In Virginia, Brendan Banfield, once an IRS law enforcement officer, reported to authorities that he witnessed Joseph Ryan assaulting his wife, Christine Banfield, with a knife on the morning of February 24, 2023.
In response, Banfield shot Ryan, and following that, the family’s au pair, Juliana Magalhães, also fired at Ryan.
During questioning, Banfield revealed that he maintained an arranged relationship with someone who was aware of his marital status, when asked about his involvement with a particular website.
In the closing statements, Sands emphasized to the jury that they were not solely reliant on Magalhães’ account, highlighting what she described as an abundance of evidence.
This evidence included expert analysis indicating that blood stains on Ryan’s hands suggested that Christine Banfield’s blood had fallen onto him from above.
Additionally, Banfield faced a conviction for child endangerment.
Banfield’s daughter, four years old at the time, was in the home’s basement on the day of the killings, though physically unharmed.
The jury deliberated for nearly nine hours across two days before reaching a verdict.
Banfield faces the possibility of life in prison at his sentencing hearing, which is scheduled for May 8.
Magalhães was scheduled to be sentenced after Banfield’s trial.
Attorneys have said she could be allowed to walk free if she is sentenced to time served and return to her home in Brazil.
