A 24-year-old Brazilian au pair, Juliana Peres Magalhaes, who once cared for a young child in a quiet Virginia neighborhood, now faces prison after pleading guilty to manslaughter.
Magalhaes admitted to her involvement in the complex and deadly events that unfolded in February 2023, leading to the deaths of Christine Banfield, 37, and Joseph Nathan Ryan, 39.
Her life, which revolved around her role as a live-in nanny in Herndon, Virginia, near Washington, D.C., took a dark turn when she became entangled in a romantic relationship with Christine’s husband, Brendan Banfield. The relationship, which allegedly fueled a deadly conspiracy, now puts her in a position to testify against Brendan.
Magalhaes’s guilty plea means she will avoid a trial and potentially face only a short sentence if she cooperates with prosecutors in their case against Brendan Banfield, her alleged accomplice and partner.
This development comes months after her initial arrest in October 2023, when she was charged with second-degree murder in Ryan’s death. However, the details of the case have since evolved, and Magalhaes’s cooperation could be instrumental in building the case against Brendan.
The tragic sequence of events began on February 24, 2023, at the Banfields’ home on Stable Brook Way.
Authorities allege that Brendan and Magalhaes, whose relationship became apparent after the murders, may have worked together in a plot to lure Ryan to the house under false pretenses. After the murders, investigators discovered framed photos of Brendan and Magalhaes displayed in the Banfield home, hinting at their involvement as a couple and perhaps providing a clue into their suspected motives.
Brendan’s involvement took a darker turn last month when he was formally charged with four counts of aggravated murder and one count of using a firearm in the commission of a felony.
Magalhaes was the first to dial 911 that February morning, making what police described as an “open line hangup” call at 7:49 a.m., followed by another call 13 minutes later, reporting that her “friend” was injured. Brendan also spoke to dispatchers, claiming he had shot Ryan, who he alleged had entered their home and stabbed Christine.
As details emerged, law enforcement pieced together what they believe to be a plot involving an elaborate deception.
Investigators claim that Ryan had been misled through a fake profile on a fetish website, where he had communicated with someone he believed to be Christine. The messages, which arranged a meeting at the Banfield residence, did not match Christine’s typical language, according to people who knew her well.
On the morning of his death, Ryan arrived at the home and was allegedly drawn to a bedroom where Christine was found, leading to a violent confrontation that resulted in both Ryan and Christine’s deaths.
Initially, Brendan and Magalhaes described the day differently, telling authorities they left the house at 7:30 a.m. with Christine’s daughter to go to the zoo. Magalhaes claimed she returned shortly after to retrieve forgotten lunch box and noticed an unfamiliar car in the driveway.
When Christine did not answer her call, she contacted Brendan, who was nearby and returned home. They entered the house together, and according to their account, they found Ryan with a wounded Christine in a bedroom.
In their account, Brendan allegedly used a gun to shoot Ryan, and then instructed Magalhaes to retrieve another firearm from a bathroom closet. While Brendan initially took responsibility for Ryan’s death, Magalhaes later confessed that she fired a second shot into Ryan’s chest. The pair initially insisted they acted in self-defense, but detectives grew suspicious, particularly as evidence of the couple’s romantic involvement surfaced.
Under the terms of her plea deal, Magalhaes is expected to testify against Brendan, with prosecutors recommending a lenient sentence of time served if she fully cooperates. She technically faces a maximum of 10 years in prison, though her sentence could be finalized after Brendan’s trial concludes.
Magalhaes’s sentencing is scheduled for March 21, 2025, while Brendan’s trial is set to begin on February 3, 2025. If convicted, Brendan faces the possibility of life imprisonment.