Forensic analyst: Ana Walshe’s DNA found on hacksaw, hatchet and rug at Brian Walshe trial
Massachusetts State Police DNA supervisor Saman Saleem testified that single-source female DNA matching Ana Walshe was found on a hacksaw blade and handle, a hatchet head and handle, pieces of a bloody rug, Tyvek suit fragments, slippers and "unknown tissue" recovered from trash and a Swampscott dumpster — the hacksaw blade match was described as "at least 39 million times more likely" to be Ana’s than an unrelated person’s. Prosecutors have paired that forensic evidence with surveillance and receipts showing purchases of rugs, towels, tools and cleaning supplies, internet-search and interview recordings, and alleged motive theories (an affair and a $2.7 million life-insurance policy/avoiding prison); the defense says Brian Walshe found his wife dead in bed, he did not testify, he has pleaded guilty to misleading police and willfully conveying a human body, and closing arguments are scheduled.
📌 Key Facts
- Prosecutors say Ana Walshe held a $2.7 million life-insurance policy naming Brian Walshe as sole beneficiary.
- Massachusetts State Police DNA supervisor Saman Saleem testified single-source female DNA matching Ana was found on a hacksaw (blade and handle), a hatchet (head and handle), pieces of a Tyvek suit, slippers, rug segments and 'unknown tissue' recovered from a dumpster; the hacksaw blade profile was described as 'at least 39 million times more likely' to be Ana’s than an unrelated person’s, though Saleem acknowledged on cross-examination that DNA transfer between items is possible if they were packed together.
- Prosecutors showed and described items recovered from trash/dumpsters — including a hatchet, hacksaw, towels, bloody rug pieces, Tyvek suit pieces, cleaning agents, a Prada purse, boots matching those Ana was last seen wearing, and Ana’s COVID-19 vaccination card — some recovered near Brian Walshe’s mother’s home.
- TJX surveillance and receipts introduced at trial showed Brian Walshe bought rugs, towels and bathmats on Jan. 2 and Jan. 4 using store credits traced to returns Ana had made in December in Baltimore and Washington, D.C.
- Prosecutors played over an hour of Brian Walshe’s police interview recordings; in them he said, 'I would never do anything to my wife' and denied knowing of any affair, while the defense has argued he found Ana dead in bed and did not know about an affair.
- Prosecutors outlined two alleged motives: anger over Ana’s affair with Washington realtor William Fastow and a belief that being the sole caretaker of the children could help Brian avoid federal prison related to an art-fraud case; Fastow testified about the affair, said his last contact with Ana was a New Year’s Eve text, and that he and Ana planned to meet on Jan. 4.
- Digital-forensics and travel evidence presented at trial contradicted aspects of Brian’s account: MSP Trooper Nicholas Guarino detailed Google searches including dismemberment/cleanup queries and searches for Fastow, and JetBlue records indicated Ana flew D.C.–Boston on Dec. 30, was a no-show for a Jan. 3 return flight, and missed other January flights, contradicting Brian’s claim he last saw her on Jan. 1.
- Brian Walshe previously pleaded guilty to misleading police and willfully conveying a human body (separate from the murder charge), was later sentenced in the unrelated art-fraud case to more than three years in prison and $475,000 restitution; the defense rested without calling witnesses, Brian did not testify, and closing arguments were scheduled.
📰 Sources (8)
Closing arguments expected in murder trial of Brian Walshe over wife's disappearance
New information:
- Defense rested Thursday without calling any witnesses; Brian Walshe did not testify.
- Closing arguments are scheduled for Friday.
- Prosecutors highlighted additional circumstantial evidence, including a $2.7 million life-insurance policy naming Brian Walshe as beneficiary.
- Details of friends’ testimony: New Year’s Eve interactions, signs of marital strain, and messages exchanged by Ana with another man.
- Recap of prosecution’s timeline: early Jan. 1 internet searches on dismemberment and odor, same-day purchases of cleaning supplies, Tyvek suit, and tools; delayed missing-person report until Jan. 4.
Ana Walshe's DNA found on hacksaw, hatchet, bloody rug, forensic scientist testifies in husband's trial
New information:
- Massachusetts State Police DNA supervisor Saman Saleem testified that single-source female DNA matching Ana Walshe was found on a hacksaw (blade and handle), a hatchet (head and handle), Tyvek suit pieces, slippers, rug pieces, and 'unknown tissue' recovered from trash.
- The hacksaw blade DNA was 'at least 39 million times more likely' to be Ana’s than an unrelated person’s, according to Saleem.
- Ana’s DNA was also found on a blood-stained rug segment and on 'unknown tissue' from a Swampscott dumpster.
- On cross, Saleem acknowledged the possibility of DNA transfer between items if packed together in a bag.
- TJX loss-prevention manager Michael Roddy presented surveillance and receipts showing Brian Walshe bought rugs, towels and bathmats on Jan. 2 and Jan. 4 using store credits traced to returns Ana made in December 2022 in Baltimore and Washington, D.C.
