Virginia Man Indicted in 2023 Double Homicide Case; Au Pair’s Trial Approaches

Fairfax County, VA — September 17, 2024 — Brendan Banfield, 39, has been indicted on multiple charges in connection with the February 2023 deaths of his wife, Christine Banfield, 37, and Joseph Ryan, 39. Fairfax County Commonwealth’s Attorney Steve Descano announced the indictment on Monday, which includes four counts of aggravated murder and the use of a firearm in the commission of a felony.

The indictment comes nearly a year after the couple’s au pair, Juliana Peres Magalhaes, was charged with the homicide. Magalhaes, who was charged in October 2023, is expected to face trial in November. It remains unclear whether she has entered a plea; her legal representation did not respond to requests for comment.

Brendan Banfield was living in the suburban Northern Virginia home where the bodies were discovered. He was arrested without incident following the indictment. Fairfax County Police Chief Kevin Davis confirmed the arrest, but details about Banfield’s legal representation were not immediately available.

According to Descano, new evidence uncovered during the investigation played a critical role in securing the indictment. However, specifics of this evidence were not disclosed.

The tragic incident occurred on February 24, 2023, in Reston, VA, approximately 20 miles west of Washington, D.C. Christine Banfield was found fatally stabbed in an upstairs bedroom, while Ryan was discovered nearby with a fatal gunshot wound. At the time of the incident, Magalhaes had called 911, initially reporting that a friend was injured. Brendan Banfield later told dispatchers that an “unknown male” had entered the home and committed the crimes.

Davis and Descano have not revealed any potential motives for the killings or the nature of Ryan’s relationship to the Banfields. The scene where Christine Banfield and Ryan were found was described by authorities as “appalling.”

In a court hearing earlier this year, Brendan Banfield invoked his Fifth Amendment right against self-incrimination when questioned by prosecutors, according to NBC Washington.

As the legal proceedings continue, the community remains in shock over the events that unfolded last February.

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