Brendan Banfield Indicted in Double Homicide

Brendan Banfield has been indicted for the murders of his wife, Christine Banfield, and another man, Joseph Ryan, following a lengthy investigation into the February 2023 incident in their home. Banfield faces multiple charges, including aggravated murder and felony firearm use, while his au pair, Juliana Peres Magalhaes, has been charged with second-degree murder for her involvement in Ryan's death. The gruesome scene was discovered by police responding to a 911 call, with Ryan found shot and Christine stabbed. Commonwealth Attorney Steve Descano indicated the unusual nature of the aggravated murder statute in Virginia necessitated multiple charges to present to the jury. The investigation revealed that Brendan and the au pair had a romantic relationship at the time of the murders, adding complexity to the case. This indictment comes 570 days after the deaths, highlighting the extensive nature of the police inquiry.