Missing Mass. woman’s husband arrested for allegedly misleading investigators as police find bloody knife

COHASSET, Mass. (TCD) -- A husband was arrested for reportedly misleading police during an investigation into his wife’s disappearance.

Thirty-nine-year-old Ana Walshe was last seen "shortly after midnight" on Jan. 1. In a press conference, Cohasset Police Chief William Quigley said Walshe’s husband and her employer reported her missing Wednesday, Jan. 4. She reportedly took a rideshare from her home in Cohasset to Logan Airport in Boston to get on a flight to Washington, D.C., where she worked.

Quigley, however, said investigators could not confirm whether she actually got into the car. She reportedly never boarded a flight to D.C. either.

Cohasset Police and Massachusetts State Police searched wooded areas, a pool, and a stream near her home, but they did not find anything. A fire reportedly broke out at Walshe’s former home, but investigators said the blaze was accidental.

Quigley initially said Ana’s husband, Brian Walshe, was cooperating with the investigation. That changed over the weekend when he was arrested and charged with misleading a police investigation. He appeared in Quincy District Court on Monday, Jan. 9, and pleaded not guilty, according to WWLP-TV.

WWLP reports Brian Walshe is supposed to be on house arrest as he awaits sentencing in a federal case. He reportedly visited several stores on Jan. 2, including Home Depot, where he allegedly bought $450 worth of mops, cloths, tape, and other items. Walshe reportedly must inform police when he leaves the house, but he failed to do so except for when he allegedly took one of his kids to get ice cream.

Police searched the Walshes' home and reportedly found a bloody knife as well as blood evidence in the basement. WWLP reports Walshe’s bond is set at $500,000 cash or $500 million surety.

According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Massachusetts, in April 2021, Brian Walshe pleaded guilty to wire fraud, interstate transportation for a scheme to defraud, possession of converted goods, and unlawful monetary transaction after he reportedly advertised two authentic Andy Warhol paintings on eBay and found someone to buy them. The artwork reportedly ended up being fake and he took a long time to give the buyer their money back.

Walshe faces a maximum of 50 years in prison for the federal charges.

MORE:

• Cohasset Police Seeking Missing 39-Year-Old Woman, Last Seen Early New Year’s Day - Cohasset Police Department
• Cohasset Police 1-6-2023 News Conference - Cohasset Police Department
• Husband arrested for misleading investigation - Norfolk County District Attorney's Office
• Missing Massachusetts woman, Ana Walshe’s husband arraigned for misleading investigation - WWLP
• Lynn Man Pleads Guilty in Connection with Missing Warhol Paintings, 4/1/2021 - U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Massachusetts
• Husband of missing woman in court - WCVB-TV