Source : PERTHNOW NEWS
A former American Idol contestant who was convicted of killing his wife while engaging in an affair has maintained his innocence despite being sentenced to life in prison.
A court found this week Caleb Flynn, 40, had fatally shot is wife Ashley Flynn and staged the scene to appear like a home invasion in February of this year.
On Monday, prior to his sentencing, Mr Flynn declared his innocence.
“I did not kill my wife,” he addressed the court.
“I am not lying when I say I did not kill my wife . . I will continue to fight for my innocence as long as the Lord allows me to.”
Mr Flynn was found guilty of aggravated murder, three counts of murder, two counts of felonious assault, and three counts of tampering with evidence.
His wife was a beloved school volleyball coach, educator, and mother of their two daughters, 12 and 10.
Judge Jeannine Pratt said Mr Flynn posed the “highest risk” to the public, and denounced his heinous actions.
“Of all the awful things that you said and you did, your marriage should not need to end the way it did. It did not have to end with the brutal, premeditated murder of your wife, Ashley, the mother of your children, in her own home, a place where she should have been safe, a place where she should have been loved and while your children were sleeping just a few feet away,” the judge told the court.
“You could have separated from her and left her here on Earth . . . instead, through your greed, your selfishness, your lust and your cruelty, you chose to take Ashley’s life.”
Earlier in the trial, Mr Flynn’s former lover Alleigha Botner, 24, took the stand and was forced to read from the 100,000 text messages sent between the pair during their one and a half year affair.
The messages detailed his desire to kill his wife, and revealed insights into their affection for one another.
One passage from Mr Flynn sent in August 2025 read: “I was up until 4 a.m. last night crying, literally thinking of ways to kill her and not go to jail.”
Ms Botner revealed the pair got matching Harry Potter lightning bolt tattoos.
It was revealed she met Mr Flynn at their Ohio church in 2022 at the age of 21, where she worked as an intern and volunteer on the worship team.
The court heard AI-generated love songs Mr Flynn had sent to Ms Botner, which drew veiled grins from people in the room.
Mr Flynn’s daughters Ava and Alissa are now in the care of their aunt and uncle.
Kayla Keyt, Ms Flynn’s sister, addressed her brother-in-law in court where she labelled his behaviour “grotesque”.
“For months, our family prayed that you would confess to all of your actions. But you didn’t. Instead, you chose to drag us through a nationally televised trial,” she said.
“And now the grotesque details of what happened to Ashley, and the evil and vile things that you said about her and our family are permanently public.”
She said she forgave Mr Flynn and Ms Botner.
Ms Keyt read a victim statement from her niece Ava, directed at the child’s father.
“Dear Daddy. I don’t even know where to start,” she began.
“Mommy was a perfect person. The absolute perfect person . . . What did she ever do to make you hate her so much? She loved you. She cared for you. She took care of me. She loved you with all her heart. …
“I miss her so much, so, so, so much. You have no idea.”
Ms Flynn’s mother Jill Smith similarly relayed a message from Alissa.
“Dear Caleb, this is your daughter, Alissa. I love you deeply with all my heart and it’s sad that you can’t love anyone but yourself,” her statement read.
“You truly don’t understand how much you hurt my life . . .
“And by the way, I don’t plan on coming to see you.”
Mr Flynn featured at the audition stages of American Idol in 2013.
