Friends Testify About Ana Walshe’s Final Hours as Prosecutors Rest in Husband’s Murder Trial

Gem Mutlu and Alissa Kirby gave emotional testimony about their last interactions with Ana Walshe as prosecutors rested their case Wednesday in the murder trial of her husband, Brian Walshe.

Mutlu described a warm New Year’s Eve at the Walshe home in Massachusetts on Dec. 31, 2022, saying Ana ran out into the cold to greet him before he had even parked. The two embraced, sat together at the kitchen counter while Brian prepared food and poured drinks, and Mutlu left the house at about 1:30 a.m. on Jan. 1, 2023.

Gem Mutlu testifies Wednesday during Brian Walshe's murder trial, where he described his final interactions with Ana Walshe shortly before her death. - Mark Stockwell/The Boston Herald/AP

On the morning of Jan. 4, 2023, Mutlu said he was walking on the beach when Brian called to ask whether he had heard from Ana. According to Mutlu, Brian’s tone did not sound panicked and he told Mutlu Ana had been missing since she left early on Jan. 1 to return to Washington, D.C., for what he described as a work emergency. Mutlu told jurors he was incredulous that a work emergency would take place on New Year’s Eve and said he had not observed any argument between the couple that night.

“I was incredulous,” Mutlu testified. “I said, ‘What work emergency could there have been on New Year’s Eve?’”

Mutlu — who first met Ana in 2020 and later employed her as director of operations at his realty group — said Ana frequently used her phone that night and that he took a photo with her and her eldest son, who briefly joined them. Mutlu believes Ana sent that photo to William Fastow, a mutual acquaintance in Washington, D.C.; Mutlu said he did not know Ana and Fastow were involved romantically.

A snapshot of Alissa Kirby, right, a friend of Ana Walshe, at left, is shown in court. - Mark Stockwell/The Boston Herald/AP

Friend Describes 'Breaking Point'

Alissa Kirby, another close friend, testified that she and Ana spent the evening of Dec. 29, 2022, out for drinks and dancing. Kirby said Ana was unusually upset and described being at a “breaking point” in her marriage. Kirby told jurors Ana had spoken about long-standing strain in the relationship and said she wanted Brian to take responsibility for his actions — even if that meant jail time — so the family could move forward. Part of that strain, Kirby said, was Brian’s federal fraud case related to forged Andy Warhol artwork; he had pleaded guilty to charges connected with that case and sentencing remained unresolved.

Kirby said she and Ana exchanged New Year’s wishes just after midnight on Jan. 1. On Jan. 3, Brian texted Kirby asking whether she had heard from Ana. After a Jan. 4 follow-up from Kirby, Brian told her Ana had still not been located and that colleagues were searching for her — a moment that made Kirby fear something was seriously wrong. Kirby was the prosecution’s final witness.

Alissa Kirby wipes away tears as she testifies during her testimony. - Mark Stockwell/The Boston Herald/AP

Case Status And Defense Preview

Prosecutors called roughly 50 witnesses across eight days before resting their case. They allege Brian Walshe killed his wife on or around Jan. 1, 2023. Walshe has pleaded guilty to illegally disposing of Ana’s body and to misleading police but has denied murdering her, saying he found her dead in their bed hours after Mutlu left.

Defense attorney Larry Tipton told jurors in opening statements the defense will present evidence about how Brian discovered his wife’s death and will call medical experts to discuss “sudden, unexplained deaths” in apparently healthy people. The defense case was expected to begin Thursday; it is unclear whether Brian Walshe will testify.