A Massachusetts jury has found Brian Walshe guilty of first-degree murder in connection with the disappearance and presumed death of his wife, Ana Walshe. The verdict was delivered on Monday, concluding a trial that spanned approximately two weeks. Ana Walshe's body has not been recovered since she was reported missing in early January 2023. Brian Walshe had previously pleaded guilty to lesser charges of misleading police and willfully disposing of a human body.
Case Background
Ana Walshe, 39, was reported missing by her employer in early January 2023. The subsequent investigation led to the arrest of her husband, Brian Walshe, on murder charges. Prior to jury selection, Brian Walshe entered guilty pleas to two charges: misleading police and willfully disposing of a human body in violation of state law. The trial then focused exclusively on the charge of first-degree murder.
The Walshes, married in 2016, experienced a period of stress leading up to Ana's disappearance. Ana Walshe, an immigrant from Serbia, had transitioned from hospitality to real estate, securing an executive position at Tishman Speyer in Washington, D.C., in February 2022. She acquired a townhouse in D.C. with plans for her family to join her. Brian Walshe, however, was under house arrest in Massachusetts after pleading guilty in 2021 to federal art fraud charges involving the sale of counterfeit Andy Warhol paintings. He was later sentenced to three years in prison for this scheme in 2024, after Ana's death, and faced restitution payments exceeding $400,000. Ana Walshe served as the family's primary income earner, commuting between cities.
Testimony during the trial indicated Ana Walshe was involved in an affair with William Fastow, a real estate agent, which reportedly began in March 2022. Fastow testified that Ana intended to inform Brian about the affair. Prosecutors presented evidence of divorce-related searches on Brian Walshe's devices between Christmas and New Year's, including queries such as "best divorce strategies for men" and "Washington, D.C. divorce lawyers." The defense argued these searches were related to "preserving family assets" in anticipation of Brian's potential prison sentence. Ana Walshe held a life insurance policy valued over $1 million, with Brian Walshe named as the beneficiary. Following Brian Walshe's arrest in January 2023, the couple's three young children were placed in state custody.
Prosecution's Case and Evidence
Prosecutors asserted that Brian Walshe murdered Ana Walshe on New Year's Eve, motivated by alleged anger over her romantic affair and existing stress from his unrelated federal legal issues. The prosecution presented the following evidence:
- Surveillance Footage: Video showed Brian Walshe purchasing items such as cleaning supplies, new rugs, a Tyvek suit, shears, and a hacksaw in the days following Ana's disappearance.
- Forensic Evidence: DNA matching both Ana and Brian Walshe was found on bloodstained items recovered from several dumpsters in the area. A rug from a dumpster reportedly contained blood and a piece of Ana's Gucci necklace.
- Internet Search History: Brian Walshe's internet activity during that period included numerous queries, such as "best ways to dispose of a body," "Can I use bleach to clean my wood floors from blood stains," and "can you be charged with murder without a body." These searches were found on a son's iPad synced to Brian Walshe's Apple ID, conducted between approximately 5 a.m. on January 1 and the evening of January 3.
Prosecutor Anne Yas stated in her closing argument that Ana Walshe's killing was premeditated. Yas alleged that Brian Walshe purchased cutting tools, dismembered Ana's body, and disposed of her remains in dumpsters to prevent the discovery of the body and an official cause of death. Due to the absence of a body, no autopsy or official cause of death has been determined. Yas characterized Brian Walshe's actions after Ana's disappearance, including preparing records for investigators and contacting loved ones, as methodical. She also noted that Brian Walshe sent texts to Ana on January 2, inquiring about her whereabouts, one of which stated: "I still love you!!! Haha."
Defense's Counterarguments
Defense attorney Larry Tipton argued that Brian Walshe did not kill Ana, suggesting she died a "sudden, unexplained death" in her sleep after New Year's Eve celebrations. While not disputing that Brian Walshe dismembered and disposed of Ana's remains, Tipton contended that these actions were driven by panic and concern for their three young sons. At the time, Brian Walshe was awaiting sentencing for a federal art fraud case and feared losing custody of the children if the circumstances appeared suspicious.
Regarding Brian Walshe's Google searches, the defense argued they reflected "disbelief and confusion" rather than premeditation, as they occurred after Ana's alleged death. A medical expert testified that a "sudden unexpected death" is theoretically possible, but prosecutors cited Ana's active lifestyle and good health, along with the absence of an autopsy, as factors making it highly unlikely. The defense rested its case without presenting any witnesses.
Events Following New Year's Eve
Both the prosecution and defense agreed that the Walshes celebrated New Year's Eve at home with a friend, who departed around 1:30 a.m. on January 1, 2023. Accounts of subsequent events differed.
Brian Walshe informed investigators that Ana departed their home between 6 and 7 a.m. on January 1, 2023, to catch a flight to D.C. for a work emergency, dressed in specific attire. However, the dinner guest reportedly made no mention of a work emergency, and prosecutors stated no such emergency existed. Investigators found no rideshare data indicating travel to the airport, and Ana's phone was last active in the early morning hours of January 3 in the vicinity of their Cohasset residence.
Cell phone data placed Brian Walshe near dumpsters and trash cans close to his mother's apartment in the days following January 1. Contents recovered from these dumpsters by investigators included:
- Clothing Brian Walshe had described Ana as wearing when she left.
- A COVID-19 vaccination card with her name.
- Rugs.
- The Tyvek suit.
- A hammer, shears, a hatchet, and a hacksaw.
DNA matching one or both Walshes was identified on some items.
Trial Proceedings and Verdict
Over eight days, prosecutors called approximately 50 witnesses, including friends and co-workers of Ana Walshe, as well as the individual with whom she allegedly had an affair. The defense rested its case without presenting any witnesses. After approximately six hours of deliberation across two days, the jury returned a guilty verdict. Brian Walshe is scheduled for sentencing on Wednesday and faces a potential sentence of life in prison without the possibility of parole.