A Brazilian au pair, Juliana Perez Magalhães, is connected to the murder of her lover’s wife in Virginia and posted an unsettling selfie of herself spitting at her much older lover’s killer months before the incident.
The 25-year-old shared photos with Brendan Banfield, 40, who is married to an IRS employee. Their snapshots, taken in the winter of 2022, reveal them engaging in intimate moments, like chatting in bubble baths and goofing around at a shooting range.
“Oh my god, I’m unbelievably in love. I have been since July of last year,” she stated in a selfie shown to the jury during Banfield’s murder trial last week.
The image, taken in December 2022, shows Banfield with half his face obscured by an emoji, while Magalhães grins as they embrace. Just two months later, Christine, Banfield’s 37-year-old wife, was killed in what Magalhães described as a calculated plot to fake a rape and murder scenario at their home.
Magalhães had moved in with Banfield the previous summer, helping care for their young daughter, but soon their relationship turned sexual. Banfield reportedly convinced his wife to let him get a divorce, all while orchestrating a disturbing plan involving a man and a fetish app.
The pair lured Joseph Ryan, 38, into a trap, leading to a staged attack. When Ryan arrived at their home, Banfield allegedly shot him with an IRS-issued gun and then fatally stabbed his wife with the knife Ryan had brought, pretending to save her in the chaos.
Following Christine’s death, Magalhães moved into Banfield’s house, displaying items that belonged to Christine and sleeping in the same bed where the murder occurred. This bizarre behavior didn’t seem to raise any flags, as they continued their lifestyle marked by provocative selfies and gunplay.
Another photo from New Year’s Eve featured Banfield with her hand on Magalhães’ thigh, captioned with affection and heart emojis.
A separate image displayed Magalhães firing a similar weapon used in the murder, capturing an alarming moment with a caption that seemed to mock the violence.
However, things took a turn when Magalhães was arrested and charged with murder in October 2023. She later pled guilty to manslaughter a year afterward, around the same time Banfield was also arrested.
During Banfield’s recent trial, Magalhães dismissed their involvement in the plot, yet defense attorneys maintained that her arrest was an attempt to shift blame onto him. Her sentencing will occur after Banfield’s trial, which is set to continue for several more weeks.
Banfield is no longer employed by the IRS, and if found guilty, he faces life imprisonment.
