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Narrator/Host
The crime desk, arresting podcasts.
Bernard Banfield
I need help.
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My friend.
Bernard Banfield
I don't know what to do anymore. And what's your name? And what's going on? My name is Bernard Banfield. I'm a. I'm a federal. I'm a federal agent. This is my house. There's somebody. There's somebody here. I. I shot. I shot him. But he stabbed her. She. She got several. Several marks on her neck. Where was it? Okay, so what I need you to do is apply direct pressure directly to where she's bleeding from, okay? And if anybody comes, just. Admiral Cox was already there.
Kayla Brantley
That was the 911 call played in court this week from Brendan Banfield's murder trial headlines across the country. The call came from inside the house, first from the family's au pair, then from the husband prosecutors say orchestrated everything. In that call, he claims he shot a man who attacked his wife. But prosecutors allege that the truth is far darker. They say Brendan murdered his wife, Christine Banfield, in a twisted plot carried out with his Brazilian au pair, who was his alleged secret lover. And then they say he tried to stage a cover story by impersonating his wife on fetish websites, luring a stranger to the house to take the blame. We'll break down exactly what the jury heard in court this week, the most disturbing evidence revealed, and why this case is becoming one of the most shocking trials in America. Coming up shortly. Also on today's episode, the Ohio double murder case of a dentist and his wife that everyone is talking about, and the explosive allegations facing West Wing actor Timothy Busfield. I'm Kayla Brantley, and this is the Trial usa. We'll be back in just a moment.
Raj
Hey, it's Raj and Noah, and we're back with a new season of Am I Doing It Wrong? The show that explores the all too human anxieties we have about trying to get our lives right.
Noah
Because we're still doing a lot of stuff wrong.
Raj
But who isn't? That's why each week, we're talking about the topics that we could all use a little helping hit with. Whether it's making new friends as an adult, managing our emotions, or even dreaming.
Noah
We'll be talking to experts in their fields who are definitely doing things right, so the rest of us can be a bit wiser and a lot better equipped to handle whatever life throws at us.
Raj
Subscribe now and listen to new episodes of Am I Doing It Wrong? Dropping every Thursday starting January 1st, wherever you get your podcasts.
Noah
And for the first time ever, we're going to have full video episodes on YouTube because as long as there are things to get wrong, we're going to be right here to help you do them better.
Kayla Brantley
Love y'.
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Narrator/Host
Did I talk too much?
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Narrator/Host
I was thinking so much.
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Kayla Brantley
Better.
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Kayla Brantley
Welcome back to the trial USA, the show where we follow the criminal cases unfolding inside American courtrooms, the one shaping headlines, power and politics in real time. Now to our main story, the murder trial of Brendan Banfield. This week, the woman at the center of the prosecution's case took the stand. The family's former nanny, accused of helping orchestrate the crime, testified in court for the first time. To break down what she said, what matters most, and how it could shape the outcome of the trial, I'm joined by Rachel Sharp, the Daily Mail's chief crime correspondent.
Interviewer
So Rachel, for anyone who's new to this case, what exactly do prosecutors say happened?
Narrator/Host
So this case is wild. Prosecutors allege that Brendan Banfield, who is a former IRS agent, orchestrated a very elaborate plot to murder his wife because he was having an affair with their Brazilian au pair. Now, it's a really bizarre plot that involves a fetish website and luring in a fourth person, a totally unrelated person to any of these parties, to effectively try to stage him for the murder. So, basically, it started in October, 2023. Police were called to the home of Brendan and Christine Banfield to reports that a burglar had broken in and attacked Christine, stabbed her to death, and Brendan and his au pair, Juliana Perez Mergelas, broke in and shot him dead, basically. But it very quickly unraveled. And what prosecutors allege actually happened is that Brendan and Juliana were actually having an affair. He plotted to get rid of his wife, and part of that plot involved both of them creating a fake profile on a fetish website called FetLife, which was a profile under Christine's name.
Interviewer
Is there any evidence that showed that this was not Christine who made that profile?
Narrator/Host
Well, we're expecting to hear from digital experts, which will present both sides of the case. Obviously, the defense is claiming that that was Christine on the website, whereas the prosecution alleges that it was both Juliana and Brendan and they were posing Christine, but that they were allegedly doing it very carefully at only times where she was in the house so that the locations would tie up and that they pretended to be her and sought a person who would take part in a violent rape fantasy with her. They recruited a man, Joseph Ryan, who then came over to the home on October 24, 2023, proceeded to carry out this alleged sexual fantasy, breaking into the home when Christine was asleep, going up to her bedroom, you know, with the intent of fulfilling this fantasy. And then what would happen would be Brendan and Juliana would enter the room and shoot him dead. And then Brendan allegedly stabbed Christine to death. They then called 911 and claimed that actually they'd walked in as Joseph Ryan was stabbing Christine to death and that they shot him because he was attacking her.
