On Tuesday, law enforcement officials in Virginia revealed a second arrest related to a double-murder case that occurred in 2023 in the picturesque suburb of Herndon, near Washington, D.C.
Early last year, the tragic double homicide of Christine Banfield and Joseph Ryan deeply affected our community.

I am pleased to inform you that, thanks to the diligent efforts of law enforcement and prosecutors, the Commonwealth's Attorney's Office has obtained an indictment against Brendan Banfield for the murder of his wife, Christine, as well as the murder of Ryan, stated Fairfax County Commonwealth's Attorney Steve Descano during a press conference on Tuesday.

Brendan Banfield, a husband and father to a then-4-year-old daughter, along with the family's 22-year-old Brazilian au pair, Juliana Peres Magalhaes, are alleged to have murdered Christine—who worked in the NICU at Fairfax County—and Joseph Ryan, a 38-year-old man who arrived at their residence armed with a knife in February 2023.

The nature of Ryan's relationship with the family or their au pair remains unclear.
Brendan Banfield faces four counts of aggravated murder along with charges related to the use of a firearm during the commission of a felony.