Former ‘American Idol’ Contestant Caleb Flynn Convicted of Murdering Wife

Former “American Idol” contestant and Ohio church music pastor Caleb Flynn has been convicted of murdering his wife after prosecutors told jurors he shot her twice in the head and staged a break-in while pursuing an affair with a younger woman.

A Miami County jury found Flynn, 40, guilty on all nine counts Tuesday, September 29, 2026, after deliberating for about two and a half hours. The charges included aggravated murder, murder, felonious assault and tampering with evidence in the February 16 killing of Ashley Flynn, a 37-year-old teacher and volleyball coach.

Flynn faces up to life in prison without the possibility of parole when he is sentenced on October 5.

Prosecutors argued that Flynn killed Ashley as she slept in their Tipp City home, then damaged a door and called 911 with a story that an intruder had entered the house and shot her. Flynn’s attorneys maintained that an unknown person was responsible and emphasized that investigators never recovered the murder weapon.

The state built much of its case from circumstantial evidence, including digital records, the alleged staging of the home and thousands of messages between Flynn and Alleigha Botner, a woman with whom he was having an affair.

Jurors heard that Ashley was killed with 9-millimeter ammunition. Prosecutors said Flynn kept a 9-millimeter handgun in the center console of his truck, but police found the console open and empty after the shooting.

Investigators also challenged his account of a break-in. An FBI agent testified that damage around a door at the home was inconsistent with forced entry from outside, while prosecutors said investigators found no evidence showing an intruder had fled the property.

Digital evidence further undercut Flynn’s claim that he had been asleep before hearing gunshots. An Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation examiner testified that his devices recorded hundreds of steps around the period surrounding the shooting and his 911 call.

Some of the prosecution’s strongest evidence came from Flynn’s messages with Botner, 24, whom he met through their church. The two exchanged tens of thousands of messages during an affair that began nearly two years before Ashley’s death.

Months before the killing, Flynn wrote that he had stayed awake thinking about ways to kill his wife without going to jail and said he would kill her “in a heartbeat” if he could do so without going to hell, according to messages presented at trial.

The night before Ashley was killed, prosecutors said Flynn sent Botner a series of messages that included “I choose you” and “actions will come tomorrow.” Botner testified that she understood those statements at the time to refer to Flynn leaving his marriage.

Botner told jurors she did not initially believe Flynn had killed his wife but later changed her view. She was not charged in connection with Ashley’s death.

The defense argued that Flynn’s affair and disturbing messages did not establish that he committed the murder. His attorneys called no witnesses and instead challenged the prosecution’s circumstantial case, including the absence of the gun used to kill Ashley.

Flynn did not testify.

Before becoming a church music pastor, Flynn briefly appeared on Season 12 of “American Idol” in 2013. During his appearance, he said Ashley had encouraged him to audition and told the show that he loved his wife “more than anything.”

Flynn's bond was revoked after the verdict, and he will remain in custody ahead of his October 5 sentencing.