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A Fairfax County jury convicted Brendan Banfield on Monday of aggravated murder in the February 2023 killings of his wife and another man inside the family’s Herndon home.

Banfield, a former IRS law enforcement officer, was found guilty of conspiring with the family’s au pair, Juliana Peres Magalhães, to kill Christine Banfield and frame Joseph Ryan for her death. The conviction on two aggravated-murder counts carries a mandatory sentence of life in prison without parole.

Jurors also convicted Banfield of using a firearm in the commission of a felony and child endangerment. His 4-year-old child was home when the killings occurred.

Judge Penney Azcarate scheduled sentencing for May 8.

Prosecutors describe a carefully staged trap

The 12-member jury began deliberations midday Friday after hearing prosecutors argue that Banfield wanted to build a life with Magalhães, a Brazilian au pair with whom he was having an affair.

Prosecutor Jenna Sands said the pair devised an elaborate plan to lure Ryan to the house, kill Christine Banfield and make it appear that Ryan had attacked her.

Magalhães, who testified for two days under a plea agreement, told jurors that Banfield wanted to “get rid of his wife.” She said they created a FetLife account impersonating Christine and used it to entice Ryan with the promise of rough sex.

According to Magalhães, she and Banfield posted from Christine’s laptop only while Christine was home, an effort intended to establish alibis and make the account appear authentic.

On the morning of the killings, Magalhães left the house with the Banfields’ child and waited in her car for Ryan to arrive. Banfield had departed earlier and waited at a nearby McDonald’s for Magalhães to call him.

Prosecutors said Ryan was brought into the home and shot. Magalhães testified that Banfield shot Ryan in the head and that she shot him in the chest.

Sands told jurors that Banfield stabbed Christine, allowed her to bleed on the floor and then transferred her blood onto Ryan’s body to create the appearance that Ryan had attacked her. Police were called afterward.

Fairfax County Commonwealth’s Attorney Steve Descano called the crime “monstrous,” saying Banfield stood out among the murder defendants his office had prosecuted during his six years in the position.

Au pair still faces possible prison time

Magalhães was charged with murder in October 2023, eight months after the killings and nearly a year before charges were brought against Banfield.

Descano said prosecutors waited for blood-analysis results before authorizing charges against Banfield. Magalhães began cooperating about two months after his indictment, he said, though the prosecution had been prepared to try the case without her testimony.

Under her plea agreement, Magalhães’ charge was reduced to manslaughter. She could receive time served but still faces as many as 10 years in prison.

Descano said her testimony answered important questions for prosecutors and jurors while still requiring her to accept responsibility for her role in the killings.

Defense attorney John Carroll argued that Magalhães gave prosecutors the account they wanted in hopes of receiving a lighter sentence. He also noted that Banfield’s DNA was not found on the knife used to kill Christine and contended that the prosecution failed to substantiate its catfishing theory.

The defense further questioned Magalhães about pretrial discussions with a media company over the possible sale of her story for a documentary.

Banfield’s testimony fails to persuade jurors

Banfield took the stand in his own defense and offered a sharply different account of what happened.

He testified that he hurried home after receiving a call from Magalhães and heard noises coming from the bedroom. Banfield said he identified himself as police after seeing Ryan holding a knife to Christine, then shot Ryan after witnessing him stab her.

Banfield told jurors that he had hoped to de-escalate the confrontation and did not want to fire his weapon.

During cross-examination, Sands challenged the details of his story and questioned him about his relationships with Christine and Magalhães. After the verdict, she said Banfield appeared untruthful and emotionally detached while discussing his wife and the killings.

Banfield, dressed in a gray suit and navy tie, showed little visible reaction as the jury announced its decision.

Descano said he hoped the verdict made clear to Banfield that his efforts to conceal the killings and outsmart investigators had failed.