The Virginia man convicted of killing his wife and another man to hide his affair with the family’s Brazilian au pair will spend the rest of his days behind bars after he was sentenced Friday to life in prison without the possibility of parole. Brendan Banfield, a former IRS law enforcement officer, was found guilty earlier this year on two counts of aggravated murder, one count of using a firearm in committing a crime and child endangerment stemming from the 2023 murders of Christine Banfield and Joseph Ryan in the family’s home in Herndon, Virginia. The couple’s au pair, Juliana Peres Magalhães, pleaded guilty to manslaughter charges and received a sentence of 10 years behind bars for her involvement in the plot to cover up her and Banfield’s extramarital affair.FOLLOW THE FOX TRUE CRIME TEAM ON XBrendan Banfield listens to testimony during his double murder trial in Fairfax County Circuit Court in Fairfax, Va., on Jan.14, 2026.
(Tom Brenner/AP)"The level of cruelty, calculation and inhumanity in this case reflects something far deeper than anger or impulse – it reflects evil," Judge Penney Azcarate said as she handed down Banfield’s sentence."Which is why I carry no burden and find no hesitation in sentencing you to life."NANNY SUSPECT IN SUBURBAN DOUBLE MURDER STRIKES PLEA DEAL AS TAX AGENT EMPLOYER FACES TRIALBanfield addressed the court ahead of his sentencing and remained defiant while maintaining his innocence.SIGN UP TO GET TRUE CRIME NEWSLETTERJuliana Peres Magalhães is escorted into the courtroom before continuing her testimony during the double murder trial for Brendan Banfield in Fairfax County Circuit Court in Fairfax, Va., on Jan.
14, 2026.(Tom Brenner/AP)"I'm not trying to diminish in any way what [Christine’s] life was," Banfield said.
"She truly was a caring mother, caring wife, loving nurse.But I am not responsible.
I am not responsible for her death.This is not a knife that I ever held in my hand, and I never stabbed her."�...