Recap Charles Castle Trial Friday July 15, 2022; Case Could Go to the Jury Monday

The Charles Castle trial appears to be headed to an end after Friday’s day of testimonies.

After calling Kenton Police Department Detective Daniel Kemmere to the stand, Prosecutor Brad Bailey said he doesn’t expect to call any more witnesses, though he has not officially rested.

.Detective Kemmere gave an overview of the investigation, stating that it was a Task Force involving multiple agencies including the Ohio BCI and the FBI.

Defense Attorney Elizabeth Smith asked Detective Kemmere if the investigation ever focused on any other suspects other than Charles Castle.

He stated they conducted several interviews and followed up any leads they had in the case.

Smith in particular asked about a man who lives on County Road 155 just south of town.

The detective said he heard about the man as possibly being friends with Castle as did go to his house the evening of November 11.

He said a search of his house was conducted and nothing pertinent to the investigation was found.

Earlier on Friday…. 

.Lt. Tom Watson, from the Logan County Sheriff’s Office took the stand.

He is an expert in mapping and analyzing cell phones.

He testified that Charles Castle’s cell phone was tracked and was on the move on the night of November 10.

The general direction of travel for Castle’s phone, he said, was south and north.

Oftentimes, said Lt. Watson, the phone was in the range of the County Road 180 location south of Kenton where the girl was found.

On cross, Lt. Watson said the range where the cell phone could have been is wide, and an exact location was not obtained.

He told Prosecutor Bailey though on redirect that the direction was always to the south and back to the north and never to the east and to the west.

Also on Friday July 15….

.Paul Pape, Supervisor Special Agent with the FBI was called to the witness stand Friday in the Charles castle trial.

He conducted an interview with Castle November 11, 2021 at around 8:56pm. That was nearly 12 hours after the then 7 year old girl was reported missing.

The video of that interview was played to the jury.

Taking Castle back to the night before, to the evening of November 10, Castle was asked where he went shortly after leaving the girl’s house at around 7 that evening.

Castle at first said he went right home and went to sleep.

That seemed to contradict a security surveillance camera that captured video of Castle at Rite Aid at 6:57pm where he purchased a bottle of whiskey. Before leaving the store, Castle can be seen buying a two liter bottle of pop. He exited the store at a little after 7 that night.

When questioned further by Pape, Castle’s story began to change.

He recounted that he may have at one time gone to Village Pantry to use the restroom since his camper does not have plumbing.

As the questioning continued, Castle’s story eventually changed. He said he remembers going to his cousin’s apartment behind the old Kroger store where he smoked a joint. 

He also remembered going to the vending machine at Save-a-lot to buy a pop.

As Pape continued to press him, Castle eventually said he remembers going to the quarry where he stayed for around an hour.

.Detective Terry Sneary, Digital Forensic Examiner for the Hardin County Sheriff’s Office was then called to the stand.

He explained a video that was played for the jury that was recorded at a residence on Smith Avenue, near where the girl’s house is located on Leighton Street.

A lengthy video showing what appeared to be a van pulling up to the house on Leighton Street was recorded at 11:11pm on November 10.

Around 20 minutes later, two shadowy figures, one taller and the other much shorter, are seen getting into the van, which then left the scene.

A south facing camera at the Smith Avenue location records a clear shot of a van leaving the area.

On cross examination, Defense Attorney Elizabeth Smith asked Sneary if he could tell for sure that the van was in fact Castle’s.

Sneary pointed to the front driver’s side tire that purports to show a missing cap, which would be consistent with Castle’s vehicle.

After Detective Kemmere’s testimony, the jury was dismissed for the weekend.

The trial will reconvene Monday morning, and Judge Scott Barrett stated that, while not certain, it is possible the case could be handed to the jury sometime on Monday.

Castle is charged with multiple counts, including attempted aggravated murder and rape.