Nanny and husband have affair accused of wife’s murder, staged as home invasion

HERNDON, Va. (WKRC) – A man’s affair with their family’s nanny leads to a double murder.

The tragic deaths of Christine Benfield and Joe Ryan revealed a horrific murder plot involving Christine’s husband, Brendan Benfield, and their nanny, Juliana Perez Magallance, according to reports. PEOPLE.

Christine, a devoted nurse and mother, was found fatally stabbed in her home on February 24, 2023. Nearby was the body of Ryan, who had been shot. The scene was discovered after Magalhaes, the family’s Brazilian nanny, made two frantic calls to 911.

Magalliance initially claimed she killed Ryan in self-defense after he attacked Christine. However, investigators soon found evidence of a different story. Text messages, photos, and other records suggest a romantic relationship between Brendan and Magallance. According to PEOPLE, authorities allege the couple conspired to kill Christine by staging the scene as a home invasion gone wrong.

Commonwealth’s Attorney Steve Descano charged Brendan with murder in September 2024, nearly a year after Magallias was charged with second-degree murder.

“I will ensure that my office makes the strongest possible case in court and that we continue to seek justice for the victims and their families,” Descano said.

Court documents revealed that Brendan and Magalhaes orchestrated a plan involving Ryan, who was allegedly lured to Banfield’s home under the guise of consensual sex. Brendan reportedly shot Ryan and stabbed Christine, and Magallance later shot Ryan again.

In a plea deal, Magallance pleaded guilty to manslaughter and agreed to cooperate with authorities. Her testimony was expected to be crucial in the case against Brendan.

Christine will be remembered by friends and family for her compassion and dedication. Rodrigo Valderrama, a former COVID patient, described her as an “angel.” Meanwhile, Ryan’s friend Zulu Bey expressed relief that the truth about Ryan’s role was coming out, saying: “He was just a pawn.”