A teacher took the stand in the Thomas Valva murder trial Friday – repeating other testimony that the Valva brothers were often seen in school beaten, bruised and hungry.

Katelyn Edwards, who was Anthony Valva's special education teacher during the 2019-2020 school year, testified that she did not know that the brothers were being forced to sleep in a garage.

She did, however, make Child Protective Services reports to address issues such as bruising, insufficient food, the children's hands being cold and red, the children limping in the classroom and more.

Edwards said she worried every time there was a long weekend or holiday that the boys would not come back because of declines in their health during periods of being home.

She testified that she was fearful that Anthony Valva would die after winter break.

Edwards described how one day Anthony Valva was slumped over on his desk in her classroom.

She also says he was lethargic and starving, even eating food off of the gym floor.

That same day, a CPS report came back unfounded. Thomas Valva died 11 days later.

Edwards admitted that she had communication with the brothers' father, Michael Valva, after the incidents with Anthony Valva.

She says he responded to an email she had sent, but said, "Responding to an email doesn't make him a good father."

When the defense pressed Edwards on if she documented that she thought Anthony Valva would die, she said, "No I didn't write I thought my student was going to die in my logs."

She said police were called on Michael Valva when he brought his gun to the school and said that was not the only issue reported to police on that occasion.

Defense attorney John LoTurco says he hopes jurors will focus on the actual evidence.

"Despite the parenting deficiencies, and the disciplinarian relationship between Michael and his children - he loved his children, he cared for his children, and he didn't have a depraved mindset," LoTurco says.

The trial will continue next week.