A Virginia jury is deciding whether former IRS officer Brendan Banfield conspired to murder his wife and frame another man, based on evidence including a guilty plea from his Brazilian au pair.

A Virginia jury is deliberating the fate of Brendan Banfield, a former IRS officer accused of conspiring with his Brazilian au pair Juliana Magalhães to murder his wife Christine and frame stranger Joseph Ryan in 2023. Prosecutors claim Banfield staged the killings by luring Ryan with fake online accounts, citing Magalhães' guilty plea, digital evidence, and blood on Ryan's hand. Banfield, who testified in his defense, denies the claims, calling the prosecution's theory implausible. He also questions Magalhães' credibility, citing inconsistencies and a letter suggesting she sought payment for her story. The jury must decide on aggravated murder, firearms, and child abuse charges, which carry a potential life sentence without parole if convicted. The verdict was still pending as of February 2, 2026.