Crime House 24/7: Night Watch

Episode Title: "The 'Au Pair Affair': How a Secret Relationship Turned Deadly"
Host: Katie Ring
Date: February 20, 2026

Overview

This gripping Night Watch episode, hosted by Katie Ring, delves into the chilling true-crime case that shocked suburban Virginia: the deaths of Christine Banfield and Joseph Ryan. The episode traces a web of secrets, deception, and calculated violence within the Banfield family home—ultimately leading to Brendan Banfield’s conviction for double homicide. Through detailed narration and reconstructed courtroom testimony, Katie Ring explores how a secret affair with the family’s au pair evolved into a plot involving manipulation, a false online identity, and murder.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Crime Scene & Initial Investigation

[00:42 – 04:40]

• On the morning of February 24, 2023, police responded to a distress call at the Banfield residence in Herndon, VA, finding Christine Banfield (stabbed), Joseph Ryan (shot), and the couple’s daughter unharmed but hidden in the basement.
• Brendan Banfield’s Account: Claimed to have interrupted a stranger assaulting his wife and shot Joseph in defense.
• Au Pair Juliana’s Account: Said she was hiding during the attack.
• Early appearances suggested an attempted heroic intervention by Brendan—“A husband protecting his family”—but investigators quickly spotted inconsistencies.

“At first, the explanation seemed plausible. A husband protecting his family. But investigators quickly realized there was something unusual about this case because there were no signs of forced entry... Joseph had not forced his way in. He had been invited.” – Katie Ring [04:18]

2. The Secret Relationship and Motive

[04:40 – 10:01]

• Brendan Banfield and Christine appeared to outsiders as a normal, happy couple; both were professionals with an active social life.
• In 2021, the Banfields hired Juliana Perez Maginones as an au pair, integrating her into their daily lives.
• The dynamic shifted in August 2022 when, while Christine and daughter were away, Brendan and Juliana’s flirtatious interactions turned physical, initiating an ongoing affair.
• Brendan’s Perspective: Referred to previous infidelities and described the relationship with Juliana as an affair with “no relationship.” Claimed Christine was aware of past infidelity but not of Juliana.
• Evidence: Showed the affair was deliberate, long-term, and hidden from Christine.
• Prosecutors’ Theory: Brendan wanted to leave Christine but avoid financial loss or custody disputes, leading to a murderous plot.

“Brendan told Juliana that he would not mention anything to his wife. He told her that he had had previous affairs and clarified that this is just an affair and there would be no relationship. Nothing would change between him and Christine, he said.” – Katie Ring [06:45]

3. The Plot: Deception and Luring the Victim

[11:28 – 18:00]

• Enter Joseph Ryan: He had no personal ties to the Banfields; his only connection was through online messages believed to be with Christine, but actually orchestrated by Brendan and Juliana via a fetish site.
• Manufactured Persona: Christine’s fake fetish website profile, used to lure Joseph under false pretenses.
• Preparation: By January 2023, Brendan lawfully bought a firearm, trained Juliana to use it, and continued the secret communications.
• The Fatal Day: Joseph, believing he was meeting Christine, was invited to the home; violence quickly followed.
• Investigation: Forensics contradicted Brendan’s version, showing evidence of a coordinated plot.

“Prosecutors argued that what Joseph didn't know was that Christine was not involved at all. According to the state, the account was controlled by Brendan and Juliana from the beginning.” – Katie Ring [12:10]

4. The Arrests and Legal Proceedings

[18:56 – 23:30]

• Juliana’s Arrest: Charged with second-degree murder in October 2023, later pleaded to involuntary manslaughter and agreed to testify against Brendan.
• The Prosecutors’ Narrative: Brendan and Juliana lured Joseph into the house, staged a false report to police, and attempted to disguise the crime scene as a home invasion/defensive action.
• Key Timeline: Brendan was indicted in September 2024, arrested soon after.
• Brendan’s Trial: Began January 12, 2026. Prosecutors argued “The chaos itself had been manufactured.” Juliana’s cooperation provided crucial testimony filling investigative gaps.
• Brendan testified in his defense, denying a murderous conspiracy and maintaining that while deception occurred, violence was not premeditated.

“They were not asking the jury to decide whether Brendan Banfield pulled a trigger in a moment of chaos. They were asking them to decide whether the chaos itself had been manufactured.” – Katie Ring [19:00]

• Jury found Brendan Banfield guilty on multiple counts including aggravated murder, firearm offenses, and child endangerment on February 2, 2026.
• He faces mandatory life imprisonment without parole under Virginia law.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On the nature of the affair and plot:
  “By January of 2023, the communications had progressed beyond fantasy, and on January 28th, Brendan purchased a firearm… prosecutors argued it took on a new meaning when viewed alongside what came next.” [12:34]

• On jury’s decision:
  “On count after count, the jury found Brendan Banfield guilty, including two counts of aggravated murder, use of a firearm in the commission of a felony, and child endangerment. Following the verdict, Brendan Banfield was taken into custody and remains incarcerated as he awaits formal sentencing.” [22:20]

• On the broader impact:
  “For victims families, the verdict marked the end of a long and public trial, but not the end of their loss. For Brendan, it marked the moment his future became fixed by statute, a life sentence with no path to parole.” – Katie Ring [23:10]

Timeline of Major Events

| Timestamp | Event | |---------------|-----------------------------------------------------------------------| | 00:42 | Discovery of Christine and Joseph’s bodies; initial 911 call | | 04:40 | Investigation into Brendan and Juliana's affair and shifting dynamics | | 11:28 | The creation of the fake online profile and messages with Joseph Ryan | | 12:34 | Brendan purchases firearm, prepares for the planned encounter | | 18:56 | Brendan's indictment and Juliana's cooperation as key witness | | 19:00 | Trial framing and prosecution's core argument | | 22:20 | Announcement of Brendan’s conviction and sentencing implications | | 23:10 | Impact statement for families and discussion of legal aftermath |

Analysis & Takeaways

• This episode illustrates how a seemingly ordinary family was shattered from within, not by outside threats but by hidden resentments, manipulation, and calculated violence.
• Investigators unraveled the case through careful forensic analysis and digital tracking, exposing the deliberate layers of deception.
• The episode emphasizes not only the tragedy for the victims’ families but also the complexities of justice when secrets, power, and trust are abused in intimate environments.

Closing Thoughts

Katie Ring concludes with a reflection on the meaning of closure and justice, acknowledging the permanent loss suffered by the families while affirming the legal resolution. She encourages listener engagement and invites comments and theories about the case.

“What remains undisputed is the timeline. A relationship formed in secret. A false identity was constructed online. A man was invited into a home under assumptions that were not true. And on a February morning in 2023, two lives were lost. But justice has been served.” [23:30]

Next Steps: Brendan Banfield’s formal sentencing is scheduled for May 8, 2026; his defense team may pursue appeals, but under current Virginia law, his conviction carries no possibility of parole.

For more content like this, follow Crime House 24/7 on your podcast platform of choice or subscribe to Night Watch on YouTube.