Blood spatter analysis helped investigate the man charged with murdering wife Christine Banfield and another man, Joseph Ryan

FAIRFAX, Va. – Expert bloodstain patterns and forensic analysis helped investigators bring charges against a Virginia husband accused of killing his wife and another man at the couple’s Fairfax County home, prosecutors said Friday.

Earlier this month, a grand jury indicted Brendan Banfield on aggravated murder charges in the February 2023 murders of Christine Banfield and Joseph Ryan. At the time of his arrest, which came more than a year after the incident, Fairfax County Commonwealth’s Attorney Steve Descano said new information found in officers’ investigation “was crucial in securing today’s charges,” declining However, it is worth going into more detail.

During a bond hearing Friday, Assistant Commonwealth’s Attorney Eric Clingan said police received “two final reports in August from forensic experts” who spent more than a year reviewing evidence. Clingan said the reports were fundamental to prosecutors’ theory that the bodies of Ryan and Christine Banfield were moved and repositioned after their fatal injuries. Clingan also said Ryan’s arms were moved and smeared with the woman’s blood.

John F. Carroll, Brendan Banfield’s attorney, argued in court that Clingan’s account of what happened was not evidence that the husband killed his wife. “It just doesn’t add up, Judge,” Carroll said.

At the end of the hearing, Fairfax Circuit Presiding Judge Penney S. Azcarate denied Banfield bail and requested that the defendant remain in the county jail until his trial scheduled for February.

The blood spatter evidence is part of officers’ extensive investigation into Banfield and Juliana Peres Magalhães, the family au pair who was also charged with second-degree murder in Ryan’s killing. Magalhães was arrested last October and will go on trial in November.

Authorities said the murders were part of a larger plan between Magalhães and Brendan Banfield, who officials alleged began a romantic relationship in August 2022.

In the six months before the murders, Magalhães and Banfield took a trip to New York City together and took romantic photos, Clingan said. The prosecutor also said other women informed investigators that Banfield had been involved in several extramarital affairs during his marriage.

“Several credible women have confirmed this fact, including one in particular who told them that during the course of her affair with this defendant several years ago, he continually promised to leave his wife,” Clingan said. “Finally he said to her, ‘It would be a lot easier for us if she wasn’t there.’ ”

According to authorities, Magalhães called 911 at least twice within minutes of each other on the day of the murders. However, authorities said she ended the calls before speaking to first responders.

More than 10 minutes later, Magalhães called 911 one last time and reported the emergency, according to authorities. Then Brendan Banfield spoke into the phone and said he shot a man because the man stabbed his wife.

Authorities soon arrived at the Banfields’ home in Herndon, Virginia, and discovered that Ryan had been fatally shot and Christine Banfield was suffering from stab wounds. She was taken to hospital where she died.

Clingan said that after the murders, Magalhães told authorities that she and Brendan Banfield left the house early that morning, leaving Christine Banfield home alone. Magalhães said she and Brendan Banfield returned later that morning after the au pair saw Ryan, who she claimed was trespassing, enter the house.

When Magalhães and Brendan Banfield went inside, the two found Ryan holding a knife to Christine Banfield’s throat, Magalhães told investigators. She claimed that Ryan stabbed Christine Banfield and that Brendan Banfield then shot Ryan. Magalhães also told authorities that she shot Ryan once with a second gun.

During Magalhães’ court hearings, prosecutors questioned her account of events and argued that Ryan was not known to be violent. In court Friday, Clingan said Ryan came to the house after matching an online profile presented as Christine Banfield on a website for people interested in sexual fetishes.

Authorities allege Ryan came to the house after messaging the Telegram profile user and arranging a sexual rendezvous. Ryan told a friend that Christine’s marriage was not entirely monogamous, adding that Brendan Banfield was aware of “his wife’s extramarital activities,” Clingan said.

In the 11 months between Magalhães’ arrest and Banfield’s indictment, authorities say they monitored her phone calls in the Fairfax County Jail.

A few weeks ago, Clingan said Magalhães and Banfield had a brief phone conversation in which she said, “I hope you don’t just stay with me because you’re afraid I’ll turn on you.”