An Ohio man who had referred to as 911 to report that an intruder had damaged into their residence and fatally shot his spouse was discovered responsible of murdering the mom of two.
Caleb Flynn, 40, a former pastor who as soon as appeared as a contestant on “American Idol” in 2013, was charged with aggravated homicide and a number of counts of homicide, felonious assault and tampering with proof in reference to the demise of his spouse, 37-year-old Ashley Flynn. He had pleaded not responsible.
The jury deliberated for almost 2 1/2 hours earlier than reaching a verdict Tuesday afternoon, discovering him responsible of all costs. Caleb Flynn started to tear up as the decision was learn and appeared to briefly sob in his chair.
Caleb Flynn reacts as he listens to the studying of his responsible verdict contained in the Miami County Court docket of Widespread Pleas, Sept. 29, 2026, in Troy, Ohio.
Pool by way of ABC Information
The choose revoked his bond and set sentencing for Oct. 5. He faces as much as life in jail with out parole.
Protection attorneys stated they count on there to be a discover of attraction filed.
“Whereas we respect the system, definitely we’re disillusioned,” protection legal professional Patrick Mulligan instructed reporters outdoors the courthouse.
When requested what appellate points they’ve, he stated, “There is a lack of proof on prior calculation and design.”
Caleb Flynn cries after being discovered responsible contained in the Miami County Court docket of Widespread Pleas, Sept. 29, 2026, in Troy, Ohio.
Pool by way of ABC Information
Prosecuting Legal professional Paul Watkins, whose workplace prosecuted the case, thanked the jury “for his or her dedication to justice on this case.”
“To be fairly trustworthy, I am bored with speaking about Caleb Flynn. It is time for the neighborhood, the media, and everybody else to show their focus onto Ashley,” Watkins stated to reporters outdoors the courthouse. “This world could be a a lot better place if all of us in it lived like Ashley.”
In a press release learn by Watkins, Ashley Flynn’s household stated they “refuse to let the evil that ended Ashley’s life have the ultimate phrase in her story.”
“Ashley beloved Jesus along with her complete coronary heart. Her religion wasn’t merely one thing she merely spoke about. It was how she lived,” the assertion stated. “She beloved individuals properly, discovered pleasure past her circumstances, prayed boldly for her household, and wished her life to level individuals to Jesus.”
“Most of all, she beloved being a mother,” the assertion continued. “She prayed over her ladies, taught them to like God, and confirmed them what it appeared wish to dwell with religion, kindness, pleasure, and beauty.”
Caleb Flynn referred to as 911 early on Feb. 16 to report that his spouse had been shot by an intruder at their residence in Tipp Metropolis, north of Dayton. He was arrested three days later.
Prosecutors alleged that Caleb Flynn “executed” his spouse by taking pictures her twice at the back of the top in mattress in order that he could possibly be together with his mistress and manipulated the crime scene to make it appear as if an intruder had damaged in by the storage.
Miami County Assistant Prosecutor Matthew Joseph pointed to proof together with the bodily scene and a facet storage door he stated was made to look as if an intruder had broken it, Caleb Flynn’s 911 name, textual content messages between the defendant and his mistress discussing the top of his marriage and digital information from the evening of the taking pictures, which he argued “leads straight to the defendant.”
“The proof confirmed that being the sufferer would permit the defendant to maintain his profitable job working for Ashley’s household enterprise, he would profit from Ashley’s life insurance coverage, and he might preserve his place as a working worship chief with zero influence to his popularity throughout the church,” Joseph stated throughout closing arguments Tuesday within the Miami County courtroom. “The proof doesn’t inform the story of an intruder.”
Miami County Assistant Prosecutor Matthew Joseph delivers his closing argument contained in the Miami County Court docket of Widespread Pleas, Sept. 29, 2026, in Troy, Ohio.
Pool by way of ABC Information
Joseph argued that key particulars in Caleb Flynn’s recounting of what occurred that evening modified, and on the time when he instructed investigators he was sleeping earlier than being woken up by gunshots, “his gadgets say he was awake and transferring.”
