Brian Walshe, Accused of Dismembering His Realtor Wife, Pleads Guilty to 2 Counts — But Murder Trial Still Looms By KC Baker

A Massachusetts man accused of killing and dismembering his wife has pleaded guilty to two of three counts connected to the case — but still faces a murder trial.

Just before jury selection in the trial of Brian Walshe, 50, began on Tuesday, Nov. 18, he pleaded guilty to two lesser counts: willfully conveying a human body in violation of state law and misleading police, CBS News Boston, WCVB, and MassLive.com report.

Prosecutors argued that Walshe’s actions led to the incineration of the remains of his wife, Ana, 39, WCVB reports.

Walshe did not plead guilty to murdering his wife, CBS News Boston reports. He has maintained his innocence since he was first charged.

Jury selection began on Tuesday, Nov. 18.

Ana was last seen alive on New Year’s Eve in 2022, at the Cohasset home she shared with her husband and children.

She was reported missing on Jan. 4 by her boss when she failed to show up to her job in Washington, D.C., police said.

Authorities allege Walshe killed his wife because he believed she was having an affair. They have said they believe he disposed of her body in dumpsters across the state, MassLive.com reports.

His trial was supposed to begin in October, but just before jury selection, Judge Diane Freniere ordered him to Bridgewater State Hospital to have his mental health evaluated after being attacked in prison, Fox News reported.

But last week, Freniere said she had received a comprehensive report from the hospital, which determined that Brian is competent and ready to stand trial, per Fox News.

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On Monday, Nov. 18, the judge, prosecutors and Walshe’s attorneys discussed evidence and testimony jurors will be able to hear during the trial, WCVB reports.

They discussed Walshe’s alleged online searches, which included identifying remains and dismemberment of a body, MassLive.com reports.

He also allegedly searched for “ten ways to dispose of a dead body if you really need to,” WCVB reports.

Prosecutors plan to tell jurors about those searches but also want to introduce evidence including searches for pornography involving a “cheating wife,” MassLive.com reports.

Walshe’s defense lawyers are fighting to prevent jurors from hearing that.