Key facts
- Caleb Flynn, 40, was sentenced to life in prison without parole for murdering his wife, Ashley Flynn, 37.
- Flynn claimed an intruder shot his wife, but prosecutors alleged he staged a home invasion.
- Incriminating text messages between Flynn and his former mistress, Alleigha Botner, were presented as evidence.
- Flynn's daughters pleaded with him to admit guilt in letters read in court.
- Flynn maintained his innocence during the sentencing hearing.
- Flynn's lawyer plans to file an appeal.
Caleb Flynn, a former "American Idol" contestant and music pastor, has been sentenced to life in prison without parole for the murder of his wife, Ashley Flynn. A jury found Flynn, 40, guilty of aggravated murder and tampering with evidence, rejecting his claim that an intruder shot his wife, 37, in their Ohio home in February before staging it to look like a break-in. Prosecutors alleged Flynn fatally shot his wife and then staged the scene. Their two children were in the house at the time.
During the sentencing hearing, letters from Flynn's daughters were read, pleading with him to admit guilt and questioning his actions. Flynn also read a statement expressing love for his family and apologizing for "decisions" he made, while again claiming innocence. Judge Jeannine Pratt called Flynn an "extreme" risk to the public.
Prosecutors presented incriminating text messages Flynn sent to his former mistress, Alleigha Botner, and AI-generated songs he allegedly made for her. Evidence also included body camera footage and activity data from Flynn's iPhone and Apple Watch that contradicted his alibi. Botner testified that Flynn expressed hatred for his wife and contemplated killing her. Flynn did not testify, and his defense team called no witnesses. His lawyer, Patrick Mulligan, stated he plans to file an appeal, citing a "lack of evidence on prior calculation and design" and questioning the tampering with evidence charge.