CNN —
Investigators combing through trash at a Peabody, Massachusetts, transfer station recovered evidence they believe will be linked to the disappearance of Ana Walshe, the mother of three who vanished under suspicious circumstances last week.
Law enforcement sources told CNN on Tuesday that materials found included a hacksaw, torn-up cloth material and what appears to be bloodstains.
The missing woman’s husband, Brian Walshe, is being held on a charge of misleading a police investigation. Walshe – who is already awaiting sentencing for a previous federal fraud conviction – has pleaded not guilty.
Referring to the search at the Peabody transfer station – one of several areas being searched – the Norfolk County District Attorney’s office said collected evidence will be sent for testing.
Norfolk District Attorney Michael Morrissey said previously “a number of items” were collected in searches north of Boston on Monday and are being processed and tested. His statement referred to Ana Walshe’s disappearance as “suspicious.”
Law enforcement sources told CNN that investigators hope to collect blood samples from Ana Walshe’s sons so they have a “direct bloodline” sample to compare against traces of blood found in the couple’s basement. Those results could give investigators a result that makes an almost certain match to blood and a bloodied knife found in the basement and apparent bloodstains at the refuse processing plant.
Brian Walshe’s attorney declined to comment to CNN on Tuesday afternoon.
Police in the small coastal town of Cohasset are investigating Ana Walshe’s disappearance. Sources told CNN her husband’s internet records showed searches for how to dismember a body and prosecutors say blood and a bloodied knife were found in the couple’s basement.
Ana Walshe, 39, was reported missing by her coworkers on January 4, spurring police to question her 47-year-old husband about his actions and movements in the days prior.
Many of his statements, however, were “untruthful,” police alleged in an affidavit.
Investigators recently uncovered new information that turned their focus from a missing persons search to suspicions that Ana Walshe may have been killed, including her husband’s internet record showing searches about dismemberment and “how to dispose of a 115-pound woman’s body,” according to two law enforcement sources briefed on the investigation.
On Monday night, investigators were searching through the trash of the transfer station in Peabody for the potential remains of the missing mother, according to a source with direct knowledge of the investigation. Sanitation crews brought the trash to the station, about an hour drive north of Cohasset, where the couple live, early last week, the source said.
Crime scene tape was also placed around dumpsters in an apartment complex near the home of Brian Walshe’s mother in Swampscott, about 15 miles north of Boston, the source told CNN. Brian Walshe told police he went to visit his mother on January 1, the same day he told police he last saw his wife, according to the affidavit.
Late last week, investigators launched a sweeping search for Ana Walshe, calling on local and state police departments, K-9 units, police divers and the state police’s air units and scoured the wooded area surrounding the family’s home, authorities said.
The ground search was called off after two days, officials said Saturday, but will resume if new information comes in.
Walshe has three children ages 2, 4 and 6, prosecutors said in court Monday. The children are in the custody of the Massachusetts Department of Children and Families, a spokesperson said.
In the meantime, her friends and family can only wait and hope.
“We are devastated. Ana is such a beacon of love and Joy,” family friend Peter Kirby said in a statement to CNN. “She lights up every room. We miss her and are doing everything we can to support her 3 beautiful children.”
Husband’s timeline allegedly misled police
The concern for Ana Walshe began after her coworkers at the real estate company Tishman Speyer reported her missing on January 4, prosecutors said.
Brian Walshe’s attorney said in court Monday he had reached out to the office to say he had not heard from her.
In statements to police, Brian Walshe said he last saw his wife the morning of January 1. She told him she needed to fly to Washington, DC, for a work emergency, the husband told investigators, according to the affidavit.
“Ana got ready and kissed him goodbye and told him to go back to sleep,” he told police, according to the affidavit.
She would typically take a rideshare or taxi to the airport, he told investigators.
That afternoon, Brian Walshe said he visited his mother in Swampscott and ran errands for her at the local Whole Foods and CVS, the affidavit says.
But investigators found no evidence of Ana Walshe taking a rideshare from their house that morning, prosecutors said in court Monday. Her phone also pinged near the home on January 1 and 2, according to commonwealth prosecutor Lynn Beland.
“The fact that he was asked a specific question and he gave an untruthful answer that led investigators out of the area caused a clear delay in the search for the missing person, Ana Walshe,” the affidavit states.
Brian Walshe is under home-confinement conditions and wears an ankle bracelet as he awaits sentencing on his prior fraud conviction, meaning he must get permission to leave his house for approved activities at specific locations and times, according to police.
Members of a state police K-9 unit search along a highway in Cohasset, Massachusetts, for Ana Walshe.
