What happens when a suburban love affair turns deadly? When the prosecution's star witness is also negotiating a Netflix deal from her jail cell?On February 24, 2023, Christine Banfield, a beloved pediatric ICU nurse, was found dead in her Fairfax County, Virginia home.

Also dead: Joseph Ryan, a man Christine had allegedly been communicating with online about violent fantasies.

But prosecutors say Christine never sent those messages. They say her husband Brendan Banfield and their au pair Juliana Peres Magalhães were having an affair, and instead of getting a divorce, they hatched a plan to kill Christine and stage it as a home invasion gone wrong.

In this episode, we break down the first four days of Brendan Banfield's murder trial, including Juliana's explosive testimony as the prosecution's star witness. We cover the fake online persona created to lure Joseph Ryan, the forensic evidence pointing to a staged crime scene, jailhouse love letters, and why Juliana is negotiating a Netflix deal while testifying.

Make sure to check-out One Strange Thing Podcast. If you love the weird and mysterious, THIS is the show!

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In the summer of 1999, 17-year-olds J.B. Beasley and Tracie Hawlett took a wrong turn on their way to a party and ended up in Ozark, Alabama. After a frantic call to Tracie's mom from a gas station payphone, the two girls vanished.

The next morning, their bodies were discovered in the trunk of J.B.'s car, each with a single gunshot wound to the head. The case went cold for nearly two decades until a breakthrough in genetic genealogy led investigators to a shocking suspect: a man who had been living a seemingly normal life in their own community.

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In September 2007, four friends set out on a chartered fishing trip off the coast of Miami aboard the yacht Joe Cool. Captain Jake Branam, his wife Kelley, and crew members Scott Gamble and Samuel Kairy were excited for what should have been a routine day on the water.But they never came home.

What the crew didn't know was that three men—Kirby Archer, Guillermo Zarabozo, and Carlos—had hatched a desperate plan to steal a boat and flee to Cuba. They boarded the Joe Cool under the guise of a fishing charter, but their real intention was far more sinister.

When the Coast Guard found Kirby and Guillermo adrift in a life raft days later, they spun a wild story about being attacked by armed men. But investigators quickly unraveled their lies. The four crew members had been murdered and thrown overboard. Their bodies were never recovered.

This is the story of the Joe Cool murders—a case of greed, desperation, and cold-blooded murder on the high seas.

We're revisiting this Florida Files case with updated details and a deeper look at what happened that tragic day.

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Andreen McDonald was a Jamaican immigrant who built a multi-million dollar assisted living business by age 22. She was a fitness champion and devoted mother living in San Antonio with her husband, Air Force Major Andre McDonald. From the outside, they were a Texas power couple.

But behind closed doors, years of domestic violence and control had created a toxic marriage spiraling toward tragedy.

On March 1st, 2019, Andreen vanished. She didn't show up for her 5 AM workout or arrive at work—completely out of character. As friends and family grew frantic, the couple's young, autistic daughter told investigators: "Daddy hurt Mommy."

What followed was a massive search, a gruesome discovery, and a trial that exposed the dark secrets of a seemingly perfect marriage. This is the heartbreaking story of Andreen McDonald—a case of ambition, jealousy, domestic violence, and murder.

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A double murder in a quiet Georgia town. A 5-year-old discovers her parents shot in their bed. No forced entry, no weapon. The prime suspect? Their 16-year-old daughter. This week we discuss the shocking case of Sarah Grace Patrick and the digital trail that led to her arrest.

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Sources:

1. Georgia Girl, 17, Accused of Fatally Shooting Mom and Stepdad, Whose Bodies Were Discovered by Her 6-Year-Old Sister

2. ‘We had our suspicions’: Niece of couple murdered in Carroll home reacts to teen daughter’s arrest

3. Georgia teen charged in parents' deaths sought help from TikTok influencers | FOX 5 Atlanta

4. Carroll County teen accused of killing family: Grandfather believes she's innocent | FOX 5 Atlanta

5. Community Left Seeking Answers In the Unsolved Murder of a Carroll County Couple: – The West Georgian

6. Sarah Grace Patrick Had No Family Support At Bond Hearing | Closing Arguments Podcast

7. Teen who eulogized mom, stepdad arrested in their killings | Banfield Full Episode 7/10

8. Carrollton couple found dead in bed; authorities search for answers

9. ‘He warned us about her’: Carroll County family voices suspicions about stepdaughter after stepdad’s death

