(Trends Wide) — As Massachusetts prosecutors build their case against Brian Walshe, they have produced considerable evidence alleging the man murdered his wife on New Year’s Day and disposed of her body in gruesome ways.
Brian Walshe, 47, appeared in court Wednesday to arraign on charges of murder and illegally digging up or moving a body. Walshe has been in jail since Jan. 8, when he was arrested on charges of misleading investigators who were looking for his wife, Ana Walshe, 39.
Walshe has pleaded not guilty to all three charges.
Prosecutors alleged in Quincy District Court on Wednesday that Brian Walshe killed his wife, with whom he had three children, because he wanted to end their marriage. Her criminal complaint against her husband says he assaulted and beat Ana Walshe to death.
“Instead of divorcing, Brian Walshe is believed to have dismembered Ana Walshe and disposed of her body,” prosecutor Lynn Beland said in court.
Prosecutors allege Brian Walshe killed his wife Ana Walshe on New Year’s Day. (Courtesy of Peter Kirby)
Prosecutor Beland presented a series of pieces of evidence that led to the charges against the Walshe, including discoveries of Ana Walshe’s blood and personal items in the local trash, phone data showing Brian Walshe’s movements, and alleged Google searches related to the dismemberment and disposal of a body.
Investigators have been searching for Ana Walshe since her workplace reported her missing on January 4. Wednesday marked the first time prosecutors have said she is believed to be dead, though they did not say whether her body was found.
Brian Walshe allegedly told police that his wife left their home for a work trip to Washington around 6 am on New Year’s Day. But Beland said there is no record of Ana making that trip and that the wife’s phone kept ringing in the area of the house until around 3 a.m. on Jan. 2.
Brian Walshe’s defense attorney, Tracy Miner, said in a statement Wednesday that she would not comment on the evidence, suggesting that prosecutors’ case against her client appears weak. She said that she still haven’t sent her the tests.
“In my experience, where, as here, the prosecution leaks alleged evidence to the press before it is provided to me, their case is not as strong,” he said. “When they have a strong case, they give me everything as soon as possible. We will see what they have and what evidence is admissible in court, where the case will ultimately be decided.”
Walshe is being held without bail and is expected to appear in court on February 9.
Ana Walshe, a corporate real estate manager, would commute between the family’s home in Cohasset, Massachusetts, and her job in Washington, her former colleague Pamela Bardhi told Trends Wide. Bardhi described Ana as “a force to be reckoned with” and a “super mom” to her three children who range in age from 2 to 6.
The couple’s children are in the custody of the Massachusetts Department of Children and Families, a spokesman said. Bhardi said “a flood of families” have offered to foster the children so they can stay together.
Garbage bags containing blood, personal items
Prosecutors allege Brian Walshe killed his wife Ana Walshe on New Year’s Day. (Courtesy of Peter Kirby)
Prosecutors say data from Brian Walshe’s phone shows he traveled to various apartment complexes in different cities, where they accuse him of disposing of evidence in dumpsters.
Surveillance video from two of the complexes shows his Volvo and a figure fitting his description throwing bags into dumpsters, Beland alleged.
The trash in these bins was incinerated before investigators could examine it.
However, investigators were able to trace the trash the husband allegedly dumped at his mother’s home in Swampscott, a town an hour’s drive north of Walshe’s home.
Ten garbage bags containing evidence were found at a garbage collection station containing apparent bloodstains, a hacksaw, an axe, towels, rags, gloves, a heavily stained carpet, and a Tyvek suit, a nearly full body covering. which is often used to protect yourself from contaminants or hazardous materials, Beland said.
In the bags, investigators also found Ana Walshe’s Covid-19 vaccination card, a Prada bag she was wearing and part of a necklace that matches one she can be seen wearing in the photos, the prosecutor said.
The state crime lab analyzed some of the bloody items in the bags and found DNA from Ana and Brian Walshe on a pair of slippers and the Tyvek suit. The woman’s DNA was also found in some tissue, she said.
Additionally, a search of the couple’s home uncovered bloodstains and a bloody knife in the basement, prosecutors allege.
Blood was also found in Walshe’s car, Beland said. Police observed a plastic liner in the back of her car the day Ana Walshe was reported missing, but her husband later told investigators that he had thrown the liner away, the prosecutor said.
