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Former IRS Agent Convicted of Aggravated Murder in Herndon Double Homicide
Fairfax County, VA – A jury in Fairfax County has found Brendan Banfield, a former IRS law enforcement officer, guilty of aggravated murder in the 2023 killings of his wife, Christina Banfield, and Joseph Ryan. The verdict, delivered after approximately nine hours of deliberation by a panel of seven women and five men, concludes a high-profile trial that has captivated the affluent Northern Virginia suburb.
Banfield, 40, was convicted of murdering his 37-year-old wife and Ryan, 38, a man prosecutors say he deliberately lured to the couple’s Herndon home under false pretenses. The jury also found Banfield guilty of using a firearm in the commission of the crimes and of child endangerment, for leaving his then-4-year-old daughter unattended in the basement during the violent incident.
Prosecutors laid out an elaborate murder plot, alleging Banfield orchestrated the killings with Juliana Peres Magalhães, 25, the couple’s Brazilian au pair, with whom he was having an affair. Testimony revealed the pair created fake accounts on a fetish website, impersonating Christina Banfield, to entice Ryan to the home for what he believed would be a consensual, yet violent, sexual encounter.
Magalhães testified that Ryan arrived armed with a knife, as instructed online, and began interacting with Christina, a pediatric intensive care nurse with a background in assisting sexual assault victims, who was unaware of the setup. Magalhães claimed she waited outside in a car before calling Banfield to falsely report an intruder, prompting his return to the house.
According to prosecutors, once inside, Banfield shot Ryan with his service weapon, attempting to stage the scene as self-defense. He then fatally stabbed Christina multiple times in the neck, allegedly to frame Ryan for her murder. Magalhães testified she witnessed the stabbing and later assisted in calling 911.
Banfield, in his own testimony, admitted to shooting Ryan but maintained it was in self-defense, claiming he walked in on Ryan attacking his wife. His attorney argued that Magalhães fabricated the entire plot to protect herself, pointing to her plea deal which resulted in a sentence of time served.
However, prosecutors countered with a “plethora of evidence,” including digital forensics, forensic findings, and Magalhães’ testimony, which they argued demonstrated Banfield’s motivation: a desire to be with the au pair and avoid divorce. Prosecutor Jenna Sands told jurors, “He was in love with Juliana.
He needed to get rid of his wife so they could be together.” Expert testimony regarding bloodstains on Ryan’s hands, suggesting Christina Banfield’s blood had dripped onto him from above, further bolstered the prosecution’s case.
Banfield now faces a sentence of life in prison without the possibility of parole. He is scheduled to be sentenced on May 8. Magalhães’ sentencing is expected to follow Banfield’s trial.