10. 'Smallest daughter found them': Teen murdered her mother and stepfather while her 6-year-old sister was home with them, cops say | Law & Crime

11. 'Pattern of intimidation towards family': Teen who posted TikTok tributes after murdering mom and stepdad threatened others, relatives and DA say | Law & Crime

12. https://drive.google.com/file/d/1Xmg-tmV8SHs5heaoTyGPk7uHNfB2wBFe/view (Image)

13. 2022-08-22 Kristin Nolan Patrick DV Cruelty to Children Warrant.pdf

14. 2022-08-24 Ex Parte Emergency PO against Kristin Patrick.pdf

15. 2022-09-14 James Brock Motion Dismissal Charges.pdf

16. 2022-08-25 James Brocks Petition of RO against Kristin Nolan Patrick DV.pdf

17. https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100064557800560

18. https://www.facebook.com/doniel.patrick.2025/posts/pfbid02d8uHjDHLgDKLeXCem5bgEqJk8E1LacVETRMCdCVhErWrTXsowSPwEkimQtA7dg4Vl?rdid=Fg47SAJal9DfFL7H#

19. Mental evaluation results pending for Carroll County teen accused of killing mother, stepfather

20. https://www.facebook.com/CarrollCountySheriffGA/posts/pfbid0BnoLJ4tmUdAmP3YW9r2xMAUjJmbkZ8JGLUMfzANeog1rGCMifU7PTXHiZv9cDXrJl

21. https://www.newspapers.com/image/1240903454/?match=1&terms=Sarah%20Grace%20Patrick

22. 2025-12-01 Order denying motion to change venue-1.pdf

23. 2025-11-19 Request for continuance.pdf

24. Georgia teen charged in fatal shootings of mom and stepdad posted TikTok video pleading for support - WSVN 7News | Miami News, Weather, Sports

25. https://www.tiktok.com/@shoelover99/video/7525111063684140302

26. NewsNation Instagram Interview with Allegedly Reportedly Creator

27. Did Sarah Grace Patrick Kill Her Parents? Our Video Investigation Reveals Shocking New Clues

28. Father of Teen Charged With Murder Says She Didn’t Show ‘Any Red Flags’ - Newsweek

29. Teen Daughter Accused of Killing Mother and Stepfather in Georgia - Newsweek

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In 1995, the brutal murder of Memphis socialite and philanthropist Emily Fisher shattered the city's illusion of high-society tranquility. Stabbed over 50 times in her historic home, the investigation peeled back the layers of a picture-perfect family to reveal a dark world of secrets, lies, and a son's crippling drug addiction. 

This week, we unravel the tragic story of the Fisher family, a case that took nearly two decades to solve and left a trail of devastation in its wake, including the death of Emily's own son. This is a southern gothic tale of how privilege and wealth are no match for the destructive power of addiction.

If you’d like to hear the episode on Jack Wheeler from October 2023, you can find that here.

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For decades, desperate parents have sent their struggling teens to residential treatment programs that promise to help them overcome everything from behavioral issues to substance abuse. But for many, these programs deliver years of trauma and abuse, rebranded as discipline and growth. This week, we are pulling back the curtain on the billion-dollar Troubled Teen Industry.

What happens when a parent’s last resort becomes a child’s worst nightmare? We explore the slick marketing and manipulative tactics used by these facilities to lure in terrified families, and the shocking reality of what goes on behind closed doors. From isolation and psychological abuse to a system where compliance is mistaken for healing, we uncover the repeatable, cult-like model that defines many of these programs.

We also discuss the tragic case of Taylor Goodridge, a 17-year-old who died at a Utah facility just days after her arrival, and the fight for justice and regulation that continues today, championed by survivors like Paris Hilton. This is a look into an industry that operates in the shadows, and the fight to bring it into the light.