Walsh’s gruesome Google searches
Prosecutor Lynn Beland of the Norfolk District Attorney’s Office presented evidence in the case against Brian Walshe during his arraignment. (Credit: Craig F. Walker/Pool/Reuters)
Brian Walshe’s Internet records show several shady Google searches about decomposition of bodies, dismemberment and disposal of human remains, Beland alleged.
All but one of the searches were made on or after the day prosecutors allege Brian Walshe killed his wife, he said.
The husband was stoic when Beland read the searches aloud in court, shaking his head only once when the prosecutor said he had conducted some of the searches on his son’s iPad.
The first, she said, was on December 27: What is the best state to divorce a man?
These are some of the searches he allegedly did between January 1 and 3:
- How long does it take before a body starts to stink?
- What does formaldehyde do?
- How long does DNA last?
- Can partial remains be identified?
- Dismemberment and the best ways to dispose of a body.
- How to clean blood from hardwood floors.
- What happens when you put body parts in ammonia?
- Is it better to keep the clothes from the crime scene or wash them?
- Hacksaw, the best tool for dismemberment.
- Can he be charged with murder without a body?
“He basically raises the questions for his plan in Google searches, as the prosecutors allege,” said John Miller, police chief and Trends Wide intelligence analyst.
Prosecutors detail several purchases of cleaning supplies
Prosecutors also cited several items Brian Walshe allegedly purchased that they believe are related to his wife’s murder.
On Jan. 2, at a Home Depot, prosecutors say he wore a mask and rubber gloves while shopping for mops, brushes, duct tape, a Tyvek suit with boot covers, buckets, baking soda and an axe. Beland previously said that he spent about $450 at the store.
Walsh also went to Home Goods that day and bought three rugs, Beland said.
Two days later, he allegedly went to Home Goods and TJ Maxx where he bought towels, bath mats and men’s clothing, Beland said. He then went to Lowe’s, where the prosecutor said he bought squeegees and a trash can.
Meanwhile, Beland said, there was no activity on Ana Walshe’s credit cards.
— Trends Wide’s Eric Levenson, Jason Carroll, Celina Tebor and Amanda Watt contributed to this report.
(Trends Wide) — As Massachusetts prosecutors build their case against Brian Walshe, they have produced considerable evidence alleging the man murdered his wife on New Year’s Day and disposed of her body in gruesome ways.
Brian Walshe, 47, appeared in court Wednesday to arraign on charges of murder and illegally digging up or moving a body. Walshe has been in jail since Jan. 8, when he was arrested on charges of misleading investigators who were looking for his wife, Ana Walshe, 39.
Walshe has pleaded not guilty to all three charges.
Prosecutors alleged in Quincy District Court on Wednesday that Brian Walshe killed his wife, with whom he had three children, because he wanted to end their marriage. Her criminal complaint against her husband says he assaulted and beat Ana Walshe to death.
“Instead of divorcing, Brian Walshe is believed to have dismembered Ana Walshe and disposed of her body,” prosecutor Lynn Beland said in court.
Prosecutors allege Brian Walshe killed his wife Ana Walshe on New Year’s Day. (Courtesy of Peter Kirby)
Prosecutor Beland presented a series of pieces of evidence that led to the charges against the Walshe, including discoveries of Ana Walshe’s blood and personal items in the local trash, phone data showing Brian Walshe’s movements, and alleged Google searches related to the dismemberment and disposal of a body.
Investigators have been searching for Ana Walshe since her workplace reported her missing on January 4. Wednesday marked the first time prosecutors have said she is believed to be dead, though they did not say whether her body was found.
Brian Walshe allegedly told police that his wife left their home for a work trip to Washington around 6 am on New Year’s Day. But Beland said there is no record of Ana making that trip and that the wife’s phone kept ringing in the area of the house until around 3 a.m. on Jan. 2.
Brian Walshe’s defense attorney, Tracy Miner, said in a statement Wednesday that she would not comment on the evidence, suggesting that prosecutors’ case against her client appears weak. She said that she still haven’t sent her the tests.
“In my experience, where, as here, the prosecution leaks alleged evidence to the press before it is provided to me, their case is not as strong,” he said. “When they have a strong case, they give me everything as soon as possible. We will see what they have and what evidence is admissible in court, where the case will ultimately be decided.”
