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Former 'American Idol' Contestant Caleb Flynn Found Guilty of Murdering Wife
Confirmed
In Short: Caleb Flynn, a former 'American Idol' contestant and pastor, was found guilty of murdering his wife Ashley.
Caleb Flynn, a former contestant on 'American Idol' and pastor, was found guilty of murdering his wife, Ashley, after he reported an intruder had fatally shot her at their home in Tipp City, Ohio.
Flynn, 40, called 911 on February 16, claiming an intruder had broken into their home and shot his wife. He began to tear up and sob briefly as the verdict was read.
Prosecutors argued that Flynn staged the crime scene to make it appear as if an intruder had broken in. They alleged that he shot Ashley twice in the back of the head while she was in bed.
Miami County Prosecuting Attorney Paul Watkins said that text messages between Flynn and his mistress, Alleigha Botner, showed his intentions to end his marriage. One message read, 'Actions will come tomorrow. I'll never not be scared to do this, as I never want to hurt my daughters. That will always be there. But this month away from you has terrified me beyond belief.
Flynn's defense attorney, Patrick Mulligan, argued that the evidence was circumstantial and that the only thing prosecutors proved was that Flynn was having an affair. Mulligan said, 'His being unfaithful doesn’t equal murder.
The jury deliberated for nearly 2 1/2 hours before finding Flynn guilty of all charges, including aggravated murder, multiple counts of murder, felonious assault, and tampering with evidence.
Flynn began sobbing as the judge dismissed the jury and read the guilty verdicts. He could face life in prison without the chance of parole when sentenced on Monday.
Flynn appeared on 'American Idol' in 2013, telling viewers about how his wife had encouraged him to chase his dreams on the singing competition.
Background
American Idol is an American singing competition television series created by Simon Fuller, produced by Fremantle North America and 19 Entertainment, and distributed by Fremantle North America. It aired on Fox from June 11, 2002, to April 7, 2016, for 15 seasons.
What's confirmed
- Caleb Flynn, a former contestant on 'American Idol' and pastor, was found guilty of murdering his wife, Ashley, after he reported an intruder had fatally shot her at their home in Tipp City, Ohio.
- Flynn, 40, called 911 on February 16, claiming an intruder had broken into their home and shot his wife. He began to tear up and sob briefly as the verdict was read.
- Prosecutors argued that Flynn staged the crime scene to make it appear as if an intruder had broken in. They alleged that he shot Ashley twice in the back of the head while she was in bed.
- Miami County Prosecuting Attorney Paul Watkins said that text messages between Flynn and his mistress, Alleigha Botner, showed his intentions to end his marriage. One message read, 'Actions will come tomorrow. I'll never not be scared to do this, as I never want to hurt my daughters. That will always be there. But this month away from you has terrified me beyond belief.
- Flynn's defense attorney, Patrick Mulligan, argued that the evidence was circumstantial and that the only thing prosecutors proved was that Flynn was having an affair. Mulligan said, 'His being unfaithful doesn’t equal murder.
- The jury deliberated for nearly 2 1/2 hours before finding Flynn guilty of all charges, including aggravated murder, multiple counts of murder, felonious assault, and tampering with evidence.
- Flynn began sobbing as the judge dismissed the jury and read the guilty verdicts. He could face life in prison without the chance of parole when sentenced on Monday.
- Flynn appeared on 'American Idol' in 2013, telling viewers about how his wife had encouraged him to chase his dreams on the singing competition.
What's still developing
- "The evidence showed that being the victim would allow the defendant to keep his lucrative job working for Ashley's family business, he would benefit from Ashley's life insurance, and he could keep his position as a working worship leader with zero impact to his reputation within the church," Joseph said during closing arguments Tuesday in the Miami County courtroom.
- No gun has been found in the shooting, with prosecutors alleging Caleb Flynn disposed of it, though Joseph told jurors that the recovery of the gun is not an element the state has to prove.
- Twenty days before Ashley Flynn was killed, Watkins said Caleb Flynn removed security cameras that had been in his home for years, including one that would have captured an intruder coming in from the garage.
- Flynn also didn’t want to lose his daughters, his high-paying job at his wife’s family business or his position in the church, prosecutors said.
- “The issue here isn’t, ‘Was he a good husband?’” Text messages Flynn sent to his lover complaining about his wife were meant to make her feel good, Mulligan said.
- The jury also found Flynn used a firearm in relation to seven of the charges, which carries a sentencing enhancement to those crimes.
Sources
- ABC News - Breaking News, Latest News and Videoslink
- ABC7 New Yorklink
- CBS Newslink
- Deadlinelink
- Hartford Courantlink
- LAmaglink
- New York Daily Newslink
- NewsNationlink
- Peoplelink
- Rolling Stonelink
- Springfield News-Sunlink
- The Hollywood Reporterlink
- The Tablink
- Varietylink
- WZTVlink
- justjared.comlink
- Criminally Obsessed — video link