Fairfax County Double Murder

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I don’t understand why Brendan and Tess restricted access to the child from Christine’s parents. Wouldn’t that make them look 100000x more guilty? I feel so bad for the child.

I wonder if it is because she heard, or saw, things that would incriminate them. Or overheard them talking in the days after the murder. They didn't want to risk having her mention things she overheard to Christine's parents. I'm honestly glad they didn't kill her too at some point. They're so depraved.

[Anonymous]

I found this April 2019 article about Christine joining the staff at Inova and wanted to share it here. She was so accomplished. She worked through the pandemic at Inova as a mother with a child under 3 at the time. What a loss for us all.

https://www.fcnp.com/2019/04/17/nurse-joins-inova-staff-receives-warm-farewell/

The Victim Information Bureau of Suffolk’s (VIBS) Sexual Assault Nurse/Forensic Examiner (SANE/SAFE) Program would like to extend its sincere gratitude and appreciation to Christine Banfield RN, BSN, NYSAFE, SANE-A, SANE-P for her dedication and service to the program since 2015. Banfield has accepted a registered nurse position at Inova Fairfax Hospital (3300 Gallows Rd., Falls Church). In Virginia, she plans to join the SANE program in her new community, so she can continue to use her skills to help those affected by abuse.

During her time with VIBS SANE in New York, Banfield provided sexual assault survivors with trauma-informed emergency medical care, forensic evidence collection and, when needed, court testimony.

Over the last two years, Banfield has led the medical program in her capacity as clinical nurse supervisor. Her 24/7 availability to consult in “real time” provided additional support to her colleagues during difficult or complicated cases.

During her tenure as Supervisor, Banfield was awarded two additional certifications from the Commission for Forensic Nursing Certification of the International Association of Forensic Nurses. These certifications, SANE-A and SANE-P, were earned after rigorous coursework and comprehensive exams, and confirmed her expertise in both Adult/Adolescent and Pediatric forensic exams.

VIBS SANE program wishes Banfield well on the next step in her professional career.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It’s tough bc BB testified that his daughter talks to him every night. She prob misses him so much. Cutting off contact immediately would prob not be what a judge stands for.
It’s a tough situation there. I’m not even sure what the best approach would be, a child psychologist would be best to follow the case.

It’s a really horrible situation because from the child’s perspective right now it will be another loss. Still, I can’t imagine long term that it would be in her best interest to continue this level of contact with Brendan. It seems like it would only make the inevitable rug pull worse when she’s older. She’s a victim of his actions as much as anyone. It does not seem right for him to have a level of access where he can just continue his manipulation.

I also understand family court weighs continuity strongly and that legally they were in a bit limbo with a parent who is incarcerated but not convicted. I hope that post conviction things can be weighed differently. It isn’t a situation that can just be brushed under the rug. Unfortunately there is going to come a time when Christine’s daughter will learn a lot of these facts. It seems like Christine’s family would be better positioned to support her in this next phase of life, since they are also coping with this. Leaving her with people who are in denial and pushing daily contact with her mother’s murderer seems like a sacrifice of her long term interests in order to prevent short term upheaval.

She deserves to know about her mother, and to be able to openly remember her and celebrate her memory.

In one of Brendan’s letters before he was arrested he describes the environment there as openly hostile. It was hard to read that and think about Christine’s daughter. But I know that she will continue to draw on Christine’s love and strength throughout her life.

Which environment? The one in the house where Brendan, Tess, and the child were living? Do you have a link to the letters? I'd seen the ones that julianna wrote, but didn't see any from him. I've since lost that link.

[Anonymous]

2 things the media forgot to ask at the press conference are what did the audio expert think was said on the 911 call and who was the other person who came forward who wanted to testify.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:
Which environment? The one in the house where Brendan, Tess, and the child were living? Do you have a link to the letters? I'd seen the ones that julianna wrote, but didn't see any from him. I've since lost that link.

Yes, exactly, and here’s the link, I posted it to another reply a page back but I know it’s moving fast here. It was in the last exhibit release. I’m just sharing in case it’s relevant to Christine’s friends and family in their case for the child.

https://webcache.fairfaxcounty.gov/circuitcourt/Evidence%20Admitted%20January%2029%2C%202026/CW%20245%20BB%20letter%20to%20JPM%20bike%20riding%20memories%20not%20signed.pdf

The part about it being openly hostile starts at the top of the second page.

