An au pair from Brazil was sentenced to 10 years in prison for her involvement in a murder plot orchestrated with her employer-turned-lover, resulting in the deaths of his wife and another man.
Juliana Peres Magalhães, who initially faced a second-degree murder charge, pleaded guilty to a reduced manslaughter charge in the killing of Joseph Ryan in February 2023. She cooperated with prosecutors as their key witness, revealing that she had shot Ryan while Brendan Banfield was stabbing his wife, Christine, in their bedroom.
Following a jury’s conviction of Brendan Banfield for aggravated murder in both deaths, Magalhães expressed remorse to the victims’ families, stating that she never believed the plan would come to fruition.
Despite pleas for leniency, Magalhães received the maximum sentence from Judge Penney Azcarate, who emphasized the gravity of her actions and their impact on the victims’ families.
During the trial, it was disclosed that Magalhães and Banfield had created a fake social media account to lure Ryan into a fatal encounter involving a knife, leading to the tragic events in the Banfields’ home.
Magalhães, who remained in custody since her arrest eight months after the incident, changed her stance and cooperated with investigators as her trial neared.
In a poignant moment, Ryan’s mother shared the enduring pain of losing her son, describing him as a cherished gift and recounting the daily rituals she maintains to remember him.
Family members of Christine Banfield were present at the sentencing, awaiting Banfield’s own sentencing in May as the legal proceedings continue.
