Friends told reporters that there was a “one in a million chance” that Ana Walshe would be found alive. Now, the one person she should have been able to trust the most has been charged with her murder.
According to WCVB, Ana Walshe was a 39-year-old mom of three and a realtor who lived in Cohasset, Massachusetts but worked in Washington, D.C., when she went missing on New Year’s Day. Now, her husband has been charged with her murder.
New Information Comes to Light 16 Days After Mom of 3 Ana Walshe Went Missing
Brian Walshe was already in police custody when he was formally charged with murder. Walshe was being held on bail after being charged with misleading investigators who were working to locate Ana.
Brian and Ana’s employer both reported her missing on January 4. Norfolk Assistant District Attorney Lynn Beland said it was the employer who reported her missing first.
It’s believed by police that Ana was last seen by a friend on New Year’s Eve after hosting the friend for dinner. According to reports, the friend left their home around 1 or 1:30 a.m.
Brian went on to tell police that Ana flew to D.C. early that same morning due to a work emergency. Police were then told Ana took a ride-share car to Boston Logan International Airport on January 1, but according to Beland, no such ride existed.
Police further confirmed that Ana never boarded a plane but that she had a flight booked to D.C. on January 3. She did not board that flight either. D.C. police also did not find signs of Ana at her townhome.
As the investigation continues, Ana still has yet to be found. Her cellphone has been turned off since January 1 and her credit and debit cards have also gone unused, WCVB reports.
A motive has yet to be determined. “It’s very difficult, as you know, nowadays not to leave an electronic footprint or some type of footprint with your debit cards or your credit cards, and none of these things have been active since the first of the year,” Chief William Quigle told reporters.
And despite being quite active on social media, her friends revealed Ana hasn’t used those accounts since the new year began.
As WCVB reports, Ana is 5 feet, 2 inches tall, and weighed roughly 115 pounds. She has brown hair and brown eyes with an olive complexion. It’s also reported that Ana spoke with an eastern European accent.
Friends revealed that while Ana lived in Massachusetts with her husband and their three boys, she commuted to Washington, D.C. every week for work. Ana worked for Tishman Speyer.
According to Chief Quigley, Ana stayed in a townhouse in D.C. and also kept a spare vehicle at the residence.
“She’s a loving and loyal wife and mother of three beautiful boys,” one of Walshe’s friends, Alissa Kirby, told WCVB. “She loves her family, and I know in my heart that of her choice, she would not go a day without speaking to her husband and her kids.”
During the investigation, police discovered blood in the basement of their Cohasset home and on a knife that was also discovered on or near the premises. The investigation also uncovered potential evidence while searching a trash transfer station.
During that search, a hacksaw was discovered as was a rug with blood on it.
According to Norfolk District Attorney Michael W. Morrissey, “the charge of murder, additional details in the investigation, and the evidence in support of those charges are likely to be presented at arraignment, but will not be disclosed at this time.” The arraignment is scheduled for January 18.
As WCVB further reports, Brian is already awaiting sentencing in a separate case in which he was accused of selling two fake Andy Warhol paintings on eBay. Brian has pleaded guilty to charges stemming back to 2018 which include “fraud, interstate transportation for a scheme to defraud and unlawful monetary transaction.”
Brian, 47, remains on a $500,000 bond.