[Anonymous]

Justice for my friend Joe, finally. RIP, bud. Go be with your beloved old dogs now.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Do you all think that Christine’s parents or other family members will seek custody of the child? I know it will be hard for her to be moved now but she has been living with essentially an accessory after the fact to the crime, right? If Fairfax doesn’t prosecute Tess for anything related to the case, do Christine’s family have any chance of custody? Have they tried for custody ever in these years?

Maybe family member. Parents seem very old to take care of a kid.

And what do you think Tess is like? I envision an ogre 👹 plus the great grandmother lives with them in that house of horror!

Christine has a sister. Her father testified and was quite coherent and composed facing that monster. Her mother will fight to the death for custody.

Former au pair will absolutely step in. She has posted a lot about Christine on Instagram. She’s devastated. From the pics she posted of her wedding, it appears that Christine was matron of honor and Valerie was flower girl. IIRC, they talked every week. I did not stalk her socials. Someone posted a link in Reddit. She’s a lovely girl.

I truly believe statements like this are wishful thinking. The former au pair, as lovely as she may be, may not be willing to adopt and raise a child for the next 10+ years, even if she loved that child in the past, especially considering she now hasn't seen that child for more than 2 years, the child hasn't seen her, and the child will likely have significant psychological support needs as she grows up. I think it's easy to look at these situations with rose colored glasses and say "her babysitter from when she was in diapers will surely adopt her, even though now she's an 8 year old and hasn't seen her in years". I wish that would happen too, but, the most realistic scenario is that BB's mom continues to have custody for the short term, and that CB's parents get custody for the long term if they apply for custody, IF the state can show that BB's mom is detrimental to her well being. But plenty of parents are detrimental to a child's well being, and the state reunifies them over and over again even if a more capable, kinder, more stable family member wants custody of that child. Since BB's mom has had her this whole time, taking custody away from BB's mom will likely not be easy if she isn't physically abusing her and if the child seems to be doing relatively well. I hope I'm wrong. I do think a judge will force BB's mom to allow CB's parents to see her, though, now that custody will be taken from BB I'm assuming.

[Anonymous]

Wonder of Mama and Daddy Banfield destroyed their retirement savings paying for their mess of a son and his side piece.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Wonder of Mama and Daddy Banfield destroyed their retirement savings paying for their mess of a son and his side piece.

They will still play the lawyer till May and beyond for the "appeals"

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The foreperson of the jury seemed quite emphatic about the verdict. I imagine that reflects the mood of the jury. Thank you to the jury members - they listened to the whole trial, studied all the evidence, including the photos and chilling exchanges between Joesph and the fake account, and BB and JM, and will have to remember the details for a lifetime.

Absolutely spot on. And when individually polled each juror answered with barely repressed anger in their voice.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Do you all think that Christine’s parents or other family members will seek custody of the child? I know it will be hard for her to be moved now but she has been living with essentially an accessory after the fact to the crime, right? If Fairfax doesn’t prosecute Tess for anything related to the case, do Christine’s family have any chance of custody? Have they tried for custody ever in these years?

Maybe family member. Parents seem very old to take care of a kid.

And what do you think Tess is like? I envision an ogre 👹 plus the great grandmother lives with them in that house of horror!

Christine has a sister. Her father testified and was quite coherent and composed facing that monster. Her mother will fight to the death for custody.

Former au pair will absolutely step in. She has posted a lot about Christine on Instagram. She’s devastated. From the pics she posted of her wedding, it appears that Christine was matron of honor and Valerie was flower girl. IIRC, they talked every week. I did not stalk her socials. Someone posted a link in Reddit. She’s a lovely girl.

I truly believe statements like this are wishful thinking. The former au pair, as lovely as she may be, may not be willing to adopt and raise a child for the next 10+ years, even if she loved that child in the past, especially considering she now hasn't seen that child for more than 2 years, the child hasn't seen her, and the child will likely have significant psychological support needs as she grows up. I think it's easy to look at these situations with rose colored glasses and say "her babysitter from when she was in diapers will surely adopt her, even though now she's an 8 year old and hasn't seen her in years". I wish that would happen too, but, the most realistic scenario is that BB's mom continues to have custody for the short term, and that CB's parents get custody for the long term if they apply for custody, IF the state can show that BB's mom is detrimental to her well being. But plenty of parents are detrimental to a child's well being, and the state reunifies them over and over again even if a more capable, kinder, more stable family member wants custody of that child. Since BB's mom has had her this whole time, taking custody away from BB's mom will likely not be easy if she isn't physically abusing her and if the child seems to be doing relatively well. I hope I'm wrong. I do think a judge will force BB's mom to allow CB's parents to see her, though, now that custody will be taken from BB I'm assuming.

