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A jury in Virginia has delivered a guilty verdict to Brendan Banfield, a former IRS law enforcement officer, for the aggravated murder of his wife, Christina Banfield, and another individual, Joseph Ryan, as reported by various sources.
The 40-year-old Banfield was found guilty in Fairfax County for the murders of his 37-year-old wife and Ryan, aged 38. Prosecutors alleged that Banfield deliberately deceived Ryan, who was a stranger, into coming to the family’s Herndon residence under false pretenses, according to a report by the Associated Press.
After receiving the case on the afternoon of January 30, the jury spent most of Monday deliberating before reaching their decision.
In addition to the murders, Banfield was also convicted of using a firearm in the commission of these crimes and was found guilty of child endangerment for leaving his 4-year-old daughter alone in the basement during the violent acts upstairs.
On Friday, Brendan Banfield, who previously worked in IRS law enforcement, was convicted of the 2023 murders of his wife, Christina, and Joseph Ryan in Herndon, Virginia. (Court TV via AP Pool)
The verdict came after roughly nine hours of deliberation by a panel of seven women and five men.Â
Prosecutors said Banfield orchestrated an elaborate murder plot with the couple’s Brazilian au pair, Juliana Peres Magalhães, with whom he was having an affair.
Testimony showed the pair created fake accounts on a fetish website posing as Christina Banfield and used them to lure Ryan to the home for what he believed would be a consensual but violent sexual encounter.
Magalhães, 25, testified that Ryan arrived armed with a knife, as instructed online and began interacting with Christina, a pediatric intensive care nurse who had previously worked with sexual assault victims, unaware he was being set up.
Juliana Peres Magalhães testifies during the double murder trial for Brendan Banfield in Fairfax County Circuit Court, Wednesday, Jan. 14, 2026, in Fairfax, Va. (AP Photo/Tom Brenner, Pool)
Magalhães said she waited outside in a car before calling Banfield to falsely report an intruder, prompting his return to the house.
Once inside, prosecutors said Banfield shot Ryan with his service weapon to make it appear he was defending his wife, then fatally stabbed Christina multiple times in the neck to try and stage the scene and frame Ryan for her murder.
Magalhães testified she witnessed the stabbing and later helped call 911.
Banfield admitted on the stand that he shot Ryan but claimed it was self-defense, saying he walked in on Ryan attacking his wife.
Banfield faces life in prison without the possibility of parole. He is scheduled to be sentenced on May 8. (Court TV via AP, Pool)
His attorney argued Magalhães fabricated the plot to protect herself, pointing to her plea deal, which resulted in a sentence of time served.
Prosecutors countered that digital evidence, forensic findings and Magalhães’ testimony showed Banfield was motivated by wanting to be with the au pair and avoid divorce.
“He was in love with Juliana,” prosecutor Jenna Sands told jurors. “He needed to get rid of his wife so they could be together.”
In closing arguments, Sands also told the jury they did not have to rely only on Magalhães’ testimony and pointed to what she called a “plethora of evidence.”Â
That included expert testimony that blood stains on Ryan’s hands suggested Christine Banfield’s blood had been dripped onto him from above.
Banfield faces life in prison without the possibility of parole. He is scheduled to be sentenced May 8. Magalhães was set to be sentenced after Banfield’s trial.