MURDERED: Christine Banfield & Joseph Ryan
When 37-year-old Christine Banfield and 39-year-old Joseph Ryan were found fatally injured inside a Virginia home in 2023, investigators were initially told that Ryan was a violent intruder and that Christine’s husband, Brendan Banfield, a federal agent, had tried to save her. But as investigators examined digital evidence, they uncovered a different possibility: that Ryan had been lured to the home through a fake online persona and that the scene had been staged to conceal a double homicide.
What happened in the 15 minutes between two 911 calls? And what does the evidence reveal about the story investigators were first told?
Left to right: Christine Banfield and Joseph Ryan
Sources: Fairfax County Circuit Court, ABC News
Christine and Brendan Banfield
Source: Fairfax County Circuit Court
Brendan and Christine Banfield
Source: Fairfax County Circuit Court
Christine Banfield
Source: Fairfax County Circuit Court
Juliana Peres Magalhães
Source: Facebook
A still of surveillance footage showing Brendan at a nearby McDonald’s on the morning of February 23rd, 2023.
Source: Fairfax County Circuit Court
Investigators found Christine’s phone hidden inside a drawer of a downstairs bar cart.
Source: Fairfax County Circuit Court
Christine’s cell phone
Source: Fairfax County Circuit Court
The blood spatter on Brendan’s jeans that prosecutors argued was consistent with someone moving through airborne blood.
Source: Fairfax County Circuit Court
Joseph Ryan
Source: ABC News
Joseph’s bag and its contents that were found at the scene
Source: Fairfax County Circuit Court
Joseph’s phones that were left in his car before entering the Banfield home.
Source: Fairfax County Circuit Court
A Walmart receipt found in Joseph’s wallet shows he purchased items shortly before driving to the Banfield home.
Source: Fairfax County Circuit Court
Joseph Ryan
Source: Fairfax County Circuit Court
Brendan Banfield’s mugshot
Source: Fairfax County Police Department
Juliana Peres Magalhães’ mugshot
Source: Fairfax County Police Department
Timeline:
Juliana arrives in the United States through an au pair program and begins living with the Banfield family.
The FetLife profile “Annastasia9” is created using a photo Christine had sent to Brendan.
5:47 a.m.
The Banfields’ front-door lock is disabled using Christine’s phone.
6:46 a.m.
Christine’s phone is powered off.
6:48 a.m.
A final message is sent to Joseph Ryan: “Ok, I’ll be waiting for you.”
Around 7:00 a.m.
Brendan leaves the house.
7:13 a.m.
Joseph purchases toothpaste, lubricant and apricots at Walmart.
About 7:20-7:30 a.m.
Juliana leaves with the Banfields’ daughter for a planned zoo trip.
About 7:25 a.m.
Joseph arrives at the Banfield residence.
About 7:25-7:35 a.m.
Juliana returns to the house.
7:36 a.m.
Juliana calls Christine.
7:37 a.m.
Juliana calls Brendan.
7:47 a.m.
The first 911 call is placed; only a brief groan is heard before the caller disconnects.
8:02 a.m.
A second 911 call is placed reporting Christine has been stabbed.
Christine and Joseph are killed inside the Banfield home.
Juliana is arrested and charged in Joseph’s death.
Brendan is charged with the murders of Christine and Joseph.
Brendan stands trial and testifies in his own defense.
Brendan is sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole.
Juliana receives the maximum sentence of 10 years.
Banfield Residence
The home of the Banfield family and the site of the murders of Christine Banfield and Joseph Ryan.
Walmart
Joseph stopped at this Walmart at 7:13 a.m. before driving to the Banfield residence.
McDonald’s
The McDonald’s Brendan was at on the morning of the murders.
Tips:
National Domestic Violence Hotline
If you or someone you know is experiencing domestic violence, help is available through the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-SAFE (7233).
We’d love to speak with you and see how we can support.
If you’re a law enforcement agency or family member of one of the people we mentioned in this episode, or if you’re looking for more coverage on a case, please reach out. You can email us at:
Episode Source Material
- Original reporting by Nina Schutzman
- Court Records in Commonwealth of Virginia v. Brendan Banfield. Fairfax County Circuit Court, Fairfax, VA.
- Defense Exhibits in Commonwealth of Virginia v. Brendan Banfield. Fairfax County Circuit Court, Fairfax, VA.
- Jackman, Tom. “Prosecutors Want to Use Interview of 4-Year-Old in Au Pair Murder Case.” The Washington Post, 13 June 2025, https://www.washingtonpost.com/dc-md-va/2025/06/13/4-year-old-testimony-murder/. Accessed 1 June 2026.
- Records in Commonwealth of Virginia v. Brendan Banfield. Office of the Commonwealth’s Attorney, Fairfax County, Virginia.
- “VA v. Brendan Banfield: Au Pair Affair Murder Trial.” Court TV, 2 Feb. 2026, https://www.courttv.com/news/va-v-brendan-banfield-au-pair-affair-murder-trial/.
- Wilder, Drew. “The Au Pair Affair: Judge Denies Banfield’s Attempt to Have Murder Verdict Voided.” NBC4 Washington, 4 June 2026, https://www.nbcwashington.com/news/local/northern-virginia/the-au-pair-affair-judge-denies-banfields-attempt-to-have-murder-verdict-voided/4112539/. Accessed 4 June 2026.
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