Walshe is being held without bail and is expected to appear in court on February 9.
Ana Walshe, a corporate real estate manager, would commute between the family’s home in Cohasset, Massachusetts, and her job in Washington, her former colleague Pamela Bardhi told Trends Wide. Bardhi described Ana as “a force to be reckoned with” and a “super mom” to her three children who range in age from 2 to 6.
The couple’s children are in the custody of the Massachusetts Department of Children and Families, a spokesman said. Bhardi said “a flood of families” have offered to foster the children so they can stay together.
Garbage bags containing blood, personal items
Prosecutors allege Brian Walshe killed his wife Ana Walshe on New Year’s Day. (Courtesy of Peter Kirby)
Prosecutors say data from Brian Walshe’s phone shows he traveled to various apartment complexes in different cities, where they accuse him of disposing of evidence in dumpsters.
Surveillance video from two of the complexes shows his Volvo and a figure fitting his description throwing bags into dumpsters, Beland alleged.
The trash in these bins was incinerated before investigators could examine it.
However, investigators were able to trace the trash the husband allegedly dumped at his mother’s home in Swampscott, a town an hour’s drive north of Walshe’s home.
Ten garbage bags containing evidence were found at a garbage collection station containing apparent bloodstains, a hacksaw, an axe, towels, rags, gloves, a heavily stained carpet, and a Tyvek suit, a nearly full body covering. which is often used to protect yourself from contaminants or hazardous materials, Beland said.
In the bags, investigators also found Ana Walshe’s Covid-19 vaccination card, a Prada bag she was wearing and part of a necklace that matches one she can be seen wearing in the photos, the prosecutor said.
The state crime lab analyzed some of the bloody items in the bags and found DNA from Ana and Brian Walshe on a pair of slippers and the Tyvek suit. The woman’s DNA was also found in some tissue, she said.
Additionally, a search of the couple’s home uncovered bloodstains and a bloody knife in the basement, prosecutors allege.
Blood was also found in Walshe’s car, Beland said. Police observed a plastic liner in the back of her car the day Ana Walshe was reported missing, but her husband later told investigators that he had thrown the liner away, the prosecutor said.
Walsh’s gruesome Google searches
Prosecutor Lynn Beland of the Norfolk District Attorney’s Office presented evidence in the case against Brian Walshe during his arraignment. (Credit: Craig F. Walker/Pool/Reuters)
Brian Walshe’s Internet records show several shady Google searches about decomposition of bodies, dismemberment and disposal of human remains, Beland alleged.
All but one of the searches were made on or after the day prosecutors allege Brian Walshe killed his wife, he said.
The husband was stoic when Beland read the searches aloud in court, shaking his head only once when the prosecutor said he had conducted some of the searches on his son’s iPad.
The first, she said, was on December 27: What is the best state to divorce a man?
These are some of the searches he allegedly did between January 1 and 3:
- How long does it take before a body starts to stink?
- What does formaldehyde do?
- How long does DNA last?
- Can partial remains be identified?
- Dismemberment and the best ways to dispose of a body.
- How to clean blood from hardwood floors.
- What happens when you put body parts in ammonia?
- Is it better to keep the clothes from the crime scene or wash them?
- Hacksaw, the best tool for dismemberment.
- Can he be charged with murder without a body?
“He basically raises the questions for his plan in Google searches, as the prosecutors allege,” said John Miller, police chief and Trends Wide intelligence analyst.
Prosecutors detail several purchases of cleaning supplies
Prosecutors also cited several items Brian Walshe allegedly purchased that they believe are related to his wife’s murder.
On Jan. 2, at a Home Depot, prosecutors say he wore a mask and rubber gloves while shopping for mops, brushes, duct tape, a Tyvek suit with boot covers, buckets, baking soda and an axe. Beland previously said that he spent about $450 at the store.
Walsh also went to Home Goods that day and bought three rugs, Beland said.
Two days later, he allegedly went to Home Goods and TJ Maxx where he bought towels, bath mats and men’s clothing, Beland said. He then went to Lowe’s, where the prosecutor said he bought squeegees and a trash can.
Meanwhile, Beland said, there was no activity on Ana Walshe’s credit cards.
— Trends Wide’s Eric Levenson, Jason Carroll, Celina Tebor and Amanda Watt contributed to this report.
