Piecing It Together: Prosecutors Will Try To Convict Brian Walshe On Circumstantial Evidence

Now that prosecutors have shared the evidence they say they have against Brian Walshe in a murder case after his wife, Ana Walshe, went missing, they'll need to piece together a case that is without a body.

During a Jan. 18 arraignment, Norfolk Assistant District Attorney Lynn Beland outlined the DNA evidence and troubling Google searches her team believes will prove their case against Brian Walshe, whose wife was last seen on New Year's Day.

Brian Walshe has pleaded not guilty to the charges, though many of the items shared by the prosecution indicate he will be facing an uphill battle in court.

"It is believed that Brian Walshe dismembered Ana Walshe and discarded her body," Beland said.

Despite some evidence being incinerated from dumpsters, investigators were able to attain some trash bags that prosecutors say contain key evidence.

Prosecutors say they have clothing that contains both Brian and Ana Walshe's DNA, and they say they have a necklace that Ana was previously seen wearing in a photo.

“However, investigators did secure and search the dumpsters from defendant's mother's complex. And once again, it was searched at a transfer station in Peabody. Investigators recovered 10 trash bags,” Beland said. “Many of these items contain stains consistent with blood. In fact, a lot among the items secured were towels, rags, slippers, tape, pillows, cleaning agents, carpets, rugs.”

Prosecutors also say they recovered Ana Walshe's COVID-19 vaccination card, a saw and a hatchet. There were also reportedly blood and knifes found in connection with the case.

Brian Walshe was initially arrested on Jan. 8 for allegedly misleading police during the investigation. On Jan. 17, he was charged with murder in connection to the mother of three's disappearance.

In addition to the physical evidence, Beland described several Google searches that Brian Walshe allegedly made on his son's iPad on the day of Ana Walshe's disappearance and days following. They appear to be consistent with that of a person trying to cover up a murder.