Testimony at Brian Walshe murder trial details affair his wife was having before she vanished
New information:
- Court played a voicemail from Brian Walshe to William Fastow in which Walshe said Ana hadn’t been in touch for a few days, asked if Fastow had heard from her, and apologized for the call, delivered in an upbeat tone.
- Fastow testified he and Ana Walshe spent Christmas Eve together and planned to meet on Jan. 4 to discuss their future.
- Fastow said the relationship included dinners, bars, time on his sailboat, overnight stays at his home, and a Thanksgiving trip to Ireland.
- Fastow’s last contact with Ana was a New Year’s Eve text; on Jan. 2 his calls to her went straight to voicemail.
- Fastow and Ana discussed telling Brian Walshe about the affair, with Ana insisting he should hear it from her.
Brian Walshe murder trial: Slain wife Ana's lover takes the stand
New information:
- William Fastow, a D.C. realtor and Ana Walshe’s alleged lover, testified they began an intimate relationship before her Jan. 1, 2023 disappearance.
- Fastow said he helped Ana secure a Washington, D.C., townhouse where she set up rooms for her three children, anticipating a move.
- Fastow detailed a Thanksgiving trip to Dublin with Ana and said they spent Christmas Eve together in Washington; Ana later visited Serbia.
- Fastow testified that Ana wanted her husband to hear about the affair directly from her if he ever found out.
- He said Ana told him the children stayed in Cohasset because Brian Walshe’s federal home confinement required him to be their primary caretaker.
- Prosecutors showed jurors a saw and hatchet recovered from a dumpster near Brian Walshe’s mother’s home, along with Ana’s COVID-19 card, clothing, and bloody towels.
- Prosecutors outlined two alleged motives: anger over the affair and a belief that being the sole caretaker would help Brian avoid federal prison.
- Defense denies Brian Walshe knew of the affair, though he referenced Fastow to detectives and allegedly searched him online before Ana’s disappearance.
Brian Walshe told cops his missing wife left for a flight on Jan 1, JetBlue records keeper says otherwise
New information:
- JetBlue records keeper Thomas Menino testified that Ana Walshe’s Dec. 25 flight was refunded, she flew D.C.–Boston on Dec. 30, was a 'no show' for a Jan. 3 return to D.C., and missed four additional January flights previously booked.
- Cohasset Police Officer Gregory Lowrance testified Brian Walshe told him on Jan. 4 that he last saw Ana on Jan. 1 when she left for a Boston-to-Washington flight, a claim contradicted by JetBlue records.
- CBP agent William Foley testified briefly about Ana’s recent air travel in the weeks before she vanished.
- K-9 Sgt. Patrick Reardon testified his search with K-9 Einstein on Jan. 5, 2023 around the Walshe home found nothing notable.
- MSP Trooper Nicholas Guarino’s testimony highlighted additional search history items (e.g., Porsches, diamond jewelry sales, a pornographic video about a cheating wife, and searches for alleged affair partner William Fastow) alongside prior dismemberment/DNA-cleanup queries.
Recordings of Brian Walshe played as prosecutors outline alleged love triangle murder
New information:
- Prosecutors played more than an hour of Walshe’s interview recordings on Monday and plan about 40 additional minutes of excerpts on Tuesday.
- In the recordings, Walshe told police, "I would never do anything to my wife. I wanted to spend the rest of my life with my wife."
- Cohasset Police Sgt. Harrison Schmidt is being further questioned as part of the recordings’ presentation.
- Massachusetts State Trooper Nicholas Guarino, a digital forensics expert, is expected to testify next about alleged Google searches, including the name of the man tied to an alleged affair and disposal of remains.
- A Washington, D.C., realtor alleged to have been involved with Ana Walshe is expected to take the stand Thursday (Fox identifies him by name).
- Defense opening argued Walshe found his wife dead in bed, denied knowing of any affair, and framed the death as potentially sudden and unexplained.
- Prosecutors outlined two motive theories: discovery of an alleged affair and a belief that sole custody of the children could help Walshe avoid prison in a federal art-fraud case.
Brian Walshe defense says he found wife dead in bed, denies uncovering affair as murder trial begins
Brian Walshe goes on trial in death of wife who disappeared more than 2 years ago
New information:
- Prosecutors say Ana Walshe held a $2.7 million life insurance policy naming Brian Walshe as sole beneficiary.
- Detailed items prosecutors say were recovered from trash bags: a hatchet, a hacksaw, towels, a Tyvek suit, cleaning agents, a Prada purse, boots matching those Ana was last seen wearing, and her COVID-19 vaccination card.
- Brian Walshe pleaded guilty last month to misleading police and willfully conveying a human body in violation of state law (separate from the murder charge).
- At the time of Ana’s disappearance, Walshe was awaiting sentencing in an unrelated art-fraud case; he was later sentenced to more than three years in prison and $475,000 restitution.
- Potential witness issues flagged: Massachusetts State Police’s Michael Proctor (linked to the Karen Read case) could affect trial dynamics; he was fired over offensive texts.