Episode Details

Juliana Peres Magalhaes faced murder charges for a year. Then she changed her story, took a plea deal, and became the prosecution's star witness against Brendan Banfield. If she testifies, she walks free.

That's the foundation of this case. And retired FBI Special Agent Jennifer Coffindaffer says it's built on sand.

On February 24, 2023, Christine Banfield was stabbed to death in her Herndon, Virginia home. Joseph Ryan was shot twice by two different guns. Prosecutors allege Brendan Banfield and the family's au pair conspired to kill Christine, using a FetLife profile to lure Ryan as a patsy, then claim self-defense.

But the prosecution's own forensics expert disagrees with their theory. Officer Brendan Miller analyzed 60 devices and concluded Christine Banfield — not Brendan — appeared to control the FetLife account. The University of Alabama peer-reviewed his findings and confirmed them. Then Miller was transferred out of digital forensics. According to court testimony, he was told he'd never work another case in the unit. The lead detective who pushed back was also reassigned.

The timeline doesn't help the prosecution either. Nineteen months to file charges. Eight months before key evidence was collected. Twenty-four competing theories before the au pair flipped. The original lead prosecutor was removed after being cited for drinking at 8 a.m.

Judge Penney Azcarate found the circumstances troubling enough to order prosecutors to turn over all communications about Miller's transfer. The defense is calling this "a theory in search of facts."

The Banfields' 4-year-old daughter was in the basement that morning, waiting to go to the zoo. Whatever happened in that house, she's the one who has to live with the aftermath.

#BrendanBanfield #JulianaPeresMagalhaes #ChristineBanfield #AuPairMurder #FetLife #JenniferCoffindaffer #HiddenKillers #FairfaxCounty #MurderTrial #TrueCrime

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