The second week of Jose Morales' murder trial began with the jury hearing from the defendant himself. On Monday at Milford Superior Court, the prosecution played video of Morales' first interview with Ansonia police.

It was from Tuesday, Dec. 3, 2019—two days after police believe Morales killed his girlfriend, Christine Holloway, inside her home on Myrtle Avenue. The interview occurred following a welfare check at Holloway’s home the night before. Officers discovered the 43-year-old mom beaten to death in the bathtub—a development investigators didn’t share with Morales before or while they spoke with him. Police also found no trace of the couple’s 1-year-old daughter, Vanessa Morales, who remains missing today.

“We’re trying to find Christine and your kid,” one of the investigators told Morales at the start of the interview.

“Yeah, that’s a sad thing. I tried to call her,” Morales said.

During the interview, Morales gave different accounts of his relationship with Holloway, but describing his relationship with her as “boyfriend girlfriend, but we’re not that close.” He later said that though the two have a baby together, “it’s not like she's my ‘girlfriend, girlfriend.” Morales then told police his family loves Vanessa, but “We don’t really like Christine. She’s OK.”

Morales maintained his initial statement to police—that he last spoke with Holloway on the morning of Monday, Dec. 2 . But when police asked for his phone to check the call log, they pointed out it didn’t show a call to her at that time. Morales also continued to say he last saw Holloway and Vanessa on Friday, Nov. 29, when they left his home in New Haven after spending Thanksgiving with his family.

"Listen,” one of the investigators told Morales. “Your dad said you went to Christine’s Friday with her. Why would he tell me that?"

Morales didn’t have an explanation, responding he went to a friend’s place in East Haven and didn’t know what Holloway and Vanessa did over the weekend.

“Jose, the whole ride here you talked about everything but her. The whole ride here you didn't talk about a 1-year-old daughter that's missing. I don't get that,” one investigator stated, visibly frustrated. “We've got to find her.

"OK," Morales responded.

“And the only reason you're here is to help us find her. So where is she?" the investigator asked.

“I don't know,” Morales replied.

Investigators accused Morales of not cooperating.

“I feel like you don't want to give us any information. Your father gave us more information than you’re willing,” one investigator stated.

"She's with Christine. That's all I know,” Morales responded.

“We’re trying to find a 1-year-old kid and some of this information isn't adding up,” one of the investigators later said.

Morales appeared to become upset with the constant questioning and asked to be brought home. Police agreed to do so but took Morales’ clothing as evidence before he left. Among the items seized was a pair of black sneakers that a DNA expert previously testified was stained with Holloway's blood. As Morales changed into a Tyvek suit police provided him, investigators noted a bruise on his bare chest.

Lt. James Frolish, one of the investigators seen in the interview video, was on the stand as the interview played. His testimony was paused due to scheduling, according to the judge, who said Frolish would be recalled later in the week.

In the afternoon, Brian Harte took the stand, a former Ansonia police officer. Harte told the jury that Morales’ phone and Facebook records showed activity through the router in Holloway’s home over the weekend.

Harte also testified about collecting items from inside Holloway’s home, including a pink Croc infant shoe that appeared to match the one that was stained with blood and found in a donation bin in Derby.

Morales is charged with murder and evidence tampering.