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Tag: Au Pair

  • Au pair charged in killing a man in a Fairfax Co. double homicide seeks dismissal of key evidence in trial – WTOP News

    Au pair charged in killing a man in a Fairfax Co. double homicide seeks dismissal of key evidence in trial – WTOP News

    Days after a husband was charged in the double homicide of his wife and another man inside a Fairfax County, Virginia, house, the au pair, who was also charged with shooting the man, is asking to get a key evidence thrown out. 

    Days after a husband was charged in the double homicide of his wife and another man inside a Fairfax County house, their Brazilian au pair, who was also charged with shooting the man, is asking to get key evidence from the case thrown out.

    A motion to suppress certain evidence was detailed in a lengthy hearing Thursday in Fairfax County Circuit Court before Judge Penney S. Azcarate.

    Attorneys for 23-year-old Juliana Peres Magalhaes argued that on the day of the killings in February 2023, police essentially did not make it clear enough to Peres Magalhaes that she did not have to go to police headquarters or talk to detectives.

    Peres Magalhaes’ defense attorneys showed police body camera footage of an officer’s interactions with her outside the home where 37-year-old Christine Banfield and 39-year-old Joseph Ryan were found dead inside.

    Christine Banfield was stabbed to death, and Ryan was shot to death inside the home in the 13200 block of Stable Brook Way.

    At that time, Peres Magalhaes was not under arrest. When she asked the officer if she had to go to police headquarters, his response was, “It’s imperative for your safety.”

    Prosecutors said there was no overt act of authority by police, and Peres Magalhaes got into a police cruiser voluntarily. Initially, according to court testimony, Peres Magalhaes and the Banfields’ 4-year-old daughter were taken to what’s called a “soft room,” where police questioned her for about 90 minutes. After that, Peres Magalhaes was taken to a police interrogation room and questioned for over seven hours.

    Peres Magalhaes was not arrested and charged until 8 months later.

    Attorneys representing Peres Magalhaes at the hearing Thursday said she was unlawfully seized, and evidence in the case — including her cellphone, Apple watch, clothing, photos and a hand swab taken that day — should be thrown out. They also argued that anything she told police should be excluded from trial.

    Banfield was arrested and charged earlier this week with aggravated murder. A hearing was also held in his case on Thursday, where the same judge set a trial date of Feb. 3.

    Banfield’s attorney, John Carroll, said he has not filed any motions in the case yet, and is expecting eight terabytes of discovery evidence from the Commonwealth Attorney’s office.

    The judge will rule on the motions and make a decision about a request for cameras in the courtroom next Thursday.

    Prosecutors have alleged that someone used Christine Banfield’s laptop to make an account on an adult fetish website. Ryan had responded to the profile and went to the home with the intention of having “rough sex” with Christine Banfield. Prosecutors haven’t said who they believe created the account.

    Peres Magalhaes initially told detectives she saw Ryan holding a knife to the throat of Christine Banfield, who was nude, inside the master bedroom.

    Police said Brendan Banfield, a criminal investigative division agent for the IRS, shot Ryan near his right eyebrow with his IRS-issued service weapon. After shooting Ryan, Peres Magalhaes said Brendan Banfield told her to get a gun from a safe in the bathroom of the master bedroom. She then fired a shot at Ryan, which struck him in the chest, and “devastated his heart,” according to the medical examiner who testified at a December 2023 hearing.

    WTOP Staff contributed to this report. 

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    Kyle Cooper

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  • Au Pair USA: Transforming Lives Through Cultural Exchange and Volunteerism

    Au Pair USA: Transforming Lives Through Cultural Exchange and Volunteerism


    NEW YORK, December 14, 2023 (Newswire.com)
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    Au Pair USA, a pioneering au pair program, continues to promote cultural understanding and community engagement through volunteerism. With a rich history of connecting American families and international au pairs, Au Pair USA has always believed in the transformative power of cultural exchange. That’s why the company is so proud to shine a light on the active involvement of its au pairs in volunteering locally and the reason why it is committed to offering diverse volunteer opportunities within each community.

    Over the last 30 years, Au Pair USA by InterExchange has witnessed the incredible power of cultural exchange not only in private — in the American homes in which the au pairs live — but also publicly, in communities all across the USA. Cultural exchange is a diverse, two-way street. It introduces and exposes children to a bigger world; one in which different languages and traditions are spoken and practiced while at the same time broadening the au pairs’ knowledge and understanding of the local community. 

    Uta and Paul Christianson are the founders of InterExchange, Au Pair USA’s parent organization. Long ago, they recognized that au pair programs could offer young people an opportunity to travel, immerse themselves in new cultures, and enhance their language skills. At the same time, they understood the lasting impact that exposure to new cultures and languages could have on the young children the au pairs cared for. In over three decades, that’s translated into more than 20,000 au pair alumni, representing 40 countries worldwide, and over 60,000 American children who were introduced to cultures and languages from around the world.

    However, when you take into account Au Pair USA’s commitment to volunteerism, the number of people impacted by the program has been even greater.  

    Each year, the program’s au pairs have the opportunity to participate in rewarding volunteer opportunities. For example, InterExchange au pairs volunteer in the annual TCS New York City Marathon. There, one au pair even served as a Spanish medical translator for the athletes. Additionally, at a recent Exchange Day celebration, au pairs volunteered with God’s Love We Deliver to help prepare meals for people in need.  

    Even after three decades, Au Pair USA’s commitment to cultural exchange, volunteerism, and enriching the lives of au pairs, host families, and the communities in which they live remains unwavering as the organization continues to pursue its mission: “Enable global experiences both at home and abroad. Create global connectivity among travelers and hosts. Encourage global responsibility among our community toward a shared, better future.”

    To learn more about how to share in the cultural exchange, either as an au pair or American host family, visit our website for more information. 

    About Au Pair USA by InterExchange: Au Pair USA, established in 1989, is a leading cultural exchange program that connects American families with international au pairs. As one of the first U.S. Department of State-designated sponsors and a founding member of the International Au Pair Association (IAPA), Au Pair USA is committed to fostering cultural understanding and enriching the lives of host families and au pairs alike. Au Pair USA provides a platform for young adults from around the world to experience life in the United States while offering American host families reliable and flexible childcare solutions.

    Source: Au Pair USA

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