Husband Charged in Strange Double Homicide Following Au Pair’s Arrest

A Virginia man has been indicted for the murders of his wife and another man at their home in Fairfax County, as reported by authorities on Monday. This legal action comes almost a year after the couple’s au pair was charged in connection with the case.

Brendan Banfield faces a charge of aggravated murder for the deaths of Christine Banfield and Joseph Ryan, which occurred in February 2023. A bench warrant detailing the indictment has been filed in Fairfax Circuit Court. In addition to the murder charges, Banfield is also facing a count of felony firearm use.

Police Chief Kevin Davis confirmed at a news conference that Banfield was taken into custody while driving in Fairfax County, with authorities also conducting a search of his residence on the same day. At this time, Banfield’s legal representation had not responded to requests for comment.

The timing of Banfield’s arrest is significant, as it follows the earlier charge against Juliana Peres Magalhães, the family’s au pair. She was charged with second-degree murder for her role in Ryan’s death, although she has not been charged with the murder of Christine Banfield. Magalhães is scheduled to stand trial in November.

Fairfax County Commonwealth Attorney Steve Descano clarified the situation regarding the au pair, stating, “The fact that we’ve indicted Brendan today and made that arrest does not mean that her case is being thrown out. We intend to go forward with that case as scheduled.”

On the day of the homicides, it emerged that Magalhães made multiple 911 calls within a matter of minutes but terminated those calls before speaking to emergency personnel. After a lapse of over ten minutes, she placed a final call to report an emergency, during which Brendan Banfield reportedly claimed to have shot a man in self-defense after that man had stabbed his wife.

When police arrived at the couple’s home in Herndon, Virginia, they discovered Ryan had been shot fatally, while Christine Banfield was suffering from stab wounds and ultimately succumbed to her injuries after being taken to a hospital.

Details provided in affidavits indicate that Magalhães and Brendan Banfield had left the home earlier that day, leaving Christine Banfield behind. Upon returning, they allegedly found Ryan with a knife at Christine’s throat. Magalhães claimed that Ryan stabbed Christine and that Brendan then fatally shot him. She also alleged that she shot Ryan once with a second firearm.

Records uncovered earlier this year revealed that two months before the tragic incidents, Magalhães and Brendan Banfield visited a shooting range in Ashburn, Virginia. Subsequently, Brendan purchased a gun, which was later identified as the weapon used to shoot Ryan.

Investigators believe that the two murders were part of a larger scheme between Magalhães and Brendan Banfield, who were reportedly involved in an illicit romantic relationship leading up to the crime. During previous hearings for Magalhães, prosecutors challenged her account of events, suggesting that Ryan was not known to exhibit violent behavior. It is also alleged that Banfield and Magalhães continued their relationship even after the tragic events.

Deirdre Ryan, mother of the victim, expressed her gratitude to authorities for filing charges against Brendan Banfield.

Commonwealth Attorney Descano announced that Banfield is set to be arraigned later in the week. He is currently being held without bail at the Fairfax County jail.

Banfield faces four counts of aggravated murder and one count related to firearm use during the commission of a felony, despite only two fatalities occurring on that day in 2023. Descano explained that various options within the aggravated murder statute necessitated filing multiple charges to ensure that the jury has the flexibility to consider all pertinent evidence during the trial.

In his statements, Descano highlighted the importance of presenting a comprehensive case, saying, “We wanted to cover all our bases and make sure the jury had every option that they could want when looking at the evidence.”

Source: CBS News