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HERNDON, Va. – A Northern Virginia au pair charged in connection with a deadly love affair has accepted a plea deal on a lesser charge.

Juliana Peres Magalaes, 24, pleaded guilty to involuntary manslaughter Tuesday for shooting and killing Joseph Ryan, 39, on Feb. 24, 2023, inside the home where she worked as an au pair. Prosecutors said the shooting was part of a broader plot conspired between Peres Magalhaes and his employer, Brendan Banfield, 39, to kill Banfield’s wife, Christine. The 37-year-old woman was allegedly stabbed to death by her husband, who now faces murder charges in her and Ryan’s deaths.

Initially, Peres Magalhaes faced charges of second-degree murder and firearm charges for shooting and killing Ryan.

FURTHER: Au pair pleads guilty to manslaughter in Virginia double homicide

“Today’s agreement marks a significant step forward in this case and is an important step forward in our pursuit of justice for the victims and their families,” Fairfax County State’s Attorney Steve Descano said Tuesday.

“Much of the information that led to this settlement cannot be made public at this time due to the upcoming trial against the co-defendant (Brendan Banfield) in this matter.”

Prosecutors said in court Tuesday that a sexual relationship between Peres Magalhaes and Banfield began in August 2023. That fall, Banfield allegedly told Peres Magalhaes that he wanted to get rid of his wife. Prosecutors said Tuesday that Banfield used a sexual fetish website and “settled on Joseph Ryan” to lure him to Herndon’s home on the morning of Feb. 24, 2023.

“Ryan probably thought he was going to the house for a violent sexual game,” a prosecutor said in court Tuesday.

On the morning of the murders, prosecutors said Peres Magalhaes took the couple’s daughter to the zoo. According to recently filed court documents, Peres Magalhaes told police he returned home shortly after realizing he had forgotten his lunches and saw Ryan’s car in the driveway.

FURTHER: New 911 call released in Virginia for double homicide that left wife dead

“When he was unable to locate Christine, he contacted Brendan, who returned to the residence,” the documents state.

In court Tuesday, prosecutors said Christine Banfield could not be located because her husband turned off her phone and placed it in a drawer downstairs. Once he and Peres Magalhaes returned to the house, prosecutors said they found Ryan in Banfield’s bedroom with Christine, and Ryan was subsequently shot in the head and chest. Prosecutors believe Christine Banfield was stabbed in the neck by her husband and died in hospital.

Kush Arora, a criminal defense attorney not affiliated with the case, said plea deals can be reached at any time during a court proceeding. Arora said it usually means the prosecution has a problem with its evidence, or that a defendant is determined not to be as guilty of a crime as initially thought.

“But what I suspect, particularly based on the Commonwealth’s comments after the plea was entered, is that there is some cooperation on their part in the case of other co-defendants later this year,” Arora said, referring to this case.

Peres Magalhaes’ plea deal could be a “game changer” for the Banfield case whose trial is scheduled for February 2025, Arora added. While the Fairfax County Prosecutor’s Office could not confirm whether Peres Magalhaes will cooperate in Banfield’s trial, Arora said anything is possible.

FURTHER: Au pair charged with murder in Herndon double homicide: police

“Co-defendants cooperating will obviously strengthen the Commonwealth’s case, and that could change another party’s decision about whether they choose to go to trial or potentially resolve their case,” he said. “When there is cooperation on the part of the other party, the question always arises of what that person gets in exchange for that cooperation. If someone is given a lesser charge, if they are not given a prison sentence in exchange for their testimony, “Defense attorneys are always going to use that in the courtroom to demonstrate the other side’s bias.”

Peres Magalhaes faces up to 10 years in prison on the charge of involuntary manslaughter. A sentencing date was set for March 21, 2025. Banfield is scheduled for trial on February 3, 2025. He faces life in prison on the aggravated murder charges.