Fairfax County, VA – Nearly a year after the brutal slayings of his wife and another man, Brendan Banfield, 39, has been indicted on four counts of aggravated murder and use of a firearm in the commission of a felony. The charges relate to the deaths of his wife, Christine Banfield, 37, and Joseph Ryan, 39, in February 2023, according to Fairfax County Commonwealth’s Attorney Steve Descano.
The case took a turn last year when the Banfields’ au pair, Juliana Peres Magalhaes, was arrested in connection with Ryan’s killing. Magalhaes, who dialed 911 on the day of the murders, was charged in October 2023, and her trial is set to begin in November.
During a press conference on Monday, Descano explained that new information uncovered by police was “instrumental” in securing Brendan Banfield’s indictment, though further details were not disclosed.
Fairfax County Police Chief Kevin Davis shared that Banfield, who lived in the Northern Virginia home where the murders took place, was arrested without incident. Authorities have yet to reveal a motive behind the killings, and police have not clarified Ryan’s relationship to the family.
The horrific scene, described as “appalling” by authorities at the time, unfolded on February 24, 2023, when Christine Banfield was found fatally stabbed in an upstairs bedroom of the Reston home. Joseph Ryan was discovered nearby with fatal gunshot wounds.
Magalhaes initially reported the incident, telling dispatchers that a friend had been hurt. Brendan Banfield later took over the call, claiming that an “unknown male” had entered the home and committed the killings. When questioned in court earlier this year, Banfield largely invoked his Fifth Amendment right against self-incrimination.
The case remains ongoing as the community awaits further developments in both Banfield’s and Magalhaes’ legal proceedings.
For further updates, visit Fairfax County Commonwealth’s Attorney Office.
