KENTON, Ohio — Jurors heard from Charles Castle in his own words for the first time on Thursday. They heard portions of two interviews conducted with Castle by Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation Special Agent Jason Snyder.

During that interview, Castle consented to having his minivan, van and phone searched. He also provided DNA samples. When questioned about the little girl, he said she did not know where she was.

During the second interview, when shown what Snyder described as surveillance video showing Castle and the little girl getting into his van, Castle appeared to have trouble seeing the video, indicating it was obstructed by trees. During both of these interviews, the little girl was still missing.

Earlier in the day, jurors heard from both a doctor who treated the little girl and the social worker who conducted the forensic interview.

Dr. Kirstin Crichton, a child abuse pediatrician at Nationwide Children’s Hospital, testified about seeing the effects of what appeared to be strangulation from red ligature marks on the neck to petechiae, which appear as tiny red freckles on the face and neck. Those dots can be an indication of choking or strangulation, where oxygen is cut off and tiny capillaries or blood vessels burst under the skin.

Dr. Crichton also shared that the MRI showed she had suffered brain damage. She said the little girl has faced challenges with vision, walking and…