Interviewer
Okay, so we have two very different tellings of the story, but so far this week, we know that the nanny took the stand. What did she say? And obviously, she's there having to defend herself. So has she turned on her former alleged lover? What did she have to say?
Narrator/Host
Yeah, she absolutely has. So for about a year after her arrest. So they were both actually arrested for murder for the first year, both of Them just pleaded total innocence. And then around a year in, so I believe it was October 2024, she began cooperating. And she is now effectively the state star witness because she is the person now presenting this entire alleged plot.
Interviewer
So is she facing any murder charges anymore, or is this just all about Brendan?
Narrator/Host
So she, as part of this plea deal, has had her charges reduced to manslaughter. And as part of the plea deal, prosecutors have agree to recommend to the judge that she actually only gets time served.
Interviewer
So she's been behind bars this whole time?
Narrator/Host
Exactly.
Interviewer
And what exactly did she say on the stand?
Narrator/Host
So she claims that she started working for the couple in 2022 when she was just 21 years old. Within a few months, she said that she and Brendan began having an affair. And it was very early days when Brendan allegedly began discussing plans to get rid of his wife. She claims that he didn't want to divorce her because he didn't want to pay out any money and he didn't want to have to share custody of their young daughter. So the plan was to kill her. And she says that over time, they obviously came up with this plan. And the plan seems, by all accounts, if you know her version of events and prosecutors version of events is to be believed, that it was very well thought out to the extent that they were planning alibis, such as Brendan going to McDonald's in the morning so that he would be near the home so he could come back quickly when Joseph Ryan enters. And he would start doing that in the lead up to the crime. So it didn't look as though this was something totally out of character that day. He also allegedly was soundproofing the property so that neighbors wouldn't hear. So she kind of alleges that there was quite an elaborate plot going on here. And the plan was that, you know, with the wife out the way, they would move to Brazil together and start a new life together.
Interviewer
What's so interesting to me here is that this nanny is basically admitting to being part of this murder plot. And instead of trying to say, you know, I'm completely innocent, I had no idea what was going on, she's saying, no, I was involved in this and completely turned on Brendan. I mean, if I were his team, I would kind of be beside myself, don't you think?
Narrator/Host
Yeah, I mean, I guess it turns into his word against hers. You know, the only people alive who know exactly what happened now are them two.
Interviewer
Well, what I want to know is that, is she also claiming that she was pressured or forced to take part in this murder plot, or is she saying, you know, I was totally for it at the time?
Narrator/Host
I mean, based on her testimony, she very much seems as though she was a willing participant, which is a. I guess she has already done her cooperation. She's already struck her plea deal.
Interviewer
Did you say she was in love with Brendan? I'm just curious. What motivated.
Narrator/Host
Well, I think she said that he, you know, he promised that they would move to Brazil together, that he wanted to have her children. So, yeah, it very much seemed like this was what they were going to do to begin their new life together.
Interviewer
Aside from Juliana the nanny, who else testified this week?
Narrator/Host
So she spoke over two days, so she's been the main witness. But we've also heard from a handful of other expert witnesses. So, for example, we heard from the 911 caller who took that phone call. While that was played, Brendan was actually seen sobbing in the courtroom, and it.
Interviewer
Was him on the voiceover. He was sobbing, listening to himself.
Narrator/Host
Exactly, yeah. So when they called in and said, you know, there's an intruder who's stabbed his. His wife and that they've shot him. We've also heard from the person who carried out the autopsies, their forensic pathologist. And they actually presented the knife that was used in the stabbing of Christine in the courtroom, which was obviously quite a big moment. There's also been a couple of responding officers who were first on the scene as well, who were grilled about their reaction. For example, allowing Brendan to wash blood off his hands after they arrived on the scene, and he was covered in, obviously, his wife's blood.
Interviewer
Has there been any evidence so far that would point to Brendan's story being true?
Narrator/Host
So that's what I think we'll see further down the line. At the moment, it's only a few days into the trial, but the defense has said that they are going to be showing evidence from experts that will show that actually it was Christine who was online contacting people on the fetish website. So it'll be interesting what they present versus what the prosecutors present in that sense. You know, Brendan's team don't deny that they were having an affair, but they, you know, maintain that it was Joseph Ryan who killed Christine and that they then shot him when they found him inside the home.
