Former ‘American Idol’ Contestant Caleb Flynn Sentenced to Life for Wife’s Murder
publishers 82articles 99first reported 5 Oct, 18:15 UTCdeveloping since 6 Oct · 9 editions
Caleb Flynn, a former music pastor who appeared on “American Idol” in 2013, was sentenced Monday to life in prison without the possibility of parole for murdering his wife, Ashley Flynn, at their home in Tipp City, Ohio.
A Miami County jury convicted Flynn, 40, on Sept. 29 of aggravated murder, murder, felonious assault and tampering with evidence. Prosecutors said he shot Ashley while she slept on Feb. 16, then staged the scene to resemble a break-in. Jurors rejected Flynn’s account that an intruder killed her while he was asleep.
Judge Jeannine Pratt ordered Flynn to serve 16 years for firearm and evidence-tampering offenses before his life term begins. She also ordered him to pay $20,000 in funeral costs and credited him with 229 days already spent in jail.
At trial, prosecutors presented police body-camera footage, data from Flynn’s iPhone and Apple Watch, and messages involving a woman he met when she was an intern at his church. Flynn’s gun, reportedly kept in his truck, was not recovered.
Before sentencing, Flynn apologized for unspecified decisions and said he had failed his marriage vows, but continued to deny killing Ashley. He wept as letters from his two daughters were read in court; they urged him to admit responsibility, and one said she would never visit him in prison.
A notice of appeal was filed Wednesday with Ohio’s Second District Court of Appeals. Flynn has requested court-appointed appellate counsel.
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