Prosecutors in the case against Massachusetts murder suspect Brian Walshe say additional DNA evidence is expected to be submitted to the court within weeks, in connection with the death of the defendant’s wife, Ana Walshe.
ABC 5 reports that items in the case were sent to “an independent laboratory for DNA analysis” and are expected in “approximately two weeks,” according to a motion submitted to the Norfolk Superior Court Tuesday.
Assistant District Attorney Greg Connor did not specify which items were sent for DNA, but court documents indicate that numerous evidence items and blood were found inside the couple’s Cohasset home.
Both the prosecution and defense included the update in a motion to delay a pretrial conference that was initially set for Wednesday. They are continuing to identify and share evidence, and as a result, both sides agreed to reschedule the hearing to November 2.
As CrimeOnline previously reported, Ana was last seen by a family member in her Cohasset apartment between 4 a.m. and 5 a.m. on January 1.
Brian Walshe was initially arrested for hindering a missing person investigation after police said he lied about his whereabouts on New Year’s Day and the day after. He was later charged with first-degree murder.
Walshe’s defense team claims that despite Ana being missing for months, there is no proof that she’s deceased.
Evidence presented at the defendant’s arraignment earlier this year indicated that he made numerous searches on his son’s iPad around the time Ana vanished, including, in part:
- ’10 ways to dismember a body’
- ‘does baking soda make a body smell good?’
- ‘how long is someone missing before you can inherit?
- ‘Can you throw away body parts?’
- ‘Can you be charged with murder without a body?’
- ‘Dismemberment and the best ways to dispose of a body?’
Brian Walshe is also accused of buying $400 worth of cleaning supplies during the days surrounding his wife’s disappearance.
Prosecutors said blood was found in the family home’s basement, along with a bent knife that appeared to have blood on it. Prosecutors also said a hacksaw and a rug with blood on it were found at a transfer station in Peabody, around 45 miles from the Walshe’s residence.
Ana’s cellphone, credit card, and debit cards have not been used since New Year’s Day, and her phone pinged last at her home on January 1.
Police first said she was reported missing on January 4 by the defendant and her Washington, D.C.-based employer. In court, however, it was determined that only Ana’s employer made the initial missing persons report.
“Police were notified around Jan. 4 by her employees in Washington, D.C. that she had not shown up for work on Jan. 4. That was the first time that (police were) notified that she was missing,” Norfolk Assistant District Attorney Lynn Beland previously said.
Brian Walshe told investigators that Ana was supposed to take an Uber or Lyft to Washington, D.C., for work, but prosecutors said that there is no evidence of her ever leaving her home. He also allegedly said there was “an incident” around Christmas and that his wife told him not to call looking for her.
“Brian explained the fact that he had not reported his wife missing was due to an incident he said occurred over Christmas when Ana had been unreachable for about 24 hours. Brian said when he told Ana how concerned he was, she told Brian not to worry and not to call her work looking for her,” the affidavit read.
He remains behind bars without bail. Check back for updates.
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[Featured image: Ana Walshe/Instagram]
