Brendan Banfield Denies Elaborate Plot In Double Murder Trial

Brendan Banfield from Northern Virginia brings a true crime case that seems more like a plot on a daytime drama soap than real life. Well, this week, he claimed that he never plotted to kill his wife, Christine Banfield and Joseph Ryan in February, 2023. And, that adds to the drama of a rather complex case. Read on for more details.

An Affair & An Elaborate Murder Plan

Brendan worked for the IRS, hunting down money for the government. Meanwhile, his wife worked as a pediatric nurse. Like so many busy couples, they brought in someone to help look after their child. And, things spiraled from there, in an alleged elaborate murder plot.

Two people died: Christine Banfield and Joseph Ryan. Meanwhile, the au pair, Juliana Peres Magalhães and Brendan started an affair, which he alleged she started. Per ABC7, the pair plotted a deadly true crime by creating a fake FetLife account in Christine’s name. 

Apprently, the purpose was to lure someone into her home for intimate encounters. The way the story goes, they could justify a stranger in the home attacking and killing Christine.

Au Pair Testifies Against Him

Unfortunately for Brendan Banfield, after the shooting murder of Joe Ryan and the stabbing death of Christine Banfield, the au pair turned state’s witness.

Actually, her evidence in eschange for the lesser charge of manslaughter, seemed incredible. According to her, the plan involved making Ryan looking like a predator, so he’d take the blame for the murders. And the motive? They’d live happily together ever after.

Banfield Disses The Claims

In court, Brendan Banfield claimed it seemed farcical. In fact, he claimed in his self-defense, that “there was no plan.” Interestingly, he admitted affairs in the past, on both sides of the marriage. But, he said they stuck it out with the help of therapy. In fact, in court, he claimed that he still loved his wife and they never planned a separation.

Banfield claimed that the whole idea of an elaborate murder plot seemed “Absurd.” In fact, he described the prosecution’s theory as “absolutely crazy.”

Evidence Produced In Court

Actually, the prosecution case does have some evidence. Apparently, Brendan bought a gun a month before the killing and took the au pair to a range to shoot. Plus, he spent money on thicker windows, which the prosecution believes was to muffle gunshots.

Then, video revealed Banfield visited a McDonald’s on the day of the murder. Conveniently, it was close to his home. Then, the babysitter and Brendan moved into the same room after the death. So, that aroused suspicion.

Additionally, blood spatter on Brendan’s clothing matched that of his wife. And finally, there were fingerprints on the gun, but whether they belong to Joe Ryan or Christine’s husband seemed unclear.

In favor of the suspect though, a forensic examiner claimed that Christine contacted Joe Ryan on social media directly. However, that particular investigator was removed from the case, and a new one reassigned. Perhaps the new one gave the prosecutors the answers they wanted.

The Au Pair Dropped The Ball?

The state witness, Juliana Peres Magalhães, however seems short on details. The outlet noted that she seemed unable to recall important facts about the true crime. For instance:

Magalhães didn’t remember who created the email address connected to the social media account and where she and Brendan Banfield were on the day it had been procured. She testified that she did not remember who wrote what messages to Ryan. And she admitted under oath to negotiating with a true-crime author and producers to share her story for money.

No wonder the defense for Brendan Banfield had a field day with her in the witness box.

What are your thoughts? Do you believe the au pair is telling the truth? Or, is Banfield right and it sounds like some crazy plot from a daytime drama soap? Let us know in the comments below, and come back here often for all your true crime news and updates.