FAIRFAX, Va. (Court TV/AP) — The Brazilian au pair at the center of a double murder plot was sentenced to the maximum of 10 years behind bars on Friday.
Juliana Magalhães was sentenced after pleading guilty to manslaughter in the death of Joseph Ryan. Magalhães’s sentencing comes a week after Brendan Banfield was found guilty of all charges, including two counts of aggravated murder, in the Feb. 2023 deaths of Christine Banfield and Joseph Ryan. Prosecutors argued the murders were part of a larger scheme between Brendan and Magalhães, who were having an affair.
Juliana Peres Magalhães testifies during the double murder trial for Brendan Banfield in Fairfax County Circuit Court, Wednesday, Jan. 14, 2026, in Fairfax, Va. (AP Photo/Tom Brenner, Pool)
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At her sentencing, Magalhães offered a brief apology to the court, calling Ryan and Christine’s death a “tragedy I can never take back,” and said that she would “live with this for the rest of my life.”
On the day of the killings, Magalhães called 911 at least three times, hanging up twice before reporting the emergency on the third call. Brendan then spoke into the phone and said he had shot a man because that man stabbed his wife, according to testimony.
Authorities soon arrived at the Banfields’ home in Herndon, Virginia, and found that Ryan had been fatally shot and Christine suffered from stab wounds. She was taken to the hospital, where she died.
The story that Magalhães told the police raised suspicion. A months-long investigation revealed that Magalhães and Brendan were lovers. Prosecutors say the two schemed to kill Christine by luring a man to the house to play out a rape fantasy.
Ryan accepted the invitation, thinking he was meeting Christine for violent sex play, and brought a knife and restraints.
Magalhães was arrested in Oct. 2023 for the death of Ryan. Brendan was arrested nearly a year later in Sept. 2024 for the deaths of Christine and Ryan. The following month, Magalhães pleaded guilty to manslaughter in the death of Ryan. Magalhães testified that the plan was masterminded by Brendan to avoid a divorce.
Brendan will face sentencing on May 8.
Ahead of Magalhães’s sentencing, Christine’s family released the following statement to Court TV:
“The entire Benson Family would like to thank the jurors for their time, careful attention to the evidence and for giving justice to Christine and our family. The jury would not have been able to render their unanimous decision without the investigation and persistence of the Fairfax County Police Department. We are grateful for the resources and effort that went into this case as well as the dedication. We recognize that this trial was complex and had several nuances that presented a unique set of challenges for which the Fairfax Commonwealth Attorney’s Office navigated successfully and we thank them for it. We are grateful to all of those involved in this case including all of the forensic experts, all persons who came forward to provide information to the police, and the witnesses who testified on behalf of the Commonwealth. We are thankful to the Fairfax County Sheriff’s Office for all of their assistance with the trial. Throughout this entire process we have been supported by an amazing group of Christine’s co-workers and friends. We thank you for your
time and support during the trial. We are forever grateful to the Fairfax County Victim Services Unit who were there with us from the beginning providing support, guidance and resources.Our sympathy is with Joe Ryan’s family as we understand the loss and grief that they are experiencing. He, like Christine, was an innocent victim.
Christine was an honest, faithful, caring, compassionate, helpful person who was dedicated to her family, friends, and patients. She loved her family deeply and was devoted to her marriage. Christine suffered a violent, horrific, senseless death. The lies told about her after her murder were just as painful as her death. We are committed to ensuring that Christine will always be remembered as the beautiful person she was to everyone that loved her.”
