A bloody knife was recovered from the Massachusetts home of Ana and Brian Walshe, with the latter being seen buying over $400 worth of cleaning supplies the day after his wife went missing.
Ana Walshe, 37, of Cohasset, has been missing since New Year’s Day between 4 and 6 a.m. Brian Walshe was arrested on Sunday on charges of misleading police during their investigation.
ANA WALSHE DISAPPEARANCE: HUSBAND ARRESTED AFTER MISLEADING INVESTIGATORS
Brian Walshe appeared in court Monday morning for an arraignment hearing. He was charged with one count of intimidation of a witness on Jan. 8, and he has entered a non-guilty plea. His bail is set at $500,000 despite a request for little to no bail from his lawyer.
After obtaining a search warrant, police entered the home and discovered blood in the basement area and a partly-damaged knife with blood, as well, Norfolk Assistant District Attorney Lynn Beland said during the hearing.
Beland said Walshe told police that his wife left the house around 6 a.m. on Jan. 1 to catch an Uber or Lyft to the airport. Ana Walshe works in Washington, D.C.
In the course of the investigation, police were notified around Jan. 4 by Ana Walshe’s employees that she had not shown up for work, Beland said.
“That was the first time she was reported missing,” Beland said. “Up until this point, the defendant had not notified anyone that she was missing.”
However, Brian Walshe’s lawyer, Tracy Minor, argued that her employees contacted police as a result of Brian Walshe calling his wife’s employer and stating he hadn’t heard from her.
“Mr. Walshe has given several interviews, we have consented to searches of his home, we have consented to searches of his property,” Minor said. “He has been incredibly cooperative.”
Investigators discovered she had a plane ticket for Jan. 3, not Jan. 1, which she did not use, Beland said. Police checked and determined no Uber or Lyft picked Ana Walsche up on Jan. 1 and her cellphone pinged in the house on Jan. 1 and 2, when Brian Walsche said she had already left.
Brian Walshe was on house arrest prior to his arrest and was supposed to report his whereabouts if he was to leave the house, Beland said. He told police he went to his mother’s house on Jan. 1, but it took him later than usual because he got lost, as well as Whole Foods and CVS.
However, police found no surveillance footage of him going to either store, as well as any receipts for items purchased, Beland said.
On Jan. 2, Brian Walshe reported that he took his son for ice cream. After checking surveillance, it was discovered he went to Home Depot sometime after 4 p.m. and purchased $450 worth of cleaning supplies, including mops, a bucket, tops, cleaning products, cloths, and various kinds of tape.
“Your Honor, these various statements caused a delay in the investigation to the point that, during the time frame when he didn’t report his wife and gave various statements, that allowed him time to either clean up evidence, dispose of evidence, and causing a delay,” Beland said.
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Minor argued that, since he is not charged with murder and has been in the house under constant police presence, Brian Walshe should be given low or no bail until the federal court makes a decision. However, the judge denied her request.
Ana and Brian Walshe have three children aged two, four, and six. With Brian Walshe on house arrest, it is unclear at this time who has custody of the children.
