Dateline: True Crime Weekly – Episode Summary

Episode Title: Brian Walshe love triangle. Yale professor's search for justice. Plus, juror misconduct.
Host: Andrea Canning, NBC News
Date: December 11, 2025

Main Theme & Purpose

This episode covers three gripping crime stories making headlines:

1. The Massachusetts murder trial of Brian Walshe, with a pivot around a suspected love triangle.
2. The remarkable quest of Yale professor Alison Galvani to solve her mother’s 40-year-old murder—culminating in the arrest of her own father.
3. The legal complexities of juror misconduct, highlighted by a recent claim in the Dan Serafini case.

1. Massachusetts Murder Trial: The Brian Walshe Love Triangle

Key Discussion Points

• Trial Overview and Charges:
  Brian Walshe, a known art swindler, is on trial for the murder of his wife, Ana Walshe. He has already pled guilty to illegal disposal of Ana’s body and misleading police but denies murder.

• Ana’s Affair Revealed (03:15–04:47):
  William Fasto, Ana’s romantic partner, took the stand. He was nervous but confident, providing insight into his relationship with Ana.
  Quote:

  • William Fasto: “We quickly became close friends, then confidants, and before long, we started an intimate relationship.” (04:47)

• Origin of the Affair:
  Ana, working weekdays in DC, met Fasto through real estate dealings. Her husband Brian was under house arrest in Massachusetts.

  • Ana and Fasto “were talking about what might happen if they merged their families” but Ana was nervous about telling Brian (05:11–05:38).

• Events Surrounding Ana’s Disappearance (05:51–06:39):
  Fasto and Ana had plans; after she went missing, Brian called Fasto twice, leaving a calm voicemail asking about Ana’s whereabouts.

  • Fasto admits, “I was in an intimate relationship with his wife...I was concerned that maybe he had found out and was calling to confront me.” (06:13)
  • Brian’s voicemail played in court appeared strangely calm: “Hope all is going well. Ana hasn’t been in touch for a few days, so just wondering if you’ve spoken to her...just, you know, calling everyone.” (06:39; paraphrased)

• Prosecution's Evidence (08:02–08:51):

  • Surveillance footage showed Brian purchasing large quantities of cleaning supplies the day Ana died.
    • “He looks like some normal dad stocking up for some do it yourself project...his wife was dead at home while he was rolling his shopping cart up and down the aisles.” – Dorothy Newell (08:02)
  • Jury saw physical evidence: Ana’s blood on items found in multiple dumpsters (slippers, coveralls, hacksaw, hatchet).

• Defense Strategy (07:17–09:42):

  • The defense questioned whether Brian knew about the affair and whether the blood evidence could have been contaminated.
  • No clear theory presented yet about the actual murder, and speculation about whether Brian will testify.
  • “How are they going to explain how a man sees the woman he loves dead and instead of calling 911 decides to get rid of her body and lie to the police? Only one person can explain that, and it’s Brian Walsh himself.” – Dorothy Newell (09:22)

2. Cold Case Breakthrough: Yale Epidemiologist’s Search for Justice

Key Discussion Points

• Case Background (11:31–13:32):

  • Alison Galvani, a Yale professor, has pursued justice for her mother Nancy’s 1982 murder for 15 years.
  • Nancy (36), a social worker, was killed after leaving a party to pick up Alison from her estranged husband Patrick’s house. Her body was found in a sleeping bag, weighed down in the water.

• Initial Investigation and Missed Justice (13:53–15:56):

  • Patrick was initially arrested after police found Nancy’s car in his garage but claimed innocence, passed a lie detector, and charges were dropped for lack of evidence.
  • Nancy had a restraining order against Patrick due to a prior attack.
    • “He was gentle, he would never hurt a fly,” claimed Patrick’s father, but records showed otherwise (14:59).
    • Alison: “I witnessed it, and I went out and begged my dad to stop.” (15:16 paraphrased)

• Alison’s Investigative Role (16:01–17:40):

  • She lived with Patrick, was deeply attached, but as an adult recognized inconsistencies in his account. Encouraged by her husband, she re-examined the facts.
    • “My father was really all I had...I was anxious basically all the time that he would suddenly die as well. So I was very attached to him.” – Alison Galvani (16:01)
  • Used her research skills to interview witnesses, file a wrongful death suit, and confront her father.
  • In 2010, captured a call where Patrick said, “I would have [killed Nancy], but someone beat me to it.” (17:18 paraphrased)
  • This recording aligned with recent findings and led to Patrick’s arrest.

• Current Status (17:53–18:57):

  • San Mateo DA credits Alison’s efforts for the case’s reopening and new charges.
  • Alison released a statement expressing gratitude and her hope to “shed light even on the darkest of things.”
  • Patrick’s attorneys maintain his innocence; arraignment scheduled for January.

