Listen ad-free on Patreon On the morning of February 24, 2023, police responded to 911 calls from the Banfield residence in Herndon, Fairfax County, Virginia, where they found Christine Banfield suffering from multiple stab wounds and Joseph Ryan dead from gunshot wounds inside an upstairs bedroom. Brendan Banfield — Christine's husband and a former IRS special agent — and the family's Brazilian au pair, Juliana Peres Magalhães, initially told police that Ryan had entered the house, attacked Christine with a knife, and was shot by both of them in self-defense, but investigators concluded this account was contradicted by physical and digital evidence. Prosecutors alleged that Brendan and Peres Magalhães were engaged in an extramarital affair and, rather than face divorce and a custody dispute, Brendan created a fake FetLife profile under Christine's name to lure Ryan — a complete stranger — to the home under false pretenses, intending to kill Christine and frame Ryan for her murder by staging it as a home invasion gone wrong. Peres Magalhães was arrested in October 2023, later pleaded guilty to involuntary manslaughter in Ryan's death, and testified as the key prosecution witness against Brendan at trial, where she was ultimately sentenced to ten years in prison. In early 2026, a Fairfax County jury convicted Brendan Banfield of aggravated murder on all counts, with a mandatory life sentence to follow. ***** Find all of A Trial by Podcast's links in our Linktree below: Click here for all of our links! Find us on socials: Facebook: A Trial by Podcast Instagram: @atrialbypodcast TikTok: @atrialbypodcast Theme Music: https://uppbeat.io/t/all-good-folks/mr-mischief License code: MOYK9CTUWGH7BLCS DISCLAIMER This podcast (and all related media*) is intended for entertainment purposes only. While we make every effort to ensure the accuracy of the information presented, we cannot guarantee its completeness or veracity. Our sources are thoroughly researched, and we strive to use credible, publicly available information. However, this podcast should not be considered a definitive or legal authority on the topics discussed. Much to their parents’ dismay, neither host is a lawyer, journalist, investigator, or any sort of authority figure. The views and opinions expressed by the hosts are personal and should not be taken as fact. Listeners are encouraged to conduct their own research and draw their own conclusions. This podcast is not intended to harm, slander, or defame any individuals, groups, or organizations. All individuals discussed are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. You can find the list of sources used for each episode on our website, atrialbypodcast.com, within 30 days of the episode publish date. If you have any questions or concerns about the content, feel free to reach out to our team at atrialbypodcast@gmail.com. *Related media may include website content, social media posts, TikTok videos (“Unsettling Story Time”), interviews, media appearances, and more. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
