Prosecutors in the trial of a Massachusetts man accused of murdering his wife are relying heavily on evidence found online, including alleged Google searches that suggested he was planning to dismember her body.
According to testimony from friends and acquaintances, Brian Walshe's wife Ana had been having an affair with one of them, William Fastow, before she went missing. The two had met in 2022 when Fastow sold Ana a home in Washington D.C., and their relationship quickly became intimate. Despite not keeping their affair secret, they never socialized with Ana's friends.
As the investigation into Ana's disappearance progressed, prosecutors obtained access to devices owned by Walshe that contained incriminating searches related to dismembering bodies and cleaning up blood. These included searches for terms such as "how to clean a bloody floor" and "how to dispose of human remains."
Walshe was arrested earlier this year on charges of misleading police and violating state law, and he has since pleaded guilty to those lesser charges. However, his trial is focused on the murder charge, which carries a much harsher penalty.
One key piece of evidence in the case is surveillance footage that appears to show Walshe disposing of trash bags containing bloody items near their home. Investigators also found a number of items at a nearby dumpster, including a hatchet and a Prada purse belonging to Ana.
During cross-examination, Walshe's defense attorney argued that the prosecution was misrepresenting their case as one of murder when in fact it was a "sudden unexplained death." However, prosecutors have maintained that the evidence suggests otherwise.
As the trial continues, prosecutors will undoubtedly rely on these online searches and other evidence to make their case against Walshe. But some are questioning how much weight should be given to these online activities, particularly when they were allegedly made using devices owned by someone else.
According to testimony from friends and acquaintances, Brian Walshe's wife Ana had been having an affair with one of them, William Fastow, before she went missing. The two had met in 2022 when Fastow sold Ana a home in Washington D.C., and their relationship quickly became intimate. Despite not keeping their affair secret, they never socialized with Ana's friends.
As the investigation into Ana's disappearance progressed, prosecutors obtained access to devices owned by Walshe that contained incriminating searches related to dismembering bodies and cleaning up blood. These included searches for terms such as "how to clean a bloody floor" and "how to dispose of human remains."
Walshe was arrested earlier this year on charges of misleading police and violating state law, and he has since pleaded guilty to those lesser charges. However, his trial is focused on the murder charge, which carries a much harsher penalty.
One key piece of evidence in the case is surveillance footage that appears to show Walshe disposing of trash bags containing bloody items near their home. Investigators also found a number of items at a nearby dumpster, including a hatchet and a Prada purse belonging to Ana.
During cross-examination, Walshe's defense attorney argued that the prosecution was misrepresenting their case as one of murder when in fact it was a "sudden unexplained death." However, prosecutors have maintained that the evidence suggests otherwise.
As the trial continues, prosecutors will undoubtedly rely on these online searches and other evidence to make their case against Walshe. But some are questioning how much weight should be given to these online activities, particularly when they were allegedly made using devices owned by someone else.