A young woman from Brazil has confessed to her involvement in the tragic deaths of a man and a woman who were enticed to her residence, describing the double homicide as part of a twisted scheme. Juliana Peres Magalhaes, 23, revealed details of a BDSM-inspired plan she orchestrated with her alleged former partner, Brendan Banfield, 39, during a recorded interview in October 2024.
The interview, recently obtained, provides insight into the events leading up to the fatalities of Joseph Ryan and Banfield’s wife, Christine. The gruesome discovery unfolded when Christine was fatally wounded in a stabbing incident on February 24, 2023, and Ryan, an enthusiast of mixed martial arts, was found deceased nearby with gunshot wounds.
Initially, the authorities were misled to believe that Ryan was an intruder who assaulted Ms. Banfield. However, further investigation uncovered a much more sinister truth. Prosecutors allege that Peres Magalhaes and Banfield, a former agent with the Internal Revenue Service’s criminal division, engaged in an affair after she moved into their household.
Peres Magalhaes disclosed that Banfield had expressed a desire to eliminate his wife around October 2022, with intentions beyond divorce. Months prior to the tragic events, Banfield initiated contact with Ryan on a bondage website, FetLife.com, as part of their disturbing plot.
According to Peres Magalhaes, they manipulated Christine’s work computer to find a willing participant for their orchestrated rape fantasy. Banfield specifically sought out Ryan due to his violent demeanor, setting the stage for a macabre encounter.
Deputy Commonwealth’s Attorney Eric Clingan stated that Banfield enticed Ryan to the family home on the morning of February 24, 2023, under false pretenses of a consensual sexual encounter involving restraining Christine. Subsequently, Banfield carried out the heinous acts, shooting Ryan and stabbing his wife, while Peres Magalhaes admitted to shooting Ryan.
In a shocking turn of events, it was revealed that Peres Magalhaes had taken over Christine’s former bedroom months after the murders. Photographs presented during a hearing depicted her personal belongings scattered across the room.
Further revelations emerged, indicating that the pair had practiced shooting at a gun range prior to the murders, and Banfield later purchased the firearm used in the crime. Peres Magalhaes was charged with second-degree murder in October 2023, ultimately pleading guilty to manslaughter in October 2024.
Banfield, on the other hand, was indicted in September 2024 on multiple charges related to the deaths and is scheduled to stand trial in October 2025. Prosecutors have agreed to recommend Peres Magalhaes for release with credit for time served post-Banfield’s trial, contingent on her continued cooperation with authorities.