Kayla Brantley
We're taking a quick break after this.
Raj
Hey, it's Raj and Noah. And we're back with a new season of Am I Doing It Wrong? The show that explores the all too human anxieties we have about trying to get our lives right.
Noah
Because we're still doing a lot of stuff wrong.
Raj
But who isn't? That's why each week we're talking about the topics that we could all use a little helping hit with. Whether it's making new friends as an adult, managing our emotions or even dreaming.
Noah
We'll be talking to experts in their fields who are definitely doing things right, so the rest of us can be a bit wiser and a lot better equipped to handle whatever life throws at us.
Raj
Subscribe now and listen to new episodes of Am I Doing It Wrong? Dropping every Thursday starting January 1st, wherever you get your podcasts.
Noah
And for the first time ever, we're gonna have full video episodes on YouTube. Because as long as there are things to get wrong, we're gonna be right here to help you do them better.
Kayla Brantley
Love y'.
Narrator/Host
All.
Momentous Ad Voice
January is when we recommit to the habits that support our health and wellbeing. And naturally, we start looking at what can support those goals, including supplements. The supplement industry is a low trust category. It's lightly regulated, products are easy to make and companies don't even have to list everything on their label. That's exactly why I choose Momentus. They've become the high trust brand in a low trust category. They weren't satisfied with the industry standard, so they built the Momentus standard. Their commitment to doing things the right way, not the easy way. What truly sets Momentus apart is their testing and transparency. Every product is independently certified by NSF for sport, meaning it's tested for contaminants, heavy metals, banned substances and verified for label accuracy. So you always know exactly what you're putting in your body. And if a product doesn't meet their standard, it never hits the shelves. In a space where trust is rare, Momentous is redefining what trust looks like. And I've genuinely felt the difference using their protein and creatine every day. Right now, Momentous is offering our listeners up to 35% off your first order with promo code PODCAST. Head to livemomentous.com and use promo code PODCAST for up to 35 percent off your first order. That's livemomentous.com promo code PODCAST.
Interviewer
So, of course, this is early days of the trial. What do we have to look forward to? Coming up, who is going to take the standard? What evidence do we think we're going to be seeing?
Narrator/Host
So prosecutors are obviously going to continue to show their case that they believe this was a huge plot orchestrated by Brendan, while the defence is pushing back on that catfish theory and has promised, you know, to show experts that suggest it was Christine who was on those websites. The defense is also, during the opening statement and also in their cross examination of Juliana, they've also made it clear that they plan to really undermine her credibility. And obviously this is the, you know, the star witness. This is the one person who, other than Brandon, knows what really happened in that room that day. And they're trying to undermine her credibility by saying, you know, well, it took over a year for her to come forward and say this. She's obviously benefited from it through a plea deal. So really it's going to be interesting to see what the jury makes of that and also whether Brendan himself is going to take the stand to offer the alternative theory.
Interviewer
I feel like in most cases the advice is to not take the stand, but it is interesting here when you have the only other person speaking in direct contrast to what the prosecution is claiming. And Rachel, what exactly do we know about Joseph Ryan, the man who was killed?
Narrator/Host
So Joseph Ryan is a complete stranger to everyone involved in this. And, you know, he's been described as a patsy, that, you know, this. This really could have been anyone. So he was on this FetLife Fetish website, and he was one of several people that prosecutors say Brendan and Juliana contacted, acting as Christine, that they actually contacted and kind of sussed out several people. And they chose him. So they chose him. And Juliana testified in court that they chose him because they thought he would fulfill that violent sexual fantasy. So he was alluded to the home, and obviously the rest is history.
Interviewer
What's something that you found the most interesting from this week's trial so far?
Narrator/Host
So I think hearing from the au pair herself was obviously very shocking. You know, she very much just laid out the whole plan, but also the. In graphic detail, the actual moment that she alleges she saw Brendan Banfield stab his wife repeatedly to death. And this was very violent. She was stabbed multiple times, including in the jugular. So, you know, this is very graphic. Also, one thing that was particularly shocking was in the opening statements, the prosecutor laid out the instructions that Joseph Ryan was given. Obviously, the argument is, who gave him those instructions, but they were quite explicit. You know, they were. The door will be unlocked. Christine will be asleep in her bed, come straight upstairs, cut off the clothing, tie her, rape her. So it's very graphic, violent imagery going on there.