No gun has been discovered within the taking pictures, with prosecutors alleging Caleb Flynn disposed of it, although Joseph instructed jurors that the restoration of the gun isn’t a component the state has to show.
“However you heard the defendant saved a 9mm handgun in his truck console. His truck was parked within the storage. That console was up earlier than regulation enforcement arrived and the gun was lacking,” Joseph stated. “You heard that Ashley was shot twice in her head with 9mm bullets.”
Protection legal professional Patrick Mulligan delivers his closing argument contained in the Miami County Court docket of Widespread Pleas, Sept. 29, 2026, in Troy, Ohio.
Pool by way of ABC Information
Mulligan, the protection legal professional, argued throughout his closing that the state’s proof is circumstantial, and that the one factor prosecutors proved was that Caleb Flynn was having an affair.
“Connecting a few meaningless dots does not clear up the case,” Mulligan instructed jurors.
Mulligan stated Caleb Flynn voluntarily spoke with detectives thrice when he “did not should,” consented to a search of his residence and cellphone and voluntarily gave his fingerprints.
“He wished to determine who shot Ashley,” Mulligan stated.
Ashley and Caleb Flynn.
Ashley Flynn/Fb
On rebuttal, Watkins urged jurors to make use of “widespread sense” and argued that the “proof is obvious” that Caleb Flynn is responsible.
The proof within the case didn’t start with the 2 gunshots, however months earlier, he argued, citing textual content messages between the defendant and Caleb Flynn’s mistress, Alleigha Botner.
“The defendant, he had Alleigha, and he wished out of his marriage,” Watkins stated. “The proof reveals that his emotions towards Ashley went far past merely wanting a divorce. He hated her.”
Caleb Flynn listens to closing arguments contained in the Miami County Court docket of Widespread Pleas, Sept. 29, 2026, in Troy, Ohio.
Pool by way of ABC Information
Watkins stated the language within the greater than 100,000 messages Caleb Flynn and his mistress had despatched one another “escalated” in months earlier than the taking pictures whereas recounting a few of the texts, together with one from the defendant that stated, “I need my ladies full time in a life with you, however I am unable to have each. So I weigh the choices, and I select you.”
“Not simply hours earlier than Ashley’s execution, the defendant wrote this: ‘Actions will come tomorrow. I am going to by no means not be scared to do that, as I by no means need to damage my daughters. That may all the time be there. However this month away from you has terrified me past perception,'” Watkins stated, persevering with to learn the message. “‘I do know I am unable to dwell with out you, and so once more, if this provides me a 1% likelihood to spend my life with you, it is the 100% proper determination. I select you. I am free.'”
Alleigha Botner testifies throughout the homicide trial of Caleb Flynn in Miami County, Ohio, on Sept. 24, 2026.
Pool by way of ABC Information
“We aren’t right here solely due to somebody’s phrases,” Watkins instructed jurors. “We’re right here as a result of the defendant put actions to these phrases. The defendant made selections.”
Twenty days earlier than Ashley Flynn was killed, Watkins stated Caleb Flynn eliminated safety cameras that had been in his residence for years, together with one that will have captured an intruder coming in from the storage. The day of the taking pictures, Watkins stated the proof reveals that the defendant was additionally deleting apps off his cellphone and making an attempt to delete his messages.
“Within the hours after Ashley was murdered, the defendant was not mourning the demise of his spouse. He was whispering to his mistress, ‘It did not occur the way in which we thought it will,'” Watkins stated. “I’m assured after you deliberate, your verdict will inform the world this case didn’t finish the way in which the defendant thought it will. The defendant wished a brand new life. He wished Ashley out of their life, and he did not need to face the implications of creating the selection to pursue divorce.”
Caleb Flynn could possibly be seen crying all through the closing arguments. He didn’t testify throughout the trial and the protection referred to as no witnesses.
He denied killing his spouse in an interview with police days after the lethal taking pictures, based on video proven throughout the greater than weeklong trial.
His former mistress testified for the state throughout the trial, studying from a few of the greater than 100,000 messages they exchanged over her two days of testimony.
“If I might actually kill her and never go to hell, I might do it in a heartbeat,” Caleb Flynn stated in a single message from Could 2025, Botner testified.
