain that cannot be measured. I pray for forgiveness from the Benson family, and from the Joseph Ryan family.” As of writing, it appears that Juliana is serving her sentence at a Virginia prison facility, but the information remains unverified due to a lack of public records.