But didn't his mom basically get it because Brendan gave it to her because he was the only living parent and hadn't been convicted? And now, he can be deemed an unfit parent, and then I guess she becomes a ward of the state until someone petitions for custody, which I presume both sets of grandparents will do? Anyone know the procedure?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

The environment where?

In between Juliana’s arrest and Brendan’s, he sent her a letter in jail where he was complaining to her about his hardships and says it’s openly hostile at the house between him and his mom.

It was released in one of the last trial exhibit drops. I will find the link. If anyone here is in contact with Christine’s family, make sure they know about this exhibit as it may not have been released before but could be a factor in their custody case.

https://webcache.fairfaxcounty.gov/circuitcourt/Evidence%20Admitted%20January%2029%2C%202026/CW%20245%20BB%20letter%20to%20JPM%20bike%20riding%20memories%20not%20signed.pdf

It is at the start of the second page of this letter.

Man - it’s hard to think a grown man wrote this! His penmanship and verbiage are like that of a teenaged boy.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:2 things the media forgot to ask at the press conference are what did the audio expert think was said on the 911 call and who was the other person who came forward who wanted to testify.

They did ask if there was anything they could share that wasn't able to be admitted and the prosecutors declined to say any. I was also hoping to hear about the 911 call and I totally forgot about the mysterious other person!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I found this April 2019 article about Christine joining the staff at Inova and wanted to share it here. She was so accomplished. She worked through the pandemic at Inova as a mother with a child under 3 at the time. What a loss for us all.

https://www.fcnp.com/2019/04/17/nurse-joins-inova-staff-receives-warm-farewell/

The Victim Information Bureau of Suffolk’s (VIBS) Sexual Assault Nurse/Forensic Examiner (SANE/SAFE) Program would like to extend its sincere gratitude and appreciation to Christine Banfield RN, BSN, NYSAFE, SANE-A, SANE-P for her dedication and service to the program since 2015. Banfield has accepted a registered nurse position at Inova Fairfax Hospital (3300 Gallows Rd., Falls Church). In Virginia, she plans to join the SANE program in her new community, so she can continue to use her skills to help those affected by abuse.

During her time with VIBS SANE in New York, Banfield provided sexual assault survivors with trauma-informed emergency medical care, forensic evidence collection and, when needed, court testimony.

Over the last two years, Banfield has led the medical program in her capacity as clinical nurse supervisor. Her 24/7 availability to consult in “real time” provided additional support to her colleagues during difficult or complicated cases.

During her tenure as Supervisor, Banfield was awarded two additional certifications from the Commission for Forensic Nursing Certification of the International Association of Forensic Nurses. These certifications, SANE-A and SANE-P, were earned after rigorous coursework and comprehensive exams, and confirmed her expertise in both Adult/Adolescent and Pediatric forensic exams.

VIBS SANE program wishes Banfield well on the next step in her professional career.

Thank you for sharing that! She seems like she was an amazing person, RIP.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It’s tough bc BB testified that his daughter talks to him every night. She prob misses him so much. Cutting off contact immediately would prob not be what a judge stands for.
It’s a tough situation there. I’m not even sure what the best approach would be, a child psychologist would be best to follow the case.

It’s a really horrible situation because from the child’s perspective right now it will be another loss. Still, I can’t imagine long term that it would be in her best interest to continue this level of contact with Brendan. It seems like it would only make the inevitable rug pull worse when she’s older. She’s a victim of his actions as much as anyone. It does not seem right for him to have a level of access where he can just continue his manipulation.

I also understand family court weighs continuity strongly and that legally they were in a bit limbo with a parent who is incarcerated but not convicted. I hope that post conviction things can be weighed differently. It isn’t a situation that can just be brushed under the rug. Unfortunately there is going to come a time when Christine’s daughter will learn a lot of these facts. It seems like Christine’s family would be better positioned to support her in this next phase of life, since they are also coping with this. Leaving her with people who are in denial and pushing daily contact with her mother’s murderer seems like a sacrifice of her long term interests in order to prevent short term upheaval.

She deserves to know about her mother, and to be able to openly remember her and celebrate her memory.

In one of Brendan’s letters before he was arrested he describes the environment there as openly hostile. It was hard to read that and think about Christine’s daughter. But I know that she will continue to draw on Christine’s love and strength throughout her life.

There are kids all over the country who have court ordered visitation with incarcerated fathers whether they or their guardians think it's desirable. And that includes murderers, rapists, and yes including when the victim was mom. VA family courts are generally not good venues for abused women and children, although jurisdictions closer in NOVA tend to be better. I am really afraid for what happens to that little girl if Tess doesn't get put away.