He made multiple unapproved trips the week of his wife’s disappearance, according to the affidavit, including to a Home Depot where he was seen on surveillance video wearing a surgical mask and surgical gloves and making a cash purchase. In court Monday, prosecutors alleged he spent about $450 on cleaning supplies, including mops, a bucket and tarps.
While police were executing a search warrant on the couple’s home Sunday, “blood was found in the basement area as well as (a) knife which also contained some blood,” according to Beland. As of Tuesday, officials had completed their search, a spokesman for the Norfolk County District Attorney’s Office said.
The warrant was obtained based on the husband’s internet search history about body disposal and his large cleaning supplies purchase, the two law enforcement sources briefed on the investigation told CNN.
At his arraignment on the charge of misleading investigators Monday, a Quincy District Court judge set Walshe’s bail at $500,000 cash. His next hearing is set for February 9.
Solving a homicide without a body can bring challenges at trial, but such cases have become more common as crime scene science and the use of DNA has been used to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that clues such as blood, saliva or sweat came from a specific suspect or victim.
Husband pleaded guilty to fraud last year
Brian Walshe appears in an court on January 9, 2023, on a charge of misleading investigators.
Brian Walshe was charged with wire fraud in May 2018 after the FBI said he sold two fake Andy Warhol paintings on eBay, according to a criminal complaint filed in the US District Court of Massachusetts.
The FBI investigators allege Brian or Ana 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 with wrongdoing but states she spoke to the person who purchased the fakes after the buyer learned the paintings were not authentic and located her work number.
Prosecutors also alleged Brian Walshe took real artwork from a friend, telling her he would sell it, but never did. He did not pay the friend for the art, prosecutors allege.
He was indicted in October 2018 by a federal grand jury on four charges in the case, including wire fraud, interstate transportation for a scheme to defraud, possession of converted goods and unlawful monetary transaction.
Last year, he pleaded guilty to three of the four counts in exchange for a recommended sentence from prosecutors of incarceration, supervised release, fines, restitution and forfeiture, documents show. He also agreed to either return the artworks or pay for them.
According to the online docket, the case remains open as the judge has not formally sentenced him, while the US Attorney’s Office investigates Brian Walshe’s finances.
In a letter to the court dated June 1, 2022, Ana Walshe said she was grateful her husband was able to remain at home as his art fraud case weaved through federal court.
“Brian has been working consistently on breaking the past habits of his family and we are all looking forward to the new chapter of his life,” she wrote.
CNN’s Carolyn Sung, Eric Levenson, Jason Carroll, Kiely Westhoff and Isa Kaufman-Geballe contributed to this report.
FAQs
Who is Anna Walshe? ›
Massachusetts murder: Missing mom Ana Walshe owned multiple properties worth at least $1.88M. Ana Walshe had valuable real estate. Her husband, Brian Walshe, was charged with murder as prosecutors pour over disturbing Google searches.
Who reported Ana Walshe missing? ›On January 4, both Tishman Speyer and Brian Walshe reported Ana missing. Brian told the police that Ana had left the house early for a flight from Boston's Logan International Airport to Washington, D.C., after a work emergency caused her to move up a trip scheduled for January 3.
When did Ana Walshe disappear? ›Ana Walshe's co-workers first reported her missing on January 4, per the Boston Globe, leading authorities to question her husband, Brian, about his movements in the days leading up to her disappearance.
What we know about Brian Walshe? ›Brian Walshe, 47, appeared in court Wednesday to be arraigned on charges of murder and illegally disinterring or moving a body. Walshe has been in jail since January 8, when he was arrested on a charge of misleading investigators searching for his wife, 39-year-old Ana Walshe.
How much is Ana Walshe worth? ›At the time of her disappearance, Ana Walshe, whose husband is charged with her murder and in jail without bail, had a real estate portfolio worth nearly $2 million, according to CNN's analysis of publicly available documents.
Who is Ana Walsh's mom? ›Milanka Ljubicic, mother of of Ana Walshe, a Massachusetts woman who has been missing since New Year's Day, who is originally from Serbia, speaks with journalists, in Belgrade, Serbia, Wednesday, Jan. 18, 2023.
Is Ana Walshe still missing? ›Weeks after Ana Walshe was reported missing, her body has not been found—but prosecutors have laid out a grisly case for murder against her husband, Brian Walshe.
What mother is missing in Mass? ›Ana Walshe case: What we know about the missing Massachusetts mom. Ana Walshe, a 39-year-old mother of three from Massachusetts, has been missing since sometime after having dinner with her husband and a friend on New Year's Eve. The case has been under investigation for more than two weeks.
