FAIRFAX COUNTY, Va. — Nearly two years after a shocking double homicide in Reston, a family au pair charged in connection with the killings has accepted a plea deal, admitting to manslaughter in the death of one of the victims, Joseph Ryan, 39.
Juliana Peres Magalhaes, who had been working as an au pair for Brendan and Christine Banfield, pleaded guilty on Tuesday, part of an agreement that lessens the potential penalties she faces. Police had initially arrested her in October 2023, and she now admits her role in the death of Ryan, who was from Springfield, Virginia.
According to court records, police were first alerted to the case after discovering Christine Banfield, 37, critically injured from multiple stab wounds at the Banfields’ home in the 13200 block of Stable Brook Way. She later died at the hospital. During the investigation, authorities uncovered evidence suggesting a complex web of relationships among the three adults involved, including indications that Peres Magalhaes and Brendan Banfield were romantically involved.
In a courtroom statement, Peres Magalhaes’ lawyer acknowledged her relationship with Brendan Banfield but contended that Christine Banfield and Joseph Ryan had also been involved in extramarital affairs. The defense claimed that Christine had arranged for Ryan to visit the house that day, reportedly through a website, while Peres Magalhaes was taking Banfield’s young child to the zoo.
Peres Magalhaes said she returned to the house after forgetting the child’s lunch, at which point she allegedly saw Ryan enter the residence. She reportedly called Brendan Banfield, who advised her to wait until he arrived. According to the defense, when Banfield, an IRS special agent, arrived, he saw Ryan holding a knife to Christine’s throat. The defense claims that Banfield attempted to intervene, using his service weapon, and that Peres Magalhaes ultimately fired a shot that killed Ryan.
Prosecutors, however, presented a different version of events at Peres Magalhaes’ bond hearing. They alleged that Banfield and Peres Magalhaes had conspired to end up together by orchestrating a scenario involving Ryan. Prosecutors argued that an online account on a fetish website, allegedly created by someone other than Christine, was used to lure Ryan to the Banfield home.
The plea deal comes amid conflicting narratives from both the defense and prosecution, with each side presenting contrasting accounts of the motivations and events leading up to the murders. As part of her plea, Peres Magalhaes admitted to a manslaughter charge but avoided more severe charges that could have led to a lengthy prison sentence. The case against Brendan Banfield, who was arrested in September for the murders of both his wife and Ryan, remains ongoing.