Ohio Man Accused of Murdering Wife Denies Involvement in Police Interview Played at Trial

Caleb Flynn, a former pastor and "American Idol" contestant, has denied killing his wife, Ashley Flynn, in a police interview that was played in court during his murder trial on Monday. Flynn, 40, is accused of murdering his 37-year-old wife in their Tipp City, Ohio, home and staging the scene to appear as an intruder broke in.

Prosecutors allege Flynn shot his wife twice in the back of the head to be with a mistress and manipulated the crime scene. They stated that Ashley Flynn was shot with 9mm bullets, and a 9mm handgun known to be kept in Flynn's truck console was missing when officers arrived. Flynn has pleaded not guilty to charges including aggravated murder, murder, felonious assault, and tampering with evidence.

During the interview with law enforcement on the day of his arrest, Feb. 19, three days after the shooting, Flynn was directly asked if he was involved in his wife's death. "No," he responded. When questioned about the missing handgun, he reiterated, "I didn't touch my wife."

Flynn reported calling 911 to report a burglary and shooting. In the 911 call, he is heard saying, "Somebody broke into my home. Somebody broke in my home and shot my wife." He described his wife having "two shots to her head, there's blood everywhere." He also stated the garage door was "wide open" and urged for immediate assistance.

Hours before making the 911 call on Feb. 16, Flynn texted his mistress, "Actions will come tomorrow," according to prosecutors. The former mistress, Alleigha Botner, testified for the state, presenting messages exchanged between them. One message from May 2025, read aloud in court, stated, "If I could literally kill her and not go to hell, I would do it in a heartbeat."

Flynn's defense attorneys acknowledged that he sent "ugly, hurtful" messages to his mistress, but argued he did so to appease her and lied to make her happy. They also contended that no direct evidence, such as a firearm, connects Flynn to the murder, presenting the case as solely based on a theory following an affair.

The state rested its case on Monday after seven days of testimony from over three dozen witnesses. The defense also rested on Monday without calling any witnesses, and Caleb Flynn did not testify in his own defense. Closing arguments are expected on Tuesday.