Man conspired with mistress and murdered his wife after using another man as bait through a fake profile on sexual fetish website

September 18, 2024 Sharon Banks

A man from Northern Virginia allegedly set up another man with his wife, without her knowledge, using a fake profile on a sexual fetish website. He did this with plans to have her murdered so he and his mistress could be together, authorities said.

Brendan Banfield, 39, has been indicted on four counts of aggravated murder and one count of firearm use in connection with a murder conspiracy that left his wife, Christine Ann Banfield, 37, and another man, Joseph Nathan Ryan, 39, dead in February 2023.

Law enforcement officials claim that Banfield orchestrated the killings with the help of his family’s au pair, 24-year-old Juliana Peres Magalhaes, in a plot involving a fake profile on a sexual fetish website.

On February 24, 2023, police responded to the Banfield home in Herndon, Virginia, after receiving an emergency 911 call from Magalhaes, who initially reported a friend was hurt, then ended the call immediately.

Moments later, Brendan Banfield called back and claimed over the phone that he had shot Ryan in self-defense after Ryan allegedly entered their home and fatally stabbed Christine. When authorities arrived, both Christine and Ryan were found dead inside the residence.

Initially, Banfield and Magalhaes portrayed the incident as an attack by Ryan, with Banfield asserting he had shot the man to protect his wife.

However, investigators were suspicious from the start. Police noted there was no forced entry into the home, and Ryan’s vehicle was found parked in the driveway, suggesting he wasn’t a random intruder.

Over time, detectives uncovered that Ryan had been lured to the house through a fake profile on a fetish website, created to impersonate Christine. Law enforcement believes the goal was to kill Christine so Banfield and Magalhaes could be together.

Magalhaes was arrested in October 2023 and charged with second-degree murder for her role in Ryan’s death. Investigators found messages between Ryan and the fake profile arranging a meeting at the Banfield home on the day of the murders.

Prosecutors alleged that Banfield and Magalhaes had conspired to set up the encounter to execute their deadly plan.

Prosecutors also presented newly discovered evidence, including framed photos of Banfield and Magalhaes embracing and smiling together, further fueling suspicion that they were romantically involved. Despite their initial claims that their relationship was purely professional, Magalhaes later admitted to the affair.

At the time of the killings, Banfield was an IRS special agent, and he had a young daughter with Christine, who was left in the care of Magalhaes. The child was with the au pair when she initially left the home to go to the zoo that morning but returned when she supposedly forgot their packed lunches.

Upon returning, Magalhaes claimed to have seen a car she didn’t recognize in the driveway and was unable to reach Christine by phone, prompting her to call Banfield, who rushed back home from a nearby McDonald’s.

The investigation revealed that Banfield had directed Magalhaes to retrieve a second gun from a safe and shoot Ryan, whom he had already shot once.

The charges against Banfield include four counts of aggravated murder, reflecting various ways in which the murders of Christine and Ryan were carried out. Prosecutors say they filed multiple charges to ensure the jury has all possible legal options when considering the case.

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Investigators continue to work on the case, with Fairfax County Commonwealth’s Attorney Steve Descano stating they anticipate holding more individuals accountable.

Banfield now faces trial for his role in what police describe as a calculated, multi-layered murder plot aimed at eliminating his wife and staging a violent confrontation.