Interviewer
That's what Banfield's team is claiming that Christine wanted done to her.
Narrator/Host
Exactly.
Interviewer
That she's the one who gave these instructions.
Narrator/Host
Exactly, yes.
Interviewer
How long is this trial expected to go on?
Narrator/Host
So it's expected to last for about four weeks.
Interviewer
And then do we know when Juliana will be going on trial or if she will at all?
Narrator/Host
Giuliana's reached a plea deal, so it'll be a case of her sentencing afterwards.
Interviewer
So no trial for Juliana because she's already pled guilty to manslaughter.
Narrator/Host
Exactly.
Interviewer
Rachel, can you break down the exact charges that Brendan Banfield faces?
Narrator/Host
So Brendan is charged with four counts of aggravated murder and use of a firearm in commission of a felony. He's actually also charged with child abuse and felony child cruelty, given the fact his four year old daughter was inside the home at the time of the killings. So he's facing up to life in prison if he is convicted on the murder charges.
Interviewer
Rachel, thank you for updating us on this, but I also know that you've been working this whole week on the case of the Ohio couple who were found slain in their home, Monique and Spencer Tepe. What can you tell us? If you could give us just a brief update about what's going on there?
Narrator/Host
Yeah, so we've been following this case very closely since it started. So Monique and Spencer Tepe were found murdered inside their home in Columbus, Ohio, back on December 30th. And for about 10 days, there was no suspect names, no arrest made, and police were very tight lipped about what was going on with the investigation. All they'd released was a grainy image taken from a security camera showing a hooded figure walking down an alleyway behind their home in the early hours of the morning before they were found dead. Now, the interesting thing with this as well is that, you know, their two small children were also inside the home at the time of the shootings. They are one and four years old, and they were left unharmed. So, as I say, it was what seemed like a long time with no sort of update, but obviously behind the scenes, there was the investigation was going on, because then last week, the ex husband of monique, Michael David McKee, was arrested and charged with the couple's murders.
Interviewer
What exactly do we know about the ex husband and what's a possible motive for this?
Narrator/Host
Michael David McKee, he is a surgeon. He currently lives in Illinois, so very far from the couple in Columbus, Ohio. And he and Monique married in August 2015. They separated just a few months later, and then their divorce was finalized in 2017. So this is a very long time period between their divorce and separation and the murders. You know, it's eight years later. Monique has gone on to REMATRY. She's had two children. Since then. So there's still a lot of questions around what's happened here. What is the motive?
Interviewer
Do we know if there was any contact between Monique and her ex husband?
Narrator/Host
We don't know that yet. Investigators are still being very tight lipped. The family of Monique has spoken out to say that, you know, this was an emotionally abusive relationship. But yeah, there has been no indication that they were still in contact.
Interviewer
And the children that Monique had, those were children with Spencer. These were not the ex husband's children, correct?
Narrator/Host
That's right. Yes. So Spencer and Monique married in 2020 and then welcomed their two children who are now one and four years old. So Monique and Michael McKee did not have children together. Their relationship, sorry, their marriage was very brief.
Interviewer
So we don't know a motive yet. But can you tell us what he has been charged with?
Narrator/Host
Yeah. So he has been charged with premeditated aggravated murder. So that obviously alludes to. Prosecutors believe there is enough of a case to say that he planned this.
Interviewer
In advance and no one else has been charged?
Narrator/Host
No. And so now the case is at a point where he is awaiting extradition from Illinois back to Ohio to face charges. His attorney in Illinois said that he planned to plead not guilty.
Interviewer
Thank you, Rachel. And we will definitely have you back on when there's an update in this case.
Kayla Brantley
Now to the case of actor Timothy Buzzfield. Buzzfield, best known for his role on the West Wing, appeared in a New Mexico courtroom earlier this week to face child sex abuse charges for the first time. The 68 year old actor stood before a judge in an orange prison jumpsuit and was ordered to be held without bond after prosecutors successfully argued he should remain in custody as the case moves forward. Buzzfield faces multiple felony charges, including allegations involving twin boys connected to a television production that he directed and a newly filed charge involving a 16 year old girl who alleges abuse during an audition several years ago. Buzzfield has emphatically denied all wrongdoing and in a video released after he turned himself in, he called the allegations lies and said he plans to fight the charges. His attorney says Buzzfield maintains his innocence and has passed an independent polygraph exam. Buzzfield remains in custody as he awaits his next court hearing.
