A Brazilian au pair involved in double murder case in Virginia on Tuesday, he struck a plea deal, cooperating with prosecutors as they prepare to go to trial against the woman’s former boss.

Juliana Peres Magalhaes, 24, pleaded guilty to manslaughter in the fatal shooting of Joseph Ryan last year at the home where she worked for Brendan and Christine Banfield. Christine Banfield’s body was found in the home the same day with stab wounds, and she was later pronounced dead at a hospital.

Brendan Banfield, 39, is charged with four counts of aggravated murder and one count of use of a firearm in the commission of a felony in the deaths of both his wife and Ryan. His trial is set for February.

Peres Magalhaes, who faces up to 10 years in prison, will be sentenced in March.

Fairfax County Commonwealth’s Attorney Steve Descano announced the au pair’s plea deal, calling it “a significant step forward in this case.”

“Much of the information that led to this settlement cannot be released at this time due to the upcoming criminal trial against the other defendant in this case,” Descano said.

Peres Magalhaes called 911 on the morning of Feb. 24, 2023, to report that a friend had been injured, police previously said. A man, later identified as Brendan Banfield, then picked up the phone to tell the dispatcher “that an unknown male entered his home and shot them.”

But investigators said they found no evidence of forced entry. Police described the scene at the home as “horrific” and “appalling”.

Peres Magalhaes was initially arrested last October on charges of second-degree murder and use of a firearm to commit a felony. Her plea agreement reduces the murder charge to manslaughter and drops the firearm charge.

But Brendan Banfield wasn’t charged until September, when a grand jury indicted him.

He was called to testify at a hearing in April, but appropriately NBC Washingtonhe refused to answer questions, citing his Fifth Amendment right against self-incrimination.

Officials floated a theory in April that Peres Magalhaes and Brendan Banfield were having an affair and plotted to kill his wife to be together. NBC Washington reported at the time. Photos of the two together were found in the Banfields’ bedroom, as well as in the au pair’s underwear, prosecutors said at the time.

According to the theory, Ryan was contacted by someone claiming to be Christine Banfield through a sex fetish website.

Authorities doubt she actually sent the messages, but it was those interactions that led Ryan to the Banfield family home last year, where he was killed.

Peres Magalhaes and Brendan Banfield said Ryan attacked the au pair, prompting them to shoot Ryan in self-defense, according to NBC Washington.

Prosecutors said at the time the two went to a shooting range together a few months before the murders, and Banfield bought a gun at the shooting range.

According to NBC Washington, Peres Magalhaes told detectives that the first shot from Brendan Banfield did not kill Ryan, so he told him to go get the gun he bought at the gun range. He did and then shot Ryan a second time, the station reported.

An attorney for Brendan Banfield did not immediately return a request for comment on the plea agreement Monday.