Ana Walshe, a Massachusetts mother of three, has not been seen since January 1. Prosecutors say her husband Brian Walshe killed her, dismembered her and disposed of her remains – though they have not said whether her remains have been found.
Brian Walshe told police he last saw her on New Year’s Day when she left their home in Cohasset for a flight to Washington, DC for her job. But authorities accused him of misleading investigators and charged him with her murder.
He has pleaded not guilty to the charges.
His defense attorney has noted no body has been found and said there is “no indication of if she died, how she died” and no murder weapon or motive established.
Using information from a criminal affidavit, police, prosecutors and defense attorneys, CNN assembled a timeline of the couple’s movements and actions, from his earlier legal trouble to her recent disappearance.
September 2018
Brian Walshe’s father, Dr. Thomas Walshe, died in September 2018 and left nothing to Brian, leading to a protracted legal fight over his estate, according to court documents filed in Plymouth Probate and Family Court in Massachusetts.
Dr. Walshe’s will noted he was not in contact with Brian, to whom he bequeathed only his “best wishes” and “nothing else” from his estate, according to photographs of the document attached to court documents. Brian Walshe unsuccessfully contested the will and suggested his father’s signature on the document was a possible forgery.
Affidavits in opposition to Brian Walshe’s petition said he had been estranged from his father and detailed years of alleged swindling and manipulation.
“He had a severe falling out with his son,” wrote Andrew Walshe, the estate’s executor and one of Dr. Walshe’s nephews. “Brian had ran off with a significant amount of his money; he had had almost zero contact with Brian R. Walshe over the last ten plus years.”
October 2018
Brian Walshe was indicted on federal fraud charges in October 2018 for allegedly selling fake Andy Warhol artwork online, according to court documents.
FBI investigators alleged Brian or Ana Walshe used her eBay account to sell the paintings in November 2016, less than a year after they were married. The complaint does not charge Ana Walshe with wrongdoing, but states that she spoke to the person who purchased the fakes after the buyer learned the paintings were not authentic and located her work number.
The document also alleged Brian Walshe took real artwork from a friend to sell, but never did. He also did not compensate the friend for the art, prosecutors alleged.
Walshe pleaded not guilty to wire fraud, interstate transportation for a scheme to defraud, possession of converted goods and unlawful monetary transaction in November 2018.
2021
In April 2021, Brian Walshe pleaded guilty to three of the four counts in exchange for a recommended sentence of incarceration, supervised release, fines, restitution and forfeiture, court documents show. He also agreed to either return the artworks or pay for them.
As part of pre-sentencing probation, Brian Walshe was placed on monitoring and house arrest. He can request to leave home but must detail the specific locations, times and reasons.
November 2022
Ana Walshe was having an affair with a man in DC and spent Thanksgiving with him in Dublin, Ireland, according to court documents. The man told investigators he had been in a dating relationship with Ana Walshe for several months, the documents state.
December 2022
Brian Walshe began to suspect his wife was having an affair in December 2022, according to Norfolk County Assistant District Attorney Greg Connor.
“He was routinely visiting the Instagram page of one of her male friends. And on December 26th, his mother – with his input and direction – obtained and hired a private investigator to surveil Ana Walshe in Washington, DC.”
Brian Walshe’s defense attorney disputes the allegation that the husband suspected his wife was having an affair.
December 27, 2022
Brian Walshe Google searched, “What’s the best state to divorce for a man,” according to prosecutors.
December 28, 2022
During dinner with a friend in DC, Ana Walshe “became uncharacteristically upset and told her friend she believed that Mr. Walshe was going to be incarcerated as a result of his federal case, and that she was prepared to leave him and take the children to Washington, DC,” according to Connor.
December 30, 2022
Ana Walshe flew home to Massachusetts to be with her family during for the holiday weekend and was not expected to return to DC, until January 3, prosecutor Connor said.
December 31, 2022
The Walshes hosted a New Year’s Eve dinner at their home with a friend named Gem, Brian Walshe told police, according to an affidavit.
Brian and Ana Walshe went to bed shortly after the friend left around 1 or 1:30 a.m., he told investigators, according to the affidavit. He also told police that Ana Walshe said she had a work emergency and needed to fly to Washington for her job the next morning.