Closing arguments are expected to be delivered Friday in the murder trial of Brian Walshe, a father of three accused of killing and dismembering his wife.
The Massachusetts man is accused of killing his wife, 39-year-old Ana Walshe, around New Year’s Day in 2023. He pleaded guilty last month, ahead of the trial, to lying to police following her disappearance and improperly disposing of her body, though he denies that he killed his wife and has pleaded not guilty to murder. Ana Walshe’s body has not been found.
Brian Walshe attends his trial for murdering his wife Ana, on Dec. 4, 2025, in Dedham, Mass.
Matt Stone/The Boston Herald via AP, Pool
The defense rested on Thursday without calling any witnesses. Judge Diane Freniere noted in court on Thursday that it appeared that Brian Walshe would testify in his defense, based on the defense’s opening statement. Though he ultimately waived his right.
During the trial’s opening statements last week, defense attorneys said that Brian Walshe found his wife dead in bed on New Year’s Day in 2023 and then panicked and lied to police as they investigated her disappearance — but maintained he did not kill her.
Prosecutors allege Brian Walshe killed and dismembered his wife, then disposed of her remains in dumpsters. The internet history on his devices on Jan. 1, 2023, included searches such as “best way to dispose of a body,” “how long for someone to be missing to inherit,” and “best way to dispose of body parts after a murder,” prosecutors said.
A surveillance camera image is presented as evidence of Brian Walshe shopping at Lowe’s in Danvers, Jan. 1, 2023, during Brian Walshe’s murder trial at Norfolk Superior Court, Dec. 8, 2025, in Dedham, Mass.
Greg Derr/Pool/The Patriot Ledger via AP
Evidence presented during the two-week trial included surveillance footage of a man believed to be Brian Walshe buying tools and other supplies at a Lowe’s on Jan. 1, 2023. A receipt showed that items, including a hacksaw, utility knife, hammer, snips, Tyvek suit, shoeguards, rags and cleaning supplies totaling $462 were purchased with cash.
A video allegedly showing Brian Walshe depositing a garbage bag into a dumpster at a Abington apartment complex shown during Brian Walshe’s trial for murdering his wife Ana, Dec. 4, 2025.
Matt Stone/Pool/The Boston Herald via AP
Additional surveillance footage presented in court showed someone throwing out trash bags at dumpsters on multiple days in early January 2023.
Several blood-stained items recovered from dumpsters by investigators — including a hacksaw, a piece of rug, a towel and hairs — and an unknown tissue were linked to Ana Walshe through DNA testing, a forensic scientist from the Massachusetts State Police Crime Laboratory testified during the trial.
A hacksaw, included in tools that are presented as evidence which all tested positive for blood, shown during the murder trial of Brian Walshe, of Cohasset, who is accused of killing his wife Ana Walshe in 2023, at Norfolk Superior Court, Dec. 8, 2025, in Dedham, Mass.
Greg Derr/Pool/The Patriot Ledger via AP
Blood was also found in the basement of the family’s rental home in Cohasset, another forensic scientist with the crime lab testified.
Ana Walshe was reported missing by her employer on Jan. 4, 2023. Brian Walshe told police at the time that she had a “work emergency” at her job in Washington, D.C. and left their Cohasset home on New Year’s Day, according to video of his interview shown in court.
A missing person poster that the Cohasset Police produced while searching for Ana Walshe shown on the first day of the Brian Walshe murder trial in Norfolk Superior Court, on Dec. 1, 2025, in Dedham, Mass.
Greg Derr/The Patriot Ledger via AP, Pool
At the time, Brian Walshe and their three children were living in Massachusetts while he was awaiting sentencing in a federal fraud case after pleading guilty to a scheme to sell counterfeit Andy Warhol paintings.
Ahead of the murder trial, Brian Walshe admitted to lying to police amid her disappearance and improperly disposing of her body. His defense said during opening statements that he panicked after finding her dead in bed, calling her death sudden and unexplained.
Jurors heard testimony, including from a D.C. man with whom Ana Walshe was having an affair, that the mother of three was upset about being away from her children so much, and that there was stress in the marriage. The defense maintained that the couple were happy.
