The Au Pair Affair Part 2: Brendan Banfield Takes the Stand | The Verdict & Sentencing

The Au Pair Affair Part 2: Brendan Banfield Takes the Stand | The Verdict & Sentencing

Author: This Feels Criminal | Formerly Killer Queens March 3, 2026 Duration: 1:08:21
"It’s easier to fall in love with someone that saved you." Those were the words of Brendan Banfield as he attempted to explain away an affair, a dead wife, and a dead stranger to a jury of twelve. In Part 2 of our deep dive into the VA v. Brendan Banfield trial, we move past the "catfish" plot and into the courtroom moments that sealed the defendant's fate. In this episode, we discuss: Brendan’s Performance: Was he a grieving husband or a cold-blooded manipulator? We analyze his claims that Christine could speak after seven stab wounds to the neck. The Forensic "Gotcha": Why the defense’s own digital investigator became the prosecution’s best witness during cross-examination. The Fatal Flaw: The specific pattern of FetLife logins that proved "Anastasia 9" only existed when Brendan or Juliana were home. The Rebuttal: How a brief testimony from Brendan’s supervisor, T. Smith Patrick, turned a "work meeting" alibi into a documented lie. Closure: The sentencing of Juliana Magalhães and what this case says about the "Double Murder" plot that nearly worked. Hang with us: Follow Us on Instagram Like Us on Facebook Join our Case Discussion Group on Facebook Get Killer Queens Merch Bonus Episodes Support Our AMAZING Sponsors: HelloFresh: Go to HelloFresh.com/queens10fm to get 10 free meals + a FREE Zwilling Knife on your third box. © 2026 Killer Queens Podcast. All Rights Reserved Audio Production by Wayfare Recording Music provided by Steven Tobi Logo designed by Ingrid at Penguin Designing Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

You might remember Tyrella and Nikita from their previous work as the Killer Queens. After eight years and hundreds of cases covered, their perspective has fundamentally shifted, leading to a thoughtful evolution of the true crime conversation. This new chapter, titled This Feels Criminal: A True Crime Podcast (Formerly Killer Queens), is for an audience that has matured alongside them, moving beyond the straightforward narrative to ask deeper, more difficult questions about the stories we think we know. Grounded in a shared history of growing up with Dateline and the early internet, the hosts now approach each case with a deconstructed viewpoint, examining the societal and human layers often glossed over. The podcast delves into the historical context surrounding crimes, exploring how time and place shape tragedy. Listeners will hear nuanced discussions that prioritize perspective over sensationalism, focusing on the complex "why" behind the "what." It’s a natural progression for hosts and audience alike, offering a more considered space within a crowded genre. Each episode of this podcast builds on a foundation of extensive research and lived experience, aiming to understand the full weight of the story, because there’s always more to it.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 100

This Feels Criminal: A True Crime Podcast (Formerly Killer Queens)
Podcast Episodes
Idaho 4- The University of Idaho Murders- Part 1 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:04:06
In November 2022, four University of Idaho students—Kaylee Goncalves, Madison Mogen, Xana Kernodle, and Ethan Chapin—were brutally murdered in an off-campus house in Moscow, Idaho. The shocking crime sent fear through th…
Idaho 4- The University of Idaho Murders- Part 1 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:05:35
In November 2022, four University of Idaho students—Kaylee Goncalves, Madison Mogen, Xana Kernodle, and Ethan Chapin—were brutally murdered in an off-campus house in Moscow, Idaho. The shocking crime sent fear through th…
Trainwreck: The Cult of American Apparel [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:22:50
Our commentary of the Netflix documentary episode from the series Trainwreck. Featuring tell-all interviews with insiders and former staff; tracing American Apparel's journey from fashion phenomenon to financial flop. Le…
Trainwreck: The Cult of American Apparel [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:26:19
Our commentary of the Netflix documentary episode from the series Trainwreck. Featuring tell-all interviews with insiders and former staff; tracing American Apparel's journey from fashion phenomenon to financial flop. Le…
Introducing: CRIMES OF... [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 6:48
Power. Fame. Obsession. Betrayal. These are more than headlines. They are the forces behind some of the most unforgettable crimes in history. Crimes Of... is a weekly true crime anthology series, hosted by Sabrina Deana-…
Introducing: CRIMES OF... [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 8:17
Power. Fame. Obsession. Betrayal. These are more than headlines. They are the forces behind some of the most unforgettable crimes in history. Crimes Of... is a weekly true crime anthology series, hosted by Sabrina Deana-…
Nicole VanderHeyden Case: Green Bay Murder Mystery & Fitbit Evidence [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:09:21
When Nicole "Nikki" VanderHeyden didn't return home after a night out in Green Bay, suspicion quickly fell on her boyfriend. Blood at the house, disturbing evidence in the yard, and his past all seemed to point in one di…
Nicole VanderHeyden Case: Green Bay Murder Mystery & Fitbit Evidence [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:12:50
When Nicole “Nikki” VanderHeyden didn’t return home after a night out in Green Bay, suspicion quickly fell on her boyfriend. Blood at the house, disturbing evidence in the yard, and his past all seemed to point in one di…
Unknown Number: The High School Catfish (Part 2) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 58:21
Part 2 of 2: A Michigan high school couple is stalked by an anonymous texter for over a year—sending 50+ threatening messages a day. As families fall apart and the FBI gets involved, the truth behind the Netflix true cri…
Unknown Number: The High School Catfish (Part 2) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 59:50
Part 2 of 2: A Michigan high school couple is stalked by an anonymous texter for over a year—sending 50+ threatening messages a day. As families fall apart and the FBI gets involved, the truth behind the Netflix true cri…