ABC 20/20 “The Au Pair, the Affair and Murder” February 20 2026

This Friday, 20/20 dives into a gripping true crime case that has made national headlines with The Au Pair, the Affair and Murder, airing February 20, 2026, at 9/8c on ABC. The two-hour episode unpacks the dramatic investigation, twisted relationships, and explosive courtroom revelations following the murder of Christine Banfield, a 37-year-old mother and pediatric nurse found brutally stabbed to death inside her Virginia home.

The case began with a 911 call from inside the Banfields’ upscale neighborhood in Fairfax County in 2023. The caller was Juliana Peres Magalhães, the family’s 23-year-old live-in au pair. She claimed she had returned home after forgetting the young daughter’s lunch and walked into a nightmare: Christine Banfield under attack, and another man—39-year-old Joseph Ryan—fatally shot in the same bedroom.

Authorities initially considered Juliana’s account of a home invasion, but inconsistencies in her statements raised red flags. As detectives dug deeper, they uncovered evidence of a secret relationship between Juliana and Christine’s husband, Brendan Banfield. That revelation shifted the investigation entirely, raising the question of whether this was a botched break-in or a carefully orchestrated murder fueled by betrayal and jealousy.

The episode features new interviews and in-depth analysis from law enforcement officials, legal experts, and those close to the Banfield family. It also follows the dramatic trial of Brendan Banfield, who was ultimately charged with his wife’s murder. Last week, a jury reached a verdict that has closed one chapter of the case—but questions remain about what really happened in that home, and who was telling the truth.

With exclusive access and detailed reporting, 20/20 examines the tangled web of lies, passion, and deadly consequences in a once-idyllic household turned crime scene. Watch The Au Pair, the Affair and Murder on ABC, with streaming available the next day on Hulu and Disney+.