Top News

The story of Ana Walshe — the woman whose 2023 disappearance sparked a high-stakes murder trial — has captured global attention. Here’s a comprehensive look at who she was, what happened to her, and how her case unfolded.

Who Was Ana Walshe?

Ana Walshe was born in Belgrade, Serbia, in 1983 (maiden name: Ana Ljubičić). She grew up in Belgrade where she completed her schooling and earned a degree in French language and literature from the University of Belgrade.

In 2005, Ana emigrated to the United States, eventually becoming a dual citizen. She spent several years working in the hospitality industry — including at prestigious venues — before making a career shift to real estate.

By early 2022, she had been hired as a regional general manager at a major real estate firm, splitting her time between her home in Massachusetts and a residence in Washington, D.C., where her job demanded frequent travel.

In 2016, she married Brian Walshe, and the couple had three young sons. At the time of her disappearance, their children were toddlers — a reality that added intense emotional weight to the case.

The Disappearance: What Happened on January 1, 2023

On New Year’s Eve 2022, Ana and Brian Walshe were reportedly at home with a friend. In the early hours of January 1, 2023, Ana was last seen alive. She made some phone calls to family and close friends around 4 a.m., which marked the final confirmed contact with her.

Brian later told police that Ana had flown from Boston’s Logan Airport to Washington, D.C., that morning for a supposed work emergency. But when investigators checked flight records, ride-share logs, and her financial or phone activity, they found no trace of her departure — no flight, no ride, no transaction anywhere.

On January 4, 2023, Ana was officially reported missing by her employer. That same day, Brian also filed a missing-person report, but authorities quickly grew suspicious due to inconsistencies in his story and the lack of evidence that Ana ever left Massachusetts.

Investigation, Charges, and Trial

In the days and weeks following her disappearance, investigators uncovered troubling evidence that painted a grim picture.

They discovered that starting on January 1, Brian had made multiple disturbing online searches on his digital devices. The search history included queries like “best ways to dispose of a body,” “how long before a body starts to smell,” and “hacksaw best tool to dismember.”

Searches also reportedly included questions such as “can you be charged with murder without a body,” and “how long until missing to be declared dead,” which prosecutors argue show premeditation.

Surveillance footage revealed a man resembling Brian reportedly dumping heavy trash bags in multiple dumpsters in the days after the disappearance. As per reports, when police searched a trash-processing facility near Brian’s mother’s home, they recovered bags containing alarming items: a hatchet, a hacksaw, towels, cleaning supplies, and even a suit often used for cleanup. Among items found were a Prada purse, a pair of boots similar to those Ana was last seen wearing, and her COVID-19 vaccination card. Investigators say DNA on several of those items matched Ana’s.

Despite the extensive investigation, Ana’s body has never been recovered. Nonetheless, prosecutors charged Brian with first-degree murder, along with charges to misleading investigators and improper disposal of a human body.