How old is Ana Walshe? ›Ana Walshe, a 39-year-old Massachusetts mother of three, was last seen New Year's Day in her home in the wealthy Boston suburb of Cohasset, according to police, who have asked for the public's help in their search for her.
Has Ana Walshe's body been found? ›While her body has not been found, a trail of evidence, including a series of chilling Google searches, has left police convinced Ms Walshe is dead.
Who is the missing mother in Cohasset? ›
COHASSET, Mass. -- An arrest warrant charging Brian Walshe with murder was issued Tuesday in the death of his wife Ana Walshe, a Massachusetts mother of three who had been missing since the new year, Norfolk District Attorney Michael Morrissey announced.
What happened to Ann Walshe? ›Brian Walshe accused of killing and dismembering his wife Ana Walshe, prosecutors say. Brian Walshe killed and dismembered his wife Ana Walshe and disposed of her remains in dumpsters because he wanted to end their marriage, a prosecutor with the Norfolk district attorney's office said at his arraignment on Wednesday.
What was Ana Walshe husband charged with? ›(NewsNation) — Brian Walshe, 47, the husband of missing Boston mom-of-three Ana Walshe, has been charged with murder and the improper transport of a body, the Norfolk County District Attorney announced Tuesday.
What did Brian Walshe do? ›QUINCY - Brian Walshe, the Cohasset man charged with murder in the disappearance of his wife Ana, made a brief appearance in court Thursday. Walshe, 48, pleaded not guilty to the charges at his arraignment in Quincy District Court last month.
How much did Anna Walshe make? ›In November, the news outlet said, the property was put on the market and quickly sold eight days later. The deed shows she completed the sale for $220,000 in late December 2022. Walshe made a profit of about $80,000 from the transaction.
How tall is Ana Walshe and how much does she weigh? ›Walshe is 5'2″ tall. She weighs 115 pounds.
Does Ana Walshe have a sister? ›Ana Walshe's sister, Aleksandra Dimitrijevic, of Ontario, Canada, explained she had known her swindling brother-in-law for a decade and was grateful for all the support he showed taking care of her mother when she suffered a stroke in December 2021.
How old is Ana from the child? ›Ana is a 6-year-old girl, who's believed to be a powerful psychic, and also the secondary-antagonist soon turned protagonist at the ending of the horror emotional game, The Child.
What happens to Ana Walsh's Children? ›The three boys are in the custody of the Massachusetts Department of Children and Families (DCF), which said it took custody of them when Brian Walshe was arrested on Jan. 8 for allegedly lying to police while they were investigating Ana's disappearance.
What will happen to Anna Walsh's Children? ›Following the arrest of their father Brian Walshe, in connection to their mother Ana Walshe's disappearance, the couple's kids were handed over to Brian's mom, Ana's friend Pamela Bardhi tells PEOPLE.
Who is the missing mom husband? ›
Missing mom Ana Walshe's husband Brian Walshe to be charged with murder.
Who was Ana Walshe married to first? ›When Ana Walshe met her soon-to-be husband, she was already married to Mark Knipp, whom she divorced in 2014, records shows.
Is biological mother the real mother? ›the woman who gave birth to the child. This also applies if the child was conceived using a donor egg; the woman who adopted the child; the duomoeder (female partner of the birth mother) who has automatically become the child's parent, or has acknowledged the child, or has been declared the child's parent by a court.
What happened in mother with the baby? ›Him tells Mother his fans want to see Their newborn son, but she refuses to hand over the boy. Eventually, she falls asleep, and Him takes the child outside to the crowd, which passes the baby around wildly until he is inadvertently killed.
Did Maam mom come? ›The modern English “mother” comes from the Old English term modor. And “mom,” along with other of informal or shortened terms such as “mommy” and “ma,” are often traced to this root.
Who was the last person to see Ana Walshe? ›Gem Mutlu was one of the last people to see Ana before she disappeared. Mutlu described the night at Walshe's home as "festive" and said Brian made an "elaborate meal.".
Where is Anna Walshe from? ›Ana Walshe immigrated from Serbia to the U.S. in 2005, and met her husband, a Bostonian trust fund kid with a history of fraud and mental illness, a man accused of ripping off his own dead father, his best friend, and a slew of other associates despite his inherited wealth, while working at upscale hotels in the Bay ...
When did Ana Walshe come to the US? ›In 2005, after emigrating from Serbia to the United States, she began working seasonal jobs in the hospitality industry.
Where was Anna's body found? ›In May 1921, the badly decomposed body of Anna Brown—an Osage Native American—was found in a remote ravine in northern Oklahoma.
