Virginia au pair Juliana Peres Magalhaes pleads guilty to manslaughter in the gruesome double murder of Christine Banfield and Joe Ryan

A Virginia babysitter pleaded guilty to involuntary manslaughter Tuesday In connection with the 2023 murders his employer’s wife and another man.

Juliana Peres Magalhaes’ employer, Brendan Banfield, was charged with murder in the case last month, a year after Magalhaes was arrested and charged.

Prosecutors said Magalhaes and Banfield began an extramarital affair in August 2022, and Banfield expressed a desire to “get rid of” his wife, Christine Banfield, in the fall of that year, according to the plea agreement obtained by ABC News.

According to the prosecution, Brendan Banfield would allegedly detail this plan in the months that followed. But prosecutors said Magalhaes did not want to proceed at some points and did not believe Banfield would follow through, according to the plea agreement.

Prior to the double murder, Brendan Banfield allegedly created a profile on the sexual fetish site FetLife, where he found a man named Joe Ryan. Magalhaes then allegedly called Ryan, pretending to be Christine Banfield, and had him confirm that they were both willing to have sex using “restrictions” at his home, according to prosecutors.

When Ryan arrived home in February 2023, Banfield allegedly shot him in the head and then stabbed his wife to death, according to the prosecution agreement. Magalhaes then also shot Ryan, prosecutors said.

Magalhaes then called 911 and pretended Ryan was an intruder, prosecutors alleged.

Magalhaes had originally faced second-degree murder charges in connection with Ryan’s death. On Tuesday, Magalhaes pleaded guilty to a reduced charge of manslaughter.

He could face up to 10 years in prison.

Sentencing is scheduled for March 21, following Banfield’s hearing in February.

“Today’s settlement marks a significant step forward in this case and is a significant development in our pursuit of justice for the victims and their families,” Fairfax County Commonwealth’s Attorney Steve Descano said in a statement read outside the courthouse. he said. “Much of the information that led to this settlement cannot be made public at this time due to criminal proceedings pending against the co-defendant in this matter.”

ABC News’ Cristina Corbin, Briana Stewart and Gemma Schneider contributed to this report.