It sounds like a new Netflix movie, but it’s not. Although it still doesn’t have a conclusion, the case that led Brazilian au pair, Juliana Peres Magalhães, 23, to prison for murder in Virginia is shrouded in mystery and unanswered questions.
On February 24, Christine Banfield, Juliana’s employer, was killed after being brutally stabbed in her bedroom in Hattontown, Virginia. Juliana was the one who called the police just before 7:50 AM and hung up immediately before calling back three minutes later to report that her “friend was hurt,” the police said at the time.
Banfield’s husband, Brendan Banfield, then took the phone and told dispatchers that he had shot an unknown man who had stabbed his wife after breaking into their home.
The police noted that there were no signs of forced entry when they arrived at the scene.
Officers found Banfield still alive but with multiple stab wounds to her upper body.
Nearby, Joseph Ryan – the man who allegedly broke into the house – was dead with a gunshot wound to his upper body.
Banfield was rushed to a nearby hospital, where she was pronounced dead.
A 4-year-old girl was inside the house during the incident but was found safe by the police.
After more than seven months of investigation, the police concluded that Banfield’s husband was not responsible for pulling the trigger that killed Christine.
“Through forensic evidence and several interviews, detectives determined that the au pair, Juliana Peres Magalhães, 23, from Reston, shot Joseph Ryan,” investigators said in a statement.
“Detectives continue to conduct interviews and review digital evidence to determine the circumstances that led to the fatal stabbing of Christine Banfield.”
The police also concluded that Ryan was not a stranger to the Banfield family.
Juliana is in the Fairfax County jail without bail. She faces two criminal charges: second-degree murder and use of a firearm to commit a crime. If convicted, she could face up to 43 years in prison.
Brendan Banfield has not been charged with any crime.
What does the Brazilian’s family say?
Juliana’s mother says she is worried about her daughter and believes that “there is more to this story.” In an interview with News 4, Peres Souza said that her daughter got along very well with the Banfield family and that if there was any kind of dispute between her and Christine, she was unaware of it.
“She must tell the truth. She must tell what happened that day and not just say that she was the only one, but say that [the husband] was with her too,” Peres Souza said.
According to the mother, her daughter was arriving at the house when she saw the man entering. She decided to call her boss and inform him about the entry of the strange man. She and her boss entered the house together and found Christine injured. At that moment, there was a struggle, and Juliana ended up shooting Ryan to defend herself and the family.
The mother has not had any further contact with her daughter since she was arrested.
Source: News 4, The New York Post, and Folha de São Paulo