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This episode was originally released as a bonus for subscribers and is now available on the main feed for all listeners. If you want to get more episodes like this (three bonus episodes per month) check-out patreon.com/momsandmysteriespodcast, or Apple + and Spotify's Bonus episodes. Enjoy!

Be back on January 1st for a brand-new episode!

From the original episode:

If you’ve ever wondered what happens when a Disney cast member, a Craigslist ad, an Orlando Magic cheerleader, and a man with a toe-related fantasy collide inside a perfectly normal Orlando townhouse, well, you might also be from Florida. Because the rest of the world is not ready for this story.

In this episode, we break down a Craigslist job offer that absolutely should not exist, a man named Phil who is deeply committed to Bassnectar, a woman named Carolyn who deserved hazard pay just for walking through the door, a safe word that is somehow “Connecticut,” and a toe-removal attempt set up with the precision of a DIY disaster. It is a story that is somehow both deranged and oddly sincere, which is to say: perfectly Florida.

And since we were born and raised in the Sunshine State, we feel uniquely qualified to bring you these stories. All month long we’re recapping episodes of It’s Florida, Man over on our bonus feed as part of Florida Women Bonus Month.

Thanks for listening, and remember: if a man asks you to bring a witness to a toe-removal appointment, perhaps reconsider your life choices.

From Max: A broke Orlando man responds to a Craigslist ad offering $4,000 to fulfill a stranger’s lifelong fantasy. Luckily there’s a safe word.

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This week, we are revisiting our most downloaded episode of the year: the heartbreaking case of Lauren Burk. In March 2008, the brutal murder of this 18-year-old Auburn University student shattered a community and left a family searching for answers in a case that is as tragic as it is controversial.

Lauren was a bright, promising freshman who was abducted at gunpoint from her campus, robbed, and shot before she bravely jumped from a moving car in a desperate attempt to save her life. Her story is one of unimaginable terror, but also of incredible courage in her final moments. 

The investigation led police to Courtney Lockhart, an Iraq War veteran whose life had taken a dark turn after returning home. His confession painted a disturbing picture of a man pushed to the edge, but was it the full story? We dive into the complexities of the case, from the initial crime to the controversial trial that followed, where a judge overrode a unanimous jury recommendation for life in prison and sentenced Lockhart to death. Join us as we take a second look at the case that resonated so deeply with our listeners. We explore the devastating impact of Lauren’s murder, the questions surrounding her killer's mental state, and the unique legal proceedings that still spark debate today.

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In 1908 Glasgow, 82-year-old Marion Gilchrist was brutally murdered in her home during a ten-minute window while her maid was out. There was no forced entry, and the only thing missing was a single diamond brooch. The police quickly zeroed in on Oscar Slater, a German-Jewish immigrant with a gambling habit, and built a case around him with flimsy evidence and coached witnesses. Despite a weak case, Slater was convicted and sentenced to death, a sentence later commuted to life in prison. After a nearly 20-year fight for justice, championed by Sherlock Holmes author Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, Slater was finally exonerated. But the question remains: if Slater didn't do it, who did?

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#TrueCrime #Podcast #MomsAndMysteries #OscarSlater #MarionGilchrist #UnsolvedMysteries #HistoricalCrime #WrongfulConviction #Scotland

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The polished facade of NXIVM has shattered, and in Part 2, we take you inside the federal courthouse where its leaders finally face justice. We explore the harrowing trial of Keith Raniere, built on the brave testimony of the women who escaped his control. From the secret master-slave sorority known as DOS to the shocking details of branding, blackmail, and psychological abuse, the full truth of the cult is laid bare.

We cover the verdicts, the sentences, and the downfall of the man who called himself “Vanguard.” But what happens after the headlines fade? To discuss the case’s complex legacy, we are joined by a special guest: Natalie, the host of the popular podcast “Allison After NXIVM.” She shares her unique insights into the story, the people involved, and the long road to recovery for those who lived through it. Find more information about "Allison After NXIVM" here.

#truecrime #truecrimepodcast #momsandmysteries #nxivm #keithraniere #trial #dos #alisonafternxivm #justice #cult

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