Caleb Flynn, who lives in Ohio and briefly appeared on American Idol in 2013, was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole in the case involving the killing of his wife, Ashley Flynn.
Flynn was convicted on all nine charges brought against him last week. The charges included aggravated murder, murder, aggravated assault and tampering with evidence.
Jury rejects intruder defense
After about two hours of deliberation, the jury rejected Flynn’s defense that an intruder had entered their home in Tipp City and shot his wife while she was sleeping.
Prosecutors said Flynn, a former music pastor, shot his 37-year-old wife twice in the back of the head while she was sleeping in bed on Feb. 16, then staged the scene to make it appear that someone had entered the house through the garage.
Prosecutors argued that Flynn committed the murder so he could be with another woman with whom he was having a relationship. Messages between Flynn and the woman were also presented as evidence at trial. A message Flynn sent the night before the murder read: “I choose you. I’m free. Tomorrow it happens.”
Murder weapon not found
The weapon used in the killing was not found. Prosecutors also presented digital evidence that they said showed Flynn moving around inside the house while he claimed to have been asleep.
The couple’s two daughters, aged 9 and 11, were asleep at home when the murder took place. During Monday’s sentencing hearing, letters the girls had written to their father were read aloud.
In the letters, the girls asked their father why he had killed their mother and urged him to admit his crime. One letter read: “Dear Dad, I don’t even know where to start. How could you do something like this?”
Flynn denies the charges
Flynn apologized to his family, saying he had failed to keep his marriage vows and that his decisions had caused his family pain. Although he admitted lying “about many things,” Flynn maintained that he had not killed his wife.
Flynn’s attorney said they would appeal the conviction. Flynn briefly appeared on American Idol in 2013 but did not advance to the main competition stage in Hollywood.
