Au Pair Receives Maximum Sentence for Role in Brutal Double Murder
An au pair who participated in a meticulously planned double murder has been sentenced to ten years in prison, the maximum possible term, after pleading guilty to a reduced manslaughter charge. Juliana Peres Magalhães, a Brazilian national, was the star witness in the trial of Brendan Banfield, her employer-turned-lover, who was convicted of aggravated murder earlier this month.
A Chilling Plot Unfolds
Magalhães testified that she and Banfield, an IRS agent, created a fake social media account in the name of his wife, Christine Banfield, a pediatric intensive care nurse. The account was on a platform for individuals interested in sexual fetishes. Through this account, they connected with Joseph Ryan, who agreed to meet for an encounter involving a knife.
On the night of the murders in February 2023, Magalhães, then 22 years old, stated that she and Banfield took the couple's four-year-old child to the basement of the home. They then discovered Ryan in the bedroom with Christine Banfield, where he was holding a knife. According to her testimony, Banfield shot Ryan and proceeded to stab his wife in the neck. When Magalhães saw Ryan moving, she fired the second shot that ultimately killed him.
Courtroom Drama and Emotional Testimony
During her sentencing hearing on Friday, Magalhães addressed the victims' families through tears and muffled sobs. "I know my remorse cannot bring you peace," she said. "I hope you can someday understand that I really did not believe his plan would actually happen." She expressed that she had "lost myself in a relationship, and left my morals and values behind."
Judge Penney Azcarate delivered a stern rebuke in response. "Let’s get it straight: You do not deserve anything other than incarceration and a life of reflection on what you have done to the victim and his family. May it weigh heavily on your soul," the judge declared. She emphasized that Magalhães had actively encouraged Ryan to bring a knife and, through phone conversations, secured his consent, all while knowing he was being led to his death.
Prosecution's Stance and Legal Proceedings
Prosecutors had initially recommended that Magalhães walk free after she pleaded guilty to the downgraded manslaughter charge in Ryan's killing, instead of facing a second-degree murder trial. Her cooperation as a key witness was pivotal in securing Banfield's conviction. However, Judge Azcarate rejected the suggestion of time served, imposing the full ten-year sentence.
Magalhães was not arrested until eight months after the murders and has remained in jail since. Prosecutors raised concerns that if released on bail, she might flee to Brazil or face deportation by immigration authorities before the case concluded. She did not speak with investigators for over a year, only changing her mind as her own trial date approached.
Victims Remembered
The emotional impact of the crimes was vividly portrayed by the victims' families in court. Deirdre Fisher, Ryan's mother, described her son, born just days before Christmas, as her "greatest gift." Three years after his murder, she cannot bring herself to take down their Christmas tree. An urn containing Ryan's ashes sits before the decoration. "I say good morning to him each day when I turn on the tree’s lights," Fisher shared. "But of course that’s not Joe sitting there. He can’t say ‘I love you’ back."
Sangeeta Ryan, Joseph's aunt, remembered her nephew as "inquisitive, curious, smart, charming and so dang talkative." He had a passion for martial arts and role-playing with friends. Notably, he had moved in with his octogenarian grandmother to care for her. "His sudden murder devastated his grandma — she could no longer live in the family home without Joe," his aunt revealed. The grandmother quietly relocated, hoping to escape both painful memories and persistent reporters.
Relatives of Christine Banfield were also present at the sentencing hearing. Brendan Banfield is scheduled to be sentenced in May for his convictions in the deaths of his wife and Joseph Ryan.
