A Virginia man accused of murdering his wife and a stranger in a plot to be with his family's au pair wept in court this week as the frantic 911 call from the night of the killings was played to the jury.
The Distressing 911 Call and Courtroom Breakdown
Brendan Banfield was overcome with emotion during a hearing at Fairfax County Court on Tuesday. The former IRS officer stared down at the desk in front of him as the recording began, which captured the voice of his then-lover, Juliana Peres Magalhães, desperately asking an operator for help.
As the nine-minute call continued, Banfield was seen rubbing tears from his eyes, his gaze locked on the table. On the recording, his own voice is heard for the first time, telling the operator: 'There's somebody here I shot him, but he stabbed her.' He added that his wife had 'a very big hole in her neck' and was bleeding.
A Twisted Plot to Frame a Stranger
Prosecutors allege that Banfield, 37, murdered his wife Christine and 39-year-old Joseph Ryan as part of a scheme to start a new life with Magalhães, the family's 25-year-old Brazilian au pair. The disturbing events unfolded on February 24, 2023, at the Banfields' home in Herndon, Virginia.
Christine Banfield was found stabbed to death in her bedroom. Joseph Ryan, a man she had never met, was found shot dead beside her. Prosecutors claim Banfield and Magalhães worked together to lure Ryan to the home through a BDSM website, staging the scene to make it appear he had killed Christine before being shot.
Evidence suggested someone created a fake account for Christine on a fetish site, using the username 'Annastasia9' on her computer. The account, which discussed 'rough sex' and 'bloodplay' with Ryan, claimed the user cheated on her husband 'whenever she wants to'. Prosecutor Eric Clingan told the court there was 'not one iota of evidence' that Christine was interested in such activities.
Secret Romance and a Co-operating Witness
Investigators grew suspicious when Banfield and Magalhães failed to disclose their romantic relationship. Police later uncovered evidence of a secret lovers' getaway and found that, just eight months after the murders, Magalhães had moved into the main bedroom. A framed photo of the pair was on her nightstand, and her clothes were in Christine's closet.
Magalhães has pleaded guilty to manslaughter in exchange for her cooperation in prosecuting Banfield. She told police she had left the home with the couple's four-year-old daughter but returned after forgetting their lunches. She claimed she left the child in the basement after hearing what sounded like an intruder.
In her opening statement, Prosecutor Jenna Sands said: 'We're here today because Brendan Banfield... killed his wife, Christine Banfield, and another man, named Joseph Ryan. Those two individuals had no reason to know each other but for the plotting and planning of Brendan Banfield.' She emphasised that 'the blood cannot lie' and placed Banfield standing over his wife, stabbing her.
Banfield's defence lawyer, John Carroll, sought to undermine Magalhães' testimony, arguing she 'flipped' in exchange for a favourable plea deal. He admitted the affair but insisted there was 'an awful lot more to look for'.
Banfield faces four charges of aggravated murder and firearm offenses. He also faces child abuse and neglect charges because his daughter was home during the alleged murders. The trial continues.
