Testimony concluded Tuesday in Butler County Common Pleas Court in the three-day trial between U.S. Senate candidate Sean Parnell and his estranged wife, Laurie Snell, for custody of their three children.

Senior Judge James G. Arner said he intends to review the volumes of evidence submitted, testimony and his notes before issuing a decision — as soon as possible.

“The past week has been unquestionably the most trying in my young family's life,” Parnell said in a statement following the conclusion of the custody hearing Tuesday. “I love my kids, and being their father is the greatest honor I have ever had. Now that I have had the opportunity to present my case, I will not have anything further to say until the judge issues his ruling.”

The day began with cross examination of Parnell, where he said a photo of a bruise on the bare-skinned back of a person was not his son. The photo did not show the person's face.

Snell's attorney Jill Sinatra said the photo is of one of this sons. Snell previously testified that she heard Parnell strike one of their sons in February 2018 and witnessed him punch a closet door, causing it to fly open and strike the other son in the face. They have three children ages 12, 11 and 8. Two are boys and one is a girl.

“That is not a picture of my son,” Parnell said.

Sinatra then questioned him about how often he is available now to care for the children and how often he would be available if he wins the election next year.

Parnell said he works for a mortgage company and a virtual coaching firm and cofounded the American Warrior Initiative, which raises awareness of the challenges veterans face. He said he traveled all over the country before the COVID-19 pandemic, but hasn't traveled for business recently until a couple weeks ago. He said he is on call 24 hours a day, but works flexible hours. He said he doesn't travel during the time he has custody of the children

Arner noted that the trial was rescheduled due to his travel.

Parnell, who is seeking the Republican Party nomination to run for the position that will be left vacant by Sen. Pat Toomey, acknowledged that he would serve the entire state if he wins and work in Washington D.C. He also acknowledged that the Senate is in session about 116 days a year.

He said he would have staffed offices to serve constituents.

A woman who worked as a nanny for the Parnells before they separated in 2018 and as a bookkeeper for a business the Parnells owned, said she works part-time only for Sean Parnell since the separation. She said Snell told her she could not afford to pay her after the split.

Under questioning from Parnell's attorney Kristen Eberle, the nanny said Parnell become a more involved parent after the separation.

“I saw sort of a different person evolving,” she said.

The children don't require much discipline, but when it is needed, Parnell sends them to their rooms, she said.

She said she never saw him in a rage or hit the children. She said the children are comfortable in his home, and they are not afraid of him.

“I thought he was doing a great job with them,” she said.

She said Snell told her that Parnell struck the two boys and sent her a copy of the photo.

Parnell's fiancee, who moved from her home with her two daughters in Maryland to live with him in August, described him as a caring father.

“He's the best dad I've ever seen,” she said.

She said he is home on the days he has custody of his children.

She said that she loves his children and that all the children get along.

Like the nanny, the fiancee said Parnell doesn't physically discipline his children. She said she allows her daughters to spend time with Parnell.

Under cross examination, she said a sexual relationship with Parnell began in 2014. He told her he was separated at the time, she said.

In rebuttal testimony, Snell said Parnell was informed about enrolling the children in athletics, including soccer and tennis.

She said she sent him an email with all the information she had about schedules, leagues and coaches, and he did not object. Copies of those emails were submitted as evidence. Parnell testified Monday that Snell enrolled the children without his knowledge or consent.

Snell said most of the children's homework is done on the days she has custody. Parnell testified that he helps with homework.

She also refuted some of Parnell's testimony about their cat.

Parnell said he dropped the children off at Snell's home after taking them to his grandmother's funeral and found the family cat in a cage in the driveway with a bag of cat food.

Snell said she bought the cat for Parnell as a birthday present and the cat was his. She said he called it his “therapy cat.”

She said the cat was causing damage to her home, so she wanted Parnell to take it with him.