A grand jury has indicted 39-year-old Brendan Banfield in the stabbing death of his wife and murder of another man in the couple’s bedroom 19 months after the killing, according to Virginia’s Fairfax County Commonwealth’s Attorney Office.
Banfield is accused of fatally stabbing 37-year-old Christine Banfield and shooting Joseph Ryan, 38, in February 2023.
Banfield’s charging in the case comes months after the family’s 24-year-old live-in au pair was charged in the case.
“We know Brendan Banfield and Juliana Magalhaes, the family au pair, were involved in a romantic relationship at the time of the murders,” Fairfax Police Chief Kevin Davis said at a press conference Monday.
Banfield was indicted on four charges of aggravated murder and one charge for the use of a firearm in the commission of a felony.
He is accused of the premeditated murder of the two.
“The great investigative work of the Fairfax County Police Department led us to new information which was instrumental in securing today’s indictment,” Fairfax County Commonwealth’s Attorney Steve Descano said during the press conference.
ABC News has reached out to an attorney for Brendan Banfield for comment.
The Banfield couple were married and living in their family home with their then-4-year-old daughter at the time of the murders.
Police said they recovered two firearms and a knife from the home at the time of the murder.
According to the Fairfax County Commonwealth’s Attorney Office in Virginia, a grand jury has indicted 39-year-old Brendan Banfield in the stabbing death of his wife and the murder of another man in the couple’s bedroom 19 months after the killing.
Banfield is charged with shooting 38-year-old Joseph Ryan and fatally stabbing 37-year-old Christine Banfield in February 2023.
The family’s 24-year-old live-in au pair was charged in the case months prior to Banfield’s indictment.
At a press conference on Monday, Fairfax Police Chief Kevin Davis stated, “We know Brendan Banfield and Juliana Magalhaes, the family au pair, were involved in a romantic relationship at the time of the murders.”.
In addition to one charge of using a firearm while committing a crime, Banfield was indicted on four counts of aggravated murder. He’s charged with killing the two people on purpose.
He could be sentenced to life in prison without the chance of release if found guilty. He may have to serve a minimum of three years in prison for the firearm charge. According to the Associated Press, he is being held without access to bond.
During the press conference, Fairfax County Commonwealth’s Attorney Steve Descano stated, “We were able to secure today’s indictment thanks to the excellent investigative work of the Fairfax County Police Department.”.
What new information prompted Monday’s arrest was kept under wraps by the investigators.
An attorney representing Brendan Banfield has been contacted by ABC News for comment.
At the time of the murders, the Banfield couple was married and residing in their family home with their 4-year-old daughter.
The home called 911 on February, and police responded. discovered Ryan, who had been shot, dead in a bedroom upstairs on April 24, 2023. Christine Banfield sustained a stabbing wound.
According to police, she was taken to a nearby hospital and declared dead.
When the murder occurred, according to the police, they found a knife and two guns in the house.
On Monday, authorities executed a second search warrant at Banfield’s residence.
According to authorities, Magalhaes has been detained since her arrest. The start of her trial is set for November.
The two are being housed together in an adult detention facility, Descano claims.
