18 January 2023 , 14:12
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A husband who allegedly misled police over the whereabouts of a missing mum has been charged with her murder.
Brian Walshe, 46, from Massachusetts, US, has been charged with 39-year-old Ana Walshe's murder and the improper transport of a body, Norfolk District Attorney's Office confirmed.
Ana, a mum-of-three, was reported missing on Wednesday, January 4, by her employer in Washington after she was last seen on New Year's Day, leaving her home in Cohasset.
In a statement police said: "Norfolk District Attorney Michael Morrissey [announced] the issuance of a murder warrant in the death of Ana Walshe, 39, missing from Cohasset since on or about New Year’s Day.
"The warrant was issued from Quincy District Court today January 17, 2023; the arraignment may be as soon as 9 a.m. tomorrow dependent on defense attorney availability."
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Ana was last seen on New Year's Day (Facebook)Brian Walshe was captured on CCTV buying $450 (£370) worth of cleaning supplies at a home improvement store the day after his wife was last seen, according to a prosecutor.
He did not tell police he had been to the home improvement store, where he bought mops, buckets, tarps, tape and other items on January 2.
Attorney Beland said Brian misled investigators so he could either buy more time or dispose of evidence.
Brian Walshe has been charged for allegedly misleading the police during the search for his missing wife Ana Walshe (Greg Derr/AP/REX/Shutterstock)Walshe was revealed to have searched the internet asking "how to dispose of a 115-pound woman's body".
Ana was described as being 5ft 2ins and and about 115lbs in plea to the public.
In 2014 her then boyfriend Brian threatened to kill her and her friend during a seven minute phone call.
The police report, which states the incident happened on August 2, 2014, says: "C-1 reports that on listed date and time s-1 made a statement over the telephone that he was going to kill c-1 and her friend. S-1 now lives in Boston, Massachusetts."
He has allegedly lied about his whereabouts after his wife's disappearance (Facebook)Metropolitan Police Department revealed the C-1 refers to Ana Knipp, which was her maiden name, and S-1 is in reference to Brian Walshe.
Ana did not follow up the complaint as she "refused to cooperate in the prosecution", according to police.
Ana's friends Natasha Sky and Pamela Bardhi believe there is now only a "one in a million chance" she's alive.
Mum appeared 'completely normal' moments before vanishing while walking dog
Sky admitted: "One in a million chance. "That's what I would answer, and not because… Pamela and I know her personally, how Ana is driven and how she's independent.
"She would find a way to reach out to people if something would happen to her."