Au Pair Pleads Guilty To Manslaughter In Herndon Killing: Reports

Updated (11:55a.m.) This story has been updated with more details from Commonwealth's Attorney Steve Descano.

FAIRFAX, VA — Juliana Peres Magalhaes, 23, of Reston, pleaded guilty Tuesday morning in Fairfax County Circuit Court to one count of manslaughter in the death of 39-year-old Joseph Ryan of Springfield.

Peres Magalhaes had been charged with two counts of 2nd degree murder in the deaths of Ryan and Christine Banfield on Feb. 24, 2023. On Tuesday, the judge accepted the former au pair’s guilty plea to the lesser charge of manslaughter.

As part of a plea deal, Peres Magalhaes agreed to cooperate with prosecutors in the case against Brendan Banfield of Herndon, who is accused of killing his wife, Christine Banfield, as well Ryan, according to the Commonwealth’s Attorney’s Office.

“Today’s agreement marks a significant step forward in this case, and it is an important development in our pursuit of justice for the victims and their families,” Commonwealth’s Attorney Steve Descano said. “Much of the information that led to this agreement cannot be made public at this time, due to the upcoming criminal trial against the other defendant in this matter.”

Although Peres Magalhaes faces up to 10 years on the manslaughter charge, Descano asked the judge to cap Peres Magalhaes’ sentence as time served. In order to assure her cooperation, he also requested that the sentencing be scheduled after the outcome of Brendan Banfield’s case.

Peres Magalhaes is due back in court on March 21, 2025 for sentencing, which is after Brendan Banfield’s Feb. 3 trial.

On Sept. 17, Descano and FCPD Chief Kevin Davis said Banfield had been charged with four counts of aggravated murder in connection with the 2023 killings of his wife and Ryan. He faces a life sentence for each of the charges.

Related: 4 Murder Charges Filed Against Husband In 2023 Double Homicide

The killings happened on Feb. 24, 2023 at a home in the 13200 block of Stable Brook Way in the Hattontown neighborhood in the Herndon area.

After being called to the scene earlier in the morning, police found Christine Banfield with upper body stab wounds and Ryan with upper body gunshot wounds.

Banfield was taken to the hospital and pronounced dead, while Ryan died at the scene.

A 4-year-old girl was home when the shooting occurred and was not hurt, police said.

Based on forensic evidence and interviews, Peres Magalhaes was charged with second-degree murder in Ryan's death in October 2023.

"We know Brandon Banfield and (Juliana Peres Magalhaes), the family au pair, were involved in a romantic relationship at the time of the murder," Davis said, adding he could not elaborate because the investigation was still ongoing.

The Washington Post reported that Banfield told a 911 dispatcher he had shot Ryan. He also accused Ryan of stabbing Christine Banfield.

At a news briefing after the killings, Davis said the au pair and Banfield’s husband both called 911. The husband had told a 911 dispatcher he shot a man who had entered the home and stabbed Banfield.

“I would like to thank the Fairfax County Police Department, as well as Deputy Commonwealth’s Attorney Eric Clingan and Senior Assistant Commonwealth’s Attorney Kelly Sprissler for their diligent and extensive investigatory work on this matter,” Descano said, on Tuesday.