Former American Idol contestant and Ohio pastor Caleb Flynn has been convicted of murdering his wife, Ashley Flynn, after prosecutors argued that he killed her while she slept and later attempted to mislead investigators.
Flynn, 40, was found guilty of all nine charges against him following less than three hours of jury deliberations. The charges included aggravated murder and tampering with evidence. He is facing a possible sentence of life imprisonment without parole, with sentencing scheduled for 5 October.
Prosecutors said Flynn shot his 37-year-old wife twice in the back of the head at their home in Tipp City, near Dayton, on 16 February. He initially told police that he had been in his daughters’ bedroom when he heard gunshots and later discovered his wife dead.
Investigators, however, highlighted inconsistencies in his account, including statements concerning an open garage door and whether he had gone into the garage.
The prosecution also presented evidence from Flynn’s phone and Apple Watch, as well as police body-camera footage. Investigators told the court that several applications, including Instagram and an AI music-generation app, had been deleted from his phone before Ashley’s death.
A major part of the case centred on Flynn’s relationship with 24-year-old Alleigha Botner, a former church intern with whom prosecutors said he had been having an affair. Botner testified about their relationship and messages exchanged between the two.
Prosecutors presented messages in which Flynn allegedly expressed intense anger towards his wife and discussed ways of killing her without being caught. Botner told the court that she now believes Flynn murdered Ashley.
The jury also heard about a song Flynn allegedly created for Botner using an AI music application. Prosecutors argued that the song was connected to their relationship, while footage of jurors reacting to it later circulated widely online.
Flynn’s defence argued that the prosecution had failed to produce direct physical evidence linking him to the killing. His lawyer, Patrick Mulligan, questioned the absence of the firearm believed to have been used in the shooting and argued that evidence of Flynn’s infidelity did not prove that he had murdered his wife.
The missing gun became another point of contention during the trial. Investigators found the centre console of Flynn’s truck open, and the firearm that had reportedly been stored there could not be located.
The defence did not call any witnesses.
Flynn’s case also attracted attention because of his previous appearance on American Idol. He auditioned for the programme in 2013 during its 12th season, performing in front of judges Mariah Carey, Nicki Minaj and Randy Jackson.
He received a golden ticket that advanced him to Hollywood, although he did not make it to the show’s main competition.
