Caleb Flynn sentenced to life for wife’s murder in Tipp City

Caleb Flynn received a sentence of life in prison without parole Monday in a Miami County court. The penalty follows his conviction for shooting his wife at their home in Tipp City.

The former music pastor, 40, staged a home invasion in February, prosecutors said. He then claimed a burglar killed 37-year-old schoolteacher and volleyball coach Ashley Flynn.

Flynn apologized to his family in court. He addressed his two daughters first.

“I made vows to Ashley on our wedding day. I failed in those vows,” Flynn said.

Flynn admitted he lied about many things. He still insisted he was innocent.

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

Miami County Common Pleas Judge Jeannine Pratt said she was disturbed Flynn used his faith to hide his deceit and lust.

Judge Pratt quoted a victim statement from one daughter, read earlier by a family member.

“What did Ashley ever do to make you hate her so much?” the statement asked.

Flynn wanted out of his marriage, prosecutors told jurors during closing arguments. The couple’s two daughters were home with their father when police arrived in Tipp City, a Dayton suburb.

Prosecutors said Flynn sent a text message to his lover the night before the shooting.

“I choose you. I’m free. Actions will come tomorrow,” the text message said.

Alleigha Botner testified she met Flynn in 2022 as a 20-year-old church intern. She told jurors she had an affair with Flynn for over a year.

Botner said Flynn told her he hated his wife. She testified he had thoughts of killing his wife.

Jurors heard AI-generated love songs that prosecutors said Flynn made for Botner. Flynn did not testify, and no one else testified for him.

Flynn appeared on “American Idol” in 2013. He did not advance to the main competition in Hollywood.

Investigators did not find the murder weapon at the scene. His attorney told jurors that investigators found no evidence Flynn fired a gun that day.

Prosecutors said his fingerprints and DNA were present. His digital devices showed him moving through the house when he claimed he was asleep.

The jury found Flynn guilty of murder, felonious assault and tampering with evidence. A life sentence without parole in Ohio requires an offender to serve the remainder of their natural life in prison.

The conviction concludes proceedings in the Tipp City case.