While we frequently write about safety for real estate professionals, the danger doesn’t always come from late-night showings and nefarious strangers. As Rachael Hite wrote in 2023, just after the disappearance of Ana Walshe:
It’s dangerous to be a woman in America. Statistically speaking, not only do women have to worry about going out into their communities to work, gather groceries, just walk to their cars or take a run, but they also need to worry about who they share their bed with. The man that you love could very well be the person who hurts you the most.
That frightening fact is at the heart of the murder trial of Brian Walshe, who is accused of murdering his wife, real estate executive Ana Walshe.
Whether you’ve been following the twists and turns of the case for the past two years or are just beginning to tune into the trial, here’s all of the essential context you need to know as the next phase of this mystery unfolds.
Frequently asked questions about the Brian Walshe murder trial
Get caught up on the facts around Ana Walshe’s disappearance and the trial of her husband, Brian Walshe.
Who is Ana Walshe?
Ana Walshe was a 39-year-old mother of three children and a Serbian-American real estate executive who worked as the regional general manager of the Washington, D.C., office of Tishman Speyer, a commercial real estate investment firm. She was married to Brian Walshe.
When was Ana Walshe last seen, and what were the circumstances surrounding that day?
Walshe went missing on Jan. 1, 2023, from her home in Cohasset, Massachusetts, following a small New Year’s Eve gathering with Brian and a friend.
Prosecutors say that after trying to call family members and friends in Serbia shortly after midnight, Ana was seen by a family member around 4 a.m. Brian told the police that Ana left early for a flight to Washington, D.C., due to a work emergency.
When was she reported missing, and by whom?
Her employer reported her missing on Jan. 4 after she didn’t show up to the office for several days.
What do investigators say happened in the days immediately following her disappearance?
According to previous Inman reporting:
Prosecutors previously revealed that [Brian] Walshe had been captured in surveillance footage at a Home Depot on Jan. 2 purchasing $450 worth of cleaning supplies, including mops, a tarp and a bucket. Walshe wore a surgical mask and gloves and paid in cash, prosecutors said.
When they searched [Brian] Walshe’s home, they found a bloodied knife in the basement. At a trash processing facility near his mother’s home, they found a hacksaw and a rug with blood on it.
What charges is Brian Walshe facing in connection with Ana’s disappearance?
Brian was indicted in March 2023 on three counts: first-degree murder, misleading a police investigation/obstruction of justice and improper conveyance of a human body. As part of a plea deal, he pled guilty to the lesser charges on Nov. 18, 2025. He continues to deny the murder charge, which is now headed for trial.
What role do alleged Google searches play in the case?
Beginning at 4:55 a.m., Brian is alleged to have made the following searches on his son’s iPad:
- 4:55 a.m.: “How long before a body starts to smell”
- 4:58 a.m.: “How to stop a body from decomposing”
- 5:20 a.m.: “How to embalm a body”
- 5:47 a.m.: “10 ways to dispose of a dead body if you really need to”
- 6:25 a.m.: “How long for someone to be missing to inherit”
- 6:34 a.m.: “Can you throw away body parts”
- 9:29 a.m.: “What does formaldehyde do”
- 9:34 a.m.: “How long does DNA last”
- 9:59 a.m.: “Can identification be made on partial remains”
- 11:34 a.m.: “Dismemberment and the best ways to dispose of a body”
- 11:44 a.m.: “How to clean blood from wooden floor”
- 11:56 a.m.: “Luminol to detect blood”
- 12:45 p.m.: “Hacksaw best tool to dismember”
- 1:08 p.m.: “What happens when you put body parts in ammonia”
- 1:10 p.m.: “Can you be charged with murder without a body”
- 1:14 p.m.: “Can you identify a body with broken teeth”
- 1:21 p.m.: “Is it better to throw crime scene clothes away or wash them”
Has Ana’s body been found?
No, at the time of this writing, Ana’s body has never been found.
What has Brian Walshe’s defense said in response to the allegations?
Brian Walshe’s defense has said that because there is no body, the case is circumstantial. In addition, they argue that the prosecution has overstated a financial motive in the case, despite the fact that Ana had $2.7 million in life insurance coverage that named Brian as the sole beneficiary, in addition to a life insurance policy through her employer.
At the time of Ana’s disappearance, Brian Walshe was awaiting sentencing for an art fraud case involving the sale of fake paintings falsely attributed to Andy Warhol. He has since been sentenced to more than three years in prison and $475,000 in restitution.
When and where is the trial scheduled to begin?
The trial began on Dec. 1, 2025, in Norfolk Superior Court in Dedham, Massachusetts. Jury selection is now complete.
In early October, Brian’s attorneys sought a change of venue, saying he “cannot obtain a fair and impartial trial within Norfolk County” due to pretrial publicity and media coverage.
Where can readers follow trial updates and case developments?
Inman will continue to watch the trial and bring you additional facts as they unfold.
This article was last updated on Dec. 10, 2025.
