Juliana Magalhães, a Brazilian au pair, recently pleaded guilty to manslaughter in a double homicide case in Virginia. The incident involved an elaborate scheme to frame another man in the stabbing of his wife, Christine Banfield. The victim, a pediatric intensive care nurse, was fatally wounded with stab wounds to her neck, and her husband and their live-in nanny shot the apparent killer, who had been lured to the bedroom with promises of rough sex.
Magalhães called 911 to the house in Herndon, Virginia, and was hyperventilating at the scene as she described the killings. Detectives eventually uncovered evidence that Brendan Banfield had smeared blood from his wife’s wounds onto the body of Joe Ryan, the man they had tried to frame for the murder. Banfield was arrested and charged with second-degree murder in Ryan’s killing.
Magalhães agreed to cooperate with the police and pleaded guilty to Ryan’s killing, admitting that she had helped Banfield in the ruse to kill his wife. She revealed that Banfield had bought a gun and given it to her to use, as well as taking her to the shooting range to practice.
The sentencing of Magalhães is pending the conclusion of Banfield’s trial. Depending on her cooperation with authorities, she may be sentenced to the time she has already served. The details of the case that led to Magalhães’ guilty plea cannot be disclosed at this time due to the ongoing criminal trial against Banfield.
The court heard that Magalhães and Banfield had been having an affair, and Banfield had plotted to kill his wife with Magalhães’ help. The scheme involved creating a social media profile for Christine Banfield on a platform for sexual fetishes and luring Ryan to the house for a fake encounter.
Authorities monitored phone conversations between Magalhães and Banfield, where they discussed the consequences of snitching in jail. Magalhães expressed concerns about Banfield’s loyalty, questioning if he was only staying with her out of fear that she would turn against him.
The case highlights the tragic consequences of a tumultuous love affair and a twisted murder plot. The guilty plea from Magalhães sheds light on the events leading up to the double homicide and the role she played in the crime. As the legal proceedings continue, more details may emerge about the motivations and actions of those involved in this shocking case.
