Katharina Buczek
Additionally, the body of a 39-year-old man named Joe Ryan was nearby. He’d suffered gunshot wounds to his head and chest after arriving at the Banfields’ home that morning for a prearranged date.
Christine’s husband, Brendan, and the au pair, Juliana, were at the scene as well, along with two handguns, a bloody knife, and a bag containing adult accessories for the bedroom.
The couple’s daughter, Valerie, was found in the basement, unharmed.
Juliana was interviewed by police for nine hours and confessed to murdering Joe Ryan in the wake of a supposed attack on Christine.
She claimed that, while in the car with Valerie outside the Banfields’ house, she watched a man with a bag enter the home.
According to Juliana, Christine was alone inside, and she tried to call her. But Christine didn’t answer, so Juliana contacted Brendan.
Once he arrived home, he and Juliana entered the home and supposedly found Joe Ryan holding a knife to Christine’s throat while Christine was kneeling.
Juliana then claimed that Brendan, who carried a gun as a special agent, used his service revolver to shoot Joe Ryan in the head. He also yelled for Juliana to obtain another weapon from a safe in his bedroom.
Juliana said she was scared Joe Ryan would attack again and pointed a gun at him, shooting him in the heart and killing him.
Investigators were doubtful of Juliana’s story, and later, they found evidence that she and Brendan were actually having an affair.
Juliana had sent text messages about her “new love” from her cell phone. There were also photos of her and Brendan while they visited New York City.