Interviewer
That's all for this week.
Kayla Brantley
If you want to stay up to date on the biggest trials unfolding across.
Interviewer
The country, the evidence, the testimony and.
Kayla Brantley
What happens next, make sure you're following the trial. Usa, wherever you listen.
Raj
Hey, it's Raj and Noah and we're back with a new season of Am I Doing It Wrong, the show that explores the all too human anxieties we have about trying to get our lives right.
Noah
Because we're still doing a lot of stuff wrong.
Raj
But who isn't? That's why each week we're talking about the topics that we could all use a little helping hand with. Whether it's making new friends as an adult, managing our emotions, or even dreaming.
Noah
We'll be talking to experts in their fields who are definitely doing things right, so the rest of us can be a bit wiser and a lot better equipped to handle whatever life throws at us.
Raj
Subscribe now and listen to new episodes of Am I Doing It Wrong? Dropping every Thursday starting January 1st, wherever you get your podcasts.
Noah
And for the first time ever, we're gonna have full video episodes on YouTube. Because as long as there are things to get wrong, we're gonna be right here to help you do em better.
Kayla Brantley
Love y'. All.
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Narrator/Host
Wayfair Every Style Every Home.
The Trial: USA — "A Husband, the Nanny, and a 911 Call: The Trial That Has America Hooked"
Date: January 16, 2026
Hosted by: The Crime Desk (Kayla Brantley)
Guest: Rachel Sharp, Chief Crime Correspondent, Daily Mail
This episode explores the sensational murder trial of Brendan Banfield, a former IRS agent accused of murdering his wife, Christine Banfield, in an elaborate scheme allegedly orchestrated with the family’s Brazilian nanny, Juliana Perez Mergelas. The episode features deep analysis from courtroom coverage, including pivotal testimony from Juliana herself, insight into the prosecution and defense strategies, and the broader context that has captivated audiences across America.
Additional segments cover developments in two other headline-making cases: the Ohio double-murder of Monique and Spencer Tepe, and actor Timothy Busfield’s ongoing legal troubles.
[05:34–07:02]
Notable Quote:
“It’s a really bizarre plot that involves a fetish website and luring in a fourth person—a totally unrelated person—to effectively try to stage him for the murder.”
—Narrator/Host, Rachel Sharp [05:39]
[07:02–08:25]
[08:25–12:09]
Notable Quote:
“She claims that over time, they... came up with this plan... planning alibis, such as Brendan going to McDonald’s in the morning so he would be near the home...”
—Narrator/Host, Rachel Sharp [09:32]
Notable Quote:
“Based on her testimony, she very much seems as though she was a willing participant... She’s already struck her plea deal.”
—Narrator/Host, Rachel Sharp [11:40]
[12:09–13:10]
Notable Moment:
“While that was played, Brendan was actually seen sobbing in the courtroom...”
—Narrator/Host, Rachel Sharp [12:28]
[13:10–16:25]
Notable Quote:
“They’re trying to undermine her credibility by saying, you know, well, it took over a year for her to come forward... She's obviously benefited from it through a plea deal.”
—Narrator/Host, Rachel Sharp [16:25]
[17:26–18:33]
Notable Quote:
“He’s been described as a patsy... this really could have been anyone.”
—Narrator/Host, Rachel Sharp [17:46]
[18:33–19:44]
[19:45–20:32]
[20:32–23:49]
[23:58–25:04]
The Plot's Depth:
“It was very well thought out to the extent that they were planning alibis...”
[09:32] — Rachel Sharp
Juliana's Willingness:
“Based on her testimony, she very much seems as though she was a willing participant…”
[11:40] — Rachel Sharp
Brendan Breaking Down in Court:
“Brendan was actually seen sobbing in the courtroom...”
[12:28]
On the Chosen Victim:
“He’s been described as a patsy... this really could have been anyone.”
[17:46] — Rachel Sharp
Violent Plot Instructions:
“The door will be unlocked. Christine will be asleep in her bed, come straight upstairs, cut off the clothing, tie her, rape her.”
[19:34] — Rachel Sharp relaying prosecution
On Defense vs. Prosecution:
“They’re trying to undermine her credibility... she’s obviously benefited... through a plea deal…”
[16:25] — Rachel Sharp
This episode offers a striking look into a convoluted, disturbing case of murder, conspiracy, and betrayal—presented with remarkable courtroom detail and analysis. Subsequent updates on the Tepe double-murder and Busfield's case round out a gripping overview of high-profile American crime stories.