Caleb Flynn, former American Idol singer, sentenced to life in prison for the murder of his wife

COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — A former Ohio music pastor who appeared briefly on “American Idol” was sentenced Monday to life in prison without the possibility of parole after a jury found him guilty of murder his wife while he was having an affair.

Prosecutors said Caleb Flynn, 40, staged a home invasion in February after shooting Ashley Flynn, a 37-year-old teacher and volleyball coach, who later claimed she was killed by a burglar.

During his 2013 appearance on “American Idol,” Flynn told viewers how his wife encouraged him to pursue his dreams on the singing competition. He did not make it to the main competition in Hollywood.

With tears streaming down his cheeks, Flynn apologized in court to his family, starting with his two daughters.

“I made vows to Ashley on our wedding day. I broke those vows,” he said.

Although he admitted to lying about many things, Flynn remained adamant about his innocence.

“As I stand here before God, who is my final judge, I am not lying when I say I did not kill my wife,” he said.

Miami County Common Pleas Judge Jeannine Pratt said she was deeply troubled that Flynn used his faith to hide his “deception” and “lust.”

She cited a victim impact statement from one of the girls, read aloud moments earlier by a family member, asking: “What did Ashley do to make you hate her so much?” »

During closing arguments, prosecutors told jurors that Flynn wanted to end his marriage when he shot his wife to death in their home in Tipp City, a suburb north of Dayton. The couple’s two daughters were at home with their father when the police arrived.

He sent a text message to his lover the day before the shooting, saying, “I choose you. I’m free. Action will come tomorrow,” prosecutors said.

During the trial, Alleigha Botner testified that she met Flynn in 2022 when she was a 20-year-old intern at his church and had an affair with him for more than a year. She told jurors that Flynn said he hated his wife and planned to kill her.

Jurors also heard AI-generated love songs that prosecutors said he wrote for Botner. Flynn did not testify on his own behalf, nor did anyone else.

The gun used to kill Ashley Flynn was not found at the scene, and her attorney told jurors that investigators found no evidence that Caleb Flynn fired a gun that day. Prosecutors said his fingerprints and DNA were at the scene and their devices showed him moving around the house, although he claimed he was asleep at the time of the shooting.

The jury found him guilty of murdercriminal assault and tampering with evidence.