Going West: True Crime

Episode 568 – Ana Walshe
Released: December 30, 2025
Hosts: Daphne Woolsoncroft (“Sam”) and Heath Merryman

Overview

This episode revisits the haunting disappearance and murder of Ana Walshe, a Massachusetts wife, mother, and real estate executive who vanished on New Year’s Day 2023. Originally covered right after it broke, this case returns to Going West with major updates following the recent trial of her husband, Brian Walshe—including never-before-heard details about the investigation, his criminal history, chilling Google searches, and the motives (revenge, money, infidelity) that drove this brutal crime.

Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. Ana Walshe’s Background

• Origin: Born in 1983 in Belgrade, Serbia (then Yugoslavia). Studied French and Hospitality, later moved to the U.S. for her career.
• Career: Rose quickly in hospitality; later became co-head of property management at Tishman Speyer, overseeing high-profile NYC properties.
• Family Life: Married to Brian Walshe in 2015, had three sons, maintained a demanding job that required frequent travel between Massachusetts and Washington, D.C.

2. Brian Walshe: A Pattern of Deceit

• Background: Older than Ana by nearly a decade, projected himself as a wealthy businessman with mysterious income sources.
• Financial Crimes: Uncovered history of fraud, false claims about his wealth, and a significant 2018 wire fraud charge for selling forged Andy Warhol paintings ([10:31]–[22:34]).
  • Quote, Heath [11:39]: “He even once took friends out to dinner in Chicago and treated them to a $25,000 bottle of wine.”
  • Multiple identities; stole art from friends, sold counterfeit pieces, and was arrested after fraudulently pocketing over a quarter-million dollars ([22:34]).
• Domestic Trouble: In 2014, Ana accused Brian of threatening to kill her; she did not pursue charges ([12:14]).

3. Final Months: Marriage in Crisis

• Impact of Legal Issues: Brian’s house arrest for fraud meant Ana had to work remotely and travel; marriage suffered, and Ana became the family’s sole breadwinner ([24:04]).
• Affair: Ana began a relationship with William, the realtor who sold her her D.C. townhouse, who was sympathetic to her situation ([24:31]).
  • She spent Thanksgiving and Christmas Eve with William, missing crucial holidays with her family—a major point of contention.

4. The Disappearance: New Year’s Day 2023

• Last Seen: Ana and Brian hosted a friend for dinner on Dec 31. According to Brian, Ana left abruptly at dawn on Jan 1 for a work emergency in D.C. ([27:41]).
• Suspicious Events:
  • No work emergency existed; Ana was not expected at work until Jan 3.
  • Brian’s story immediately seemed suspect; he claimed to lose his phone, used his son’s device instead, and was caught on surveillance dumping large trash bags ([28:36]; [30:02]).
  • Memorable Quote, Sam [28:23]: “Really weird that so early in the morning, around 6am on a federal holiday, you’re getting a call from work to go in when you are not scheduled to go back for two more days.”

5. Investigation and Evidence

• Garbage Dumps: Brian was seen on surveillance disposing of multiple bags at various locations ([37:31]).
• Purchases: Within days, he bought hundreds of cleaning rags, washcloths, a hazmat suit, rugs, mops, tarps, goggles, a hatchet, and 13 bottles of hydrogen peroxide—items indicative of a violent cleanup ([37:31]–[39:53]).
  • Heath [39:53]: “How, like, it’s just such a weird… you’re purchasing so many things, so many cleaning supplies, rugs, cloths, towels, buckets…”
• False Report: Brian waited days to report Ana missing, then told her office she had abruptly left for D.C. which employees immediately debunked ([41:05]).

6. Crucial Forensic Discoveries

• Car Evidence: Police noted the family Volvo’s seats were flattened, with plastic lining inside (later removed and the car vacuumed) ([43:41]).
• Recovered Items: From a dumpster, police retrieved a hacksaw, bloody towels/carpet, Ana’s necklace, boots, purse, and her COVID vaccination card ([45:51]).

7. The Google Searches

• Key Segment [49:03–52:28]:
  • On and around the day of Ana’s disappearance, Brian made a barrage of incriminating Google searches:
    • “How long before a body starts to smell?”
    • “Is a hacksaw the best tool to dismember a body?”
    • “Can you be charged with murder without a body?”
    • “How to clean blood from wooden floor.”
    • “10 ways to dispose of a dead body if you really need to.”
    • “How to dispose of a 115 lb body?” (Ana’s exact weight)
  • Heath [50:51]: “Jesus. It’s like this guy is looking up the dummy’s guide to disposing of a body.”
  • These searches came from his son’s iPad and phone, as Brian attempted to mask his digital footprint ([53:02]).

8. The Motive

• Revenge: Brian discovered Ana’s affair via private investigator and online searching.
• Money: A $2.7 million life insurance payout awaited him if Ana was dead.
  • Prosecutors believed both played a role ([48:55]).

9. Trial and Sentencing

• Charges: Brian was charged with murder, improper conveyance of a body, and misleading police.
• Brian’s Defense: He claimed Ana died in her sleep and he “panicked,” disposing of her body—dismissed as absurd by hosts and prosecutors ([48:17]).
  • Heath [48:17]: “Yeah, because that’s a normal thing to do… usually we just call the police… but no, he’s got to dispose of her body even though apparently he didn’t do anything wrong.”
• Outcome: Brian was found guilty and sentenced on December 15, 2025:
  • Life in prison without parole for murder
  • Additional years for related charges ([58:57])

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Brian’s Father’s Will [15:34]:
  • Heath: “I hereby bequeath to Brian R. Walsh my loser son.”
  • Sam: “No, he didn’t say that. He said… ‘my best wishes, but nothing else from my estate.’”
• Sam [45:51]: “Disposing of all of that, especially with the hacksaw… continues to paint the picture that you dismembered, you murdered and dismembered her.”
• Heath [58:57]: (Judge’s sentencing) “Mr. Walsh, you will live with the guilt and burden of Anna Walsh’s death for the rest of your life.”
• Sam [61:32]: “So we know. So just say it. So just admit to it and take responsibility. But… that's just not who Brian Walsh is.”

Important Segment Timestamps

• [04:12] – Ana’s background, marriage to Brian
• [10:31] – Brian's sketchy financial claims and first fraud
• [24:31] – Ana’s affair with William
• [28:23] – Disappearance details and suspicious timeline
• [37:31] – Brian’s purchases and disposal of evidence
• [39:53] – Investigation, police suspicions, and delayed missing person report
• [45:51] – Forensic findings in dumped bags
• [49:03] – Brian’s incriminating Google searches
• [58:57] – Judge’s sentencing remarks

Aftermath

• Ana’s body has never been recovered.
• Custody of their children remains unconfirmed as of the episode, though rumors point to either Brian's mother, Ana’s sister, or state custody.
• Both hosts lament Brian’s lack of remorse, his arrogance, and his refusal to fully acknowledge his actions.

Host Reflections

• Daphne (“Sam”) and Heath repeatedly express frustration at Brian’s coldness, his long history of lies, and his lack of final accountability to Ana’s loved ones.
• Heath [61:11]: “Of course he’s a coward. Of course he’s not going to tell her loved ones and her friends about what he did.”

Summary

This deeply detailed and updated episode meticulously exposes not only the sickening details of Ana Walshe’s demise, but the warped character of Brian Walshe—whose desperation, jealousy, and greed ultimately led him to murder and an elaborate coverup, undone by brazen arrogance and digital footprints. The hosts’ thorough research, courtroom insights, and focus on Ana’s life as much as her death cast a respectful but unflinching light on one of the decade’s most chilling true crime stories.