Who is the missing real estate agent in Massachusetts? ›Ana Walshe had valuable real estate. Her husband, Brian Walshe, was charged with murder as prosecutors pour over disturbing Google searches. A search of property records reveals that Ana Walshe had a valuable real estate portfolio and that she sold one property shortly before she disappeared, CNN reported.
Who was the first missing child? ›
| Etan Patz | |
|---|---|
| Cause of death | Murder by strangulation (presumed) |
| Known for | One of the first missing-child cases to have a photo appear on a milk carton |
| Height | 3 ft 4 in (102 cm) |
| Parent(s) | Stanley Patz Julie Patz |
| Missing State | Case Status | Total |
|---|---|---|
| California | 388 | 2,092 |
| Colorado | 56 | 618 |
| Connecticut | 12 | 140 |
| Delaware | 4 | 53 |
“More than 99 percent of children reported missing in America in recent years have come home alive,” Allen told Reuters.
What was Anna Walshe maiden name? ›Ms Walshe, who was then known by her maiden name Ana Knipp, reported the death threat in August, about a year before she and Brian Walshe married in Serbia. The case was closed after she refused to cooperate with the police investigation, a spokesperson told The Independent.
Who is Ana Walsh's parents? ›Ana Walshe's mother, Milanka Ljubicic, told Fox News Digital that her daughter asked her to travel from Serbia to Washington, D.C. in a text message sent on Christmas Day. “She just said, 'Please, mama. Come tomorrow,'” Ljubicic said in an interview that was conducted in Belgrade.
How was Brian Walshe caught? ›Prosecutors revealed a series of incriminating Google searches and the discovery of items with Ana Walshe's DNA, ABC News reported. Walshe also Googled "dismemberment" and "what happens when you put body parts in ammonia."
What does Ana Walshe do for a living? ›'" The Walshe family lives in Cohasset, about 45 minutes down the coast from Boston, but Ana Walshe spent workweeks in Washington, D.C. for her job as a real estate investment manager, CBS Boston reported.
Who is Ana Walshe ex husband? ›Key Facts. Walshe was reported missing by her coworkers at real estate agency Tishman Speyer on January 4, three days after her husband Brian Walshe told police he last saw her.
What nationality is Ana Walshe? ›Ana Walshe was born in Belgrade and holds dual citizenship in Serbia and the U.S., said Olgica Vlacic, Serbia's acting consul general in New York.
Where are the children of Ana Walshe? ›The three boys are in the custody of the Massachusetts Department of Children and Families (DCF), which said it took custody of them when Brian Walshe was arrested on Jan. 8 for allegedly lying to police while they were investigating Ana's disappearance.
Where did Ana Walshe get her money? ›
Ana, 39, had been associated with eight properties in Washington, DC, Maryland and Massachusetts since 2018 — four she had sold and four she owned at the time she disappeared, with a current market value totaling $2.8 million.
What is the update on the missing Massachusetts mom? ›Husband charged with murder of missing Massachusetts mom of 3: Prosecutors. A warrant for Brian Walshe's arrest on a murder charge was issued Tuesday. The husband of Massachusetts mother Ana Walshe has been charged with her murder, according to a warrant.
Did they find Walshe? ›Weeks after Ana Walshe was reported missing, her body has not been found—but prosecutors have laid out a grisly case for murder against her husband, Brian Walshe. Ana Walshe and her husband, Brian Walshe, said goodnight to their New Year's Eve guest at around 1:30 a.m. on Jan.
Is Ana Walshe still alive? ›Authorities Allege Ana Walshe Was Murdered by Her Husband, but Her Mom Has 'Hope That She Is Alive'
What is Ana Walshe's maiden name? ›According to this public incident report, Ana Knipp (her maiden name), told DC Metro police that Brian Walshe, “made a statement over the telephone that he was going to kill her, and her friends.” Ana never cooperated with DC Metro Police, Brian Walshe was never charged, and the case was closed.
What will happen to Ana Walshe's children? ›Following the arrest of their father Brian Walshe, in connection to their mother Ana Walshe's disappearance, the couple's kids were handed over to Brian's mom, Ana's friend Pamela Bardhi tells PEOPLE.
How many children does Ana Walshe have? ›The three young boys of Brian and Ana Walshe have lost their mother, allegedly by their father's hand. With Brian Walshe charged with killing his wife and discarding her body, many have worried who will care for the children, none older than 6, amid such terrible loss.
How many kids do the Walshes have? ›very much attached to her family' A spokesperson for the Massachusetts Department of Children and Families previously said that the Walshes' three children are in state custody and declined to provide more information, citing state and federal privacy laws.