3. Dateline Roundup

Gilgo Beach Case Update (20:53–22:30):

• Summary:

  • New developments unrelated to Rex Heuermann, the main suspect in a series of killings.
  • Recent arrest of Andrew Dykes for the 1997 murder of Tanya Denise Jackson (identified through her “Peaches” tattoo) and her daughter. Dykes is the child’s father.
    • “A judge asked him if he wanted to stay in Florida and contest the charges there or go back to New York and face the courts.” (21:51)

• Rex Heuermann:

  • Remains in custody, no trial date set.

Luigi Mangione Case (22:30–23:53):

• Summary:
  • Mangione, accused of killing Brian Thompson (UnitedHealthcare CEO), in court for evidentiary hearings.
  • Police officer Stephen Fox recounts Mangione’s comments outside court and his own reaction to being shackled:
    • “All of these people here for a mass murderer – wild.” (23:23)
    • [On shuffling in shackles] “It’s okay. I’m going to have to get used to it.” (23:23)

4. Juror Misconduct Explained (23:58–28:55)

Key Discussion Points

• Context: Dan Serafini Appeal (23:58–25:33):

  • Former baseball pitcher Dan Serafini was convicted of murder. His appeal claims a juror manipulated evidence by screenshotting and comparing surveillance images using a computer “snipping tool.” This conduct emerged only after a juror gave a media interview post-trial.
    • Legal analyst Danny Savalos: “While this is an interesting theory...the key question is whether the juror is just looking at the evidence from a different angle or are they manipulating it?” (25:33)

• Broader Explanation of Juror Conduct (25:33–27:57):

  • Jurors must not “go outside the evidence”—using the internet, conducting outside research, or discussing the case externally is forbidden.
    • “If you’re using the Internet on any level, that means by definition you’re going into the outside world.” – Danny Savalos (26:57)
    • Anecdote: Jurors in CA bought a rifle to conduct their own tests (verboten behavior).

• Human Factor and Legal System (28:04–28:47):

  • Juror curiosity is natural, but the system requires strict boundaries.
    • “Honestly, during a jury trial, a lot of the judge’s job is managing juror hijinks...” – Danny Savalos (28:47)
  • The court will hear further arguments on the Serafini appeal later in the month.

Notable Quotes & Moments with Attribution

• Dorothy Newell:
  • “He [Brian Walshe] looks like some normal dad stocking up for some do it yourself project. At one point, you can even see one of his kids following him by the checkout. He just seemed so detached from what his reality was.” (08:02)
• William Fasto:
  • “I had always said to Ana that she needed to figure out how she wanted things to be with Brian before, you know, we could make any sort of commitments or decisions.” (05:38)
• Alison Galvani:
  • “My father was really all I had...I was anxious basically all the time that he would suddenly die as well. So I was very attached to him.” (16:01)
• Nate Eaton:
  • “[Nancy] had gone to court with allegations of abuse, correct? Yeah, Just two months before she was killed. She was granted a temporary restraining order after Patrick allegedly tried to suffocate her with a pillow...” (15:03)
• Danny Savalos on jurors:
  • “You’re taking a bunch of 12 people who are total strangers from a very broad cross section of the community. They don’t always get along and they don’t always behave...you hear the jurors do the craziest things.” (28:47)

Timestamps for Key Segments

• 01:26 – Brian Walshe murder trial: affair revealed and prosecution evidence
• 03:36 – Lover William Fasto’s testimony begins
• 04:47 – Details of Ana’s affair
• 05:51 – Events leading up to Ana’s disappearance
• 08:02 – Brian at Lowe’s, forensic evidence presented
• 11:31 – Introduction to Alison Galvani’s cold case story
• 13:06 – Nancy and Patrick’s relationship and the murder
• 15:03 – Allegations of prior abuse
• 17:18 – 2010 confrontation and phone recording
• 20:53 – Gilgo Beach murders update
• 22:30 – Luigi Mangione’s court hearing
• 23:58 – Dan Serafini juror misconduct case
• 25:33 – Legal analysis on juror behavior
• 28:47 – Human side of jury deliberations

Tone & Style

Andrea Canning leads with a professional, investigative tone, well-balanced between empathy for victims and factual, methodical reporting. Guests offer expert analysis and on-the-ground insights, making the episode suitable for true crime enthusiasts and anyone interested in the U.S. legal system.

For Further Listening:

• Next episode teaser: The murder of an Iowa farmer and a “digital smoking gun.”
• New podcast series plug: “Something about Carrie” (Keith Morrison).

Note: All timestamps refer to moments in the episode’s main content. Advertisements, intros/outros, and promotions have been omitted from this summary for clarity.