Brendan Banfield Indicted for Double Murder

Brendan Banfield, 39, has been indicted for the aggravated murders of his wife, Christine Banfield, and another man, Joseph Ryan, following a 19-month investigation into the February 2023 killings at their Herndon, Virginia home. The case gained attention due to the involvement of the couple's live-in au pair, Juliana Peres Magalhaes, 23, who was arrested earlier in October 2023 and charged with second-degree murder related to Ryan's death. Investigators revealed that Banfield allegedly stabbed his wife and shot Ryan, with the murders possibly linked to a lover's scheme involving Magalhaes. During the police investigation, Banfield initially claimed an intruder was responsible for the incident. New evidence was cited as crucial in securing the indictment against him, as he had previously invoked his Fifth Amendment rights during questioning. Both Banfield and Magalhaes are currently facing trial, with Banfield's court appearance scheduled imminently.