A former Ohio music pastor who appeared on “American Idol” was convicted Tuesday of murdering his wife in a killing prosecutors say he staged as a home invasion.
Caleb Flynn, 40, was found guilty of murder, felonious assault and tampering with evidence in the February shooting of his wife, Ashley Flynn, 37, a schoolteacher and volleyball coach. He could be sentenced to life in prison without parole on Monday.
Prosecutors said Flynn shot his wife at their Tipp City home, north of Dayton, then staged a home invasion. Flynn claimed a burglar killed her. The couple’s two daughters were home when police arrived.
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Flynn closed his eyes and fought to keep his composure as the verdicts were read, then sobbed when the jury was dismissed, The Associated Press reported. His attorney called the verdicts “disappointing” and said he expects to appeal.
Alleigha Botner, 24, testified for two days that she met Mr. Flynn in 2022 as a 20-year-old church intern and had an affair with him for more than a year.
Assistant Miami County Prosecutor Matthew Joseph told jurors Flynn wanted out of his marriage. The night before the shooting, Flynn texted Ms. Botner, “I choose you. I’m free. Actions will come tomorrow.”
“He told me that he hates her,” Ms. Botner said, according to the AP. She testified he said he had thoughts of killing his wife.
Jurors heard AI-generated love songs that prosecutors say he made for Ms. Botner and some of the more than 100,000 texts authorities say the two exchanged, including one from August 2025 in which he wrote he was up until 4 a.m. “trying to think of ways to kill her and not go to jail.”
According to the texts reported by the AP, Ms. Botner replied: “I’m not asking that you take her life obviously, because that’s not what you should do, and I know you actually wouldn’t. But to make the divorce happen, it would change everything.”
The defense and prosecution gave their closing arguments on Tuesday.
Mr. Flynn appeared on season 12 of “American Idol” in 2013 but did not advance to the Hollywood round.
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