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What to KnowBrendan Banfield, a former IRS officer, is accused of killing his wife, Christine Banfield, and a stranger, Joseph Ryan, at the Banfields’ home in Fairfax County, Virginia.Prosecutors say the killings were part of a calculated plan so Brendan could get Christine out of the picture and start a new life with his family’s au pair, Juliana Peres Magalhães. The two began having an affair months before the killings, the Brazilian au pair testified.Peres Magalhães pleaded guilty to manslaughter for her role and agreed to cooperate with investigators. She testified last week about how Brendan allegedly prepared the house, bought a gun and changed his routine to prepare for the killings.She said he created a fake profile for Christine on a sex fetish website to lure a stranger to the home and pin his wife’s murder on them.Yesterday’s testimony from a bloodstain pattern expert shifted the trial into technical overload and appeared to bore jurors. Numerous objections from the defense also kept the prosecution from being able to connect the dots through the expert’s testimony.Brendan’s attorney argued the prosecution “missed their target” in an effort to get the judge to strike the indictments against his client. But the judge said the trial would proceed. The defense will begin its case today.Brendan has pleaded not guilty to all charges.Watch a livestream of the trial in the video player above and follow here for live updates. Editor’s Note: Some people may find the details of the trial disturbing. Discretion is advised. The defense is beginning its case in the trial of Brendan Banfield, the Fairfax County man accused of killing his wife and a stranger as part of a calculated plot to start a new life with the family’s au pair. Follow live updates below.

Hagerstown residents and Maryland leaders rallied in the city square on Tuesday to protest against ICE plans to open warehouses in which to hold immigrants. NBC News reported in November that ICE was considering buying large warehouses to hold immigrants before they are deported. In December, The Washington Post reported Hagerstown, in Washington County, was on the list of possible smaller sites across the U.S. Stafford County, Virginia, was listed as another possible site, for a larger facility. “Wake up. Pay attention to what’s happening before it’s too late,” one man at the protest said. ICE officials told NBC News in November that the warehouses would “increase efficiency” in deportations and described them as “mega detention centers.” Among protesters holding up signs and drivers honking in support, Maryland Sen. Chris Van Hollen and Rep. April McClain Delaney joined. When asked if officials knew any details about the plans for the warehouse, Van Hollen said they don’t know anything yet. “We’re asking ICE for answers,” Van Hollen said. “In fact, just today, Senator Alsobrooks and Congresswoman Delaney and I sent the Secretary of Homeland Security a letter asking her about what their plans are [and] what are they planning here?” Protests 17 hours ago Hundreds of DC-area students walk out of class to protest ICE Immigration Dec 31, 2025 ICE ‘mega detention center' in Stafford County? Local leader raises concerns When one man at the protest heard about the proposed warehouses for the first time, he said he “threw up” and the news made him feel nauseous. One woman at the protest said she can’t “even stand the thought of having it in our county.” “It is cruel. It is almost like concentration camps,” she said. “It’s like jail. I mean, they’re going to be in a warehouse. Can you imagine it? I can’t.” News4 reached out to ICE for comment. In part, a spokesperson said, “It should not come as news that ICE will be making arrests in states across the U.S. and is actively working to expand detention space.” “ICE is targeting the worst of the worst including murderers, rapists, criminals, gang members and more,” the spokesperson said. “We have no new detention centers to announce at this time.” Sign up for our free deep-dive newsletter, The 4Front, to get standout News4 stories sent right to your inbox. Subscribe here.

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