Au Pair Pleads Guilty in Herndon Murder Case

Juliana Peres Magalhaes, an au pair, pleaded guilty to manslaughter in connection with the February 2023 deaths of Christine Banfield and Joseph Ryan in Herndon, Virginia. She and her employer, Brendan Banfield, allegedly conspired in the murders, with their affair beginning in August 2022. Prosecutors revealed that Banfield plotted the killings, coaxing Ryan to the house under false pretenses before shooting him and stabbing his wife. Magalhaes, initially charged with second-degree murder, agreed to cooperate with authorities against Banfield, in exchange for a manslaughter plea and potentially time served. Her sentencing is delayed until after Banfield's February 2025 trial, where he faces aggravated murder charges. The plea deal marks a significant development in an intricate case involving a complex web of deceit and betrayal.