Brazilian au pair Juliana Peres Magalhães, who went together with former IRS agent Brendan Banfield in a northern Virginia double murder plot, was sentenced to 10 years in jail with two years of probation.
On Friday morning, Fairfax County Decide Penney Azcarate determined to present the 25-year-old the utmost sentence, which was as much as 10 years on a manslaughter cost for which she pleaded responsible in 2024.
“Your actions have been deliberate, self-serving, and demonstrated a profound disregard for human life,” Azcarate stated in delivering her ruling. “So, let’s get straight: You don’t deserve something aside from incarceration and a lifetime of reflection on what you’ve gotten carried out to the sufferer and this household.”
A brand new “20/20” episode concerning the case, “The Au Pair, The Affair and Homicide” is scheduled to air Friday, Feb. 20, at 9 p.m. ET on ABC and streaming the subsequent day on Disney+ and Hulu.
Juliana Peres Magalhaes is escorted into the courtroom earlier than persevering with her testimony, through the double homicide trial for Brendan Banfield in Fairfax County Circuit Courtroom, on Jan. 14, 2026, in Fairfax, Va.
Tom Brenner, Pool through AP, FILE
Magalhães and Banfield have been individually arrested over their roles in the Feb. 24, 2023, murders of Joseph Ryan and Banfield’s spouse, Christine Banfield, which have been dedicated contained in the Banfield residence.
Early within the investigation, detectives found proof suggesting that Banfield and Magalhães have been having an affair — and that they’d plotted to kill his 37-year-old spouse.
A part of that plot, in line with prosecutors and Magalhães’ testimony, concerned covertly making a profile for, and thus masquerading as, Christine on a social media website for sexual fetishes.
Ryan, 39, took the bait in what prosecutors known as the “catfishing” scheme. Ryan communicated forwards and backwards with the profile account that was allegedly posing as Christine, as they collectively crafted a rape fantasy situation utilizing a knife, chains and cord.
“I’ve induced ache that can not be measured. I pray for forgiveness from the Benson household, and from the Joseph Ryan household,” Magalhães stated throughout Friday’s sentencing listening to.
“There may be nothing I might probably do to make it as much as you, on your loss. There are such a lot of regrets, that is my greatest. It is a tragedy I’ve been carrying with me, and I do know I can by no means take again the devastation of what I’ve carried out,” she added.
Saying she misplaced herself within the relationship with Banfield, Magalhães stated she has modified in jail over the previous three years.
Christine Banfield is seen in an undated photograph.
Obtained by ABC Information
On the time, Magalhães and Banfield informed police they got here residence to seek out Ryan — a stranger to them — stabbing Christine Banfield to demise. Banfield and Magalhães every fired a shot, killing Ryan, they stated each of their 911 name and to responding officers at the scene.
In October 2023, Magalhães was charged with the second-degree homicide of Ryan, as she had admitted to firing the second, deadly shot.
One yr later, Magalhães took a plea cope with prosecutors, turning on Banfield in trade for a lesser cost of manslaughter. Prosecutors additionally promised to advocate to the choose upon sentencing that Magalhães solely get time served.
With that settlement, Magalhães sat for practically 4 hours of interviews with prosecutors, largely confirming the idea detectives had developed about their scheme.
Magalhães additionally took the stand within the trial in opposition to Banfield in January, as he maintained his innocence. Throughout his three-week-long trial, Banfield even took the stand, testifying in his personal protection.
After two days — practically 9 hours complete — of deliberations within the trial, the jury reached a verdict on Feb. 2. The jury found Banfield guilty on all 4 counts, which included two counts of aggravated homicide, one depend of kid endangerment, and possession of a firearm in fee of a felony.
On this picture taken from video, Brendan Banfield, charged with aggravated homicide within the 2023 killings of Christine Banfield and Joseph Ryan, seems in courtroom throughout opening statements on Jan. 13, 2026 in Fairfax, Va.
Courtroom TV, Pool through AP, FILE
Household and mates of Christine Banfield and Joseph Ryan stuffed the courtroom Friday morning for Magalhães’ sentencing.
Becoming a member of remotely on-line from Florida, Ryan’s mom, Deirdre Fisher, delivered her sufferer affect assertion. She stated her son was born two days earlier than Christmas, making it a particular vacation for them. Since Ryan’s homicide, she has not been capable of take down her Christmas tree, which sits behind the urn holding her son’s ashes.
“I say good morning to him every day after I activate the tree’s lights, and I inform him I like him every evening after I flip off the lights,” Fisher informed the courtroom.
Fisher stated she has missed so many milestones now, together with the prospect to be a grandmother. There have been many instances, Fisher stated, when she’s reached for the telephone to name her son, solely to keep in mind that he cannot and will not reply.
Ryan’s aunt, Sangeeta Ryan, delivered her affect assertion from the courtroom, pausing periodically between sobs.
“He was fun-loving and cherished from the start. He was inquisitive, curious, good, charming, and so dang talkative,” she stated.
Joseph Ryan is seen in an undated photograph.
Obtained by ABC Information
Ryan’s aunt described her nephew’s love for animals and the setting, noting that he typically rescued and adopted canines.
Sangeeta Ryan, added that he additionally was a devoted member of their household, particularly in caring for his grandmother, who, she stated, offered her residence in wake of Ryan’s homicide to “dodge recollections, grief, and reporters.”
Acknowledging that Magalhães did ultimately come ahead with the reality, Sangeeta Ryan stated that this nonetheless was not an act of heroism on Magalhães’ half.
“This might have been a really totally different ending the place Juliana saved two lives,” she stated, suggesting that might have been the case if Magalhães had not gone together with Banfield’s plot.
As Magalhães was charged solely in Ryan’s homicide, Decide Azcarate dominated that prosecutors couldn’t embrace sufferer affect statements that Christine Banfield’s relations had ready.
The demise penalty was abolished in Virginia in 2021, which means that, following his conviction, Banfield is dealing with life in jail with out parole.
His sentencing listening to is ready for Might 8.
