Nanny charged in mysterious double murder

Juliana Peres Magalhaes was charged with second-degree murder on Friday after investigators were able to link her to the February shooting death of 39-year-old Joseph Ryan at her boss, Christine Banfield’s Herndon home, the Fairfax County Police Department said.

The nanny has not been charged, however, with the murder of Ms Banfield, 37, who died after being savagely stabbed in her bedroom at the same address, The NY Post reports.

Ms Banfield’s four-year-old daughter was reportedly at home during the fatal attacks but was unharmed.

Mr Ryan did not live at the Bandfield’s home where the murders occurred.

“There was no forced entry whatsoever. This was not a home invasion,” Fairfax Police Chief Kevin Davis said in February about Mr Ryan.

“I do not know exactly what the nature of his presence in the home is all about just yet, but we’re working hard to determine that.” “We don’t think he is necessarily a stranger,” he added.

According to police, Ms Peres Magalhaes called 911 just before 7:50am on the day of the double homicide and promptly hung up before calling again three minutes later to report that her “friend was hurt”.

Ms Banfield’s husband then grabbed the phone and told dispatchers he had shot an unknown man who stabbed his wife after entering their home.

Officers found Mr Ryan dead on arrival and noted that there were no signs of forced entry.

Ms Banfield was located inside the home, suffering multiple stab wounds to her upper body. She was rushed to a nearby hospital, where she was pronounced dead.

“The truest victim of all of this is that poor (four-year-old) girl,” Fairfax Police Chief Kevin Davis said at the time.

After more than seven months of investigation, police ruled Ms Banfield’s husband wasn’t responsible for pulling the trigger.

“Through forensic evidence and multiple interviews, detectives determined the au pair, 23-year-old Juliana Peres Magalhaes, of Reston shot Joseph Ryan,” deputies said in a statement.

“Detectives continue to conduct interviews and review digital and forensic evidence to determine the circumstances that led up to the fatal stabbing of Christine Banfield.”

After the shooting, Mr Davis told reporters that Mr Ryan was not a stranger to the Banfield family.

Ms Banfield’s husband and Ms Peres Magalhaes were both “present and involved” with police who arrived on the scene.

It is not clear whether Ms Banfield’s husband was charged for initially providing false information to police.

Ms Peres Magalhaes is being held at the Fairfax County jail without bond. Online court records show she had not yet entered a plea to the second-degree murder charge.

– With The NY Post