Both the state and the defense rested Monday in the trial of an American Idol alum accused of murdering his wife, but the defense called no witnesses on behalf of their client.
Caleb Flynn, a father of two young daughters from Tipp City, Ohio, is accused of fatally shooting his wife, Ashley Flynn, twice in the back of the head as she slept and staging the scene to look like a home invasion.
The prosecution spent more than seven days calling witnesses in an effort to prove its case against Flynn, including testimony from his father, mother-in-law, sister-in-law and alleged former mistress, Alleigha Botner.
Flynn, who was a worship leader and music pastor at Christian Life Center at the time of the murder, met Botner when she was an intern at the church. According to her testimony, the two began their affair around April 2024. Botner testified that she gave Flynn numerous deadlines to divorce Ashley, which he missed each time.
On Feb. 15, the night before the murder, Flynn messaged Botner late into the night, saying he intended to be “free” the following day. Botner said she took that to mean he would be leaving his wife.
Instead, prosecutors allege Flynn shot his wife and called 911 to report a break-in.
In interview footage played during the trial, Flynn told investigators that in the early morning hours of Feb. 16, he had been sleeping on the couch before hearing the family’s dog move. Flynn said he checked on his daughters and then lay down with his youngest child on the bottom bunk of a bunk bed. He later said he heard gunshots.
“I didn’t know what happened,” Flynn said. “I knew what I heard, but I didn’t know.”
Flynn could be seen crouched by his kitchen dining room table in tears when police approached him inside the house. He repeatedly asked what to do with his children. Ashley’s mother, Jill Smith, was then contacted and told of her daughter’s murder.
Smith testified that a few days after the murder, her granddaughters appeared “super nervous” after taking a walk with Flynn. When one of the girls admitted she was very nervous, Jill marched her over to Flynn and told him to tell his daughter to speak the truth.
Smith described the moment Flynn told his daughters their mother had been killed, recounting a story he allegedly told them about an intruder breaking into the home and killing Ashley.
“The girls just started screaming and crying, and they were crawling all over him saying, ‘No, no, Daddy,’” Smith testified.
She also described being shocked by Ashley’s death and Flynn’s actions before and after the murder. Flynn’s sister-in-law and father-in-law also testified about his work for their family’s business, including his $200,000 annual salary and how he stood to earn more in the future.
Botner later testified that Flynn spoke poorly of Ashley’s family, alleging that he despised them.
Throughout their relationship, Botner and Flynn often spoke about killing Ashley, whom they referred to by derogatory nicknames in their messages.
“What can I do?” one text from Botner read.
“Kill her,” Flynn responded.
As she read the messages, Botner paused at one point, becoming emotional and saying she “didn’t mean it.” Flynn often looked down as Botner read the messages, taking deep breaths and clenching his jaw. Ashley’s parents appeared devastated by the messages.
Throughout the trial, more than 40 witnesses were called by the state. When it came time for the defense’s case, they rested.
“At this time, does the defense wish to present any case?” Judge Jeannine N. Pratt asked the defense. “No, your honor,” the defense responded.
Closing arguments for the prosecution and defense will begin Tuesday morning.
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