In a harrowing 911 call, a former American Idol contestant, Caleb Flynn, claimed an intruder had broken into his home and killed his wife. The distressing audio, recently released, captures the 39-year-old’s anguished attempts to report the tragic event that took place in their Ohio home in the early hours of February 16.

Caleb, who first caught public attention as a contestant on the popular reality show back in 2013, has since become a music pastor and worship leader. Now, his voice was filled with panic as he told the dispatcher that he had found his wife, Ashley Flynn, 37, dead, sobbing and hyperventilating as he tried to make sense of the situation.

Throughout the call, Caleb is heard repeatedly pleading, “Oh my god, oh my god, oh my god,” while frantically telling the dispatcher, “Somebody broke into my home and shot my wife.” His desperation and urgency are palpable as he begs for immediate assistance.

The dispatcher, remaining calm and collected, inquired whether the intruder was still present. Caleb, still in shock, could only respond with uncertainty, “I don’t know, I don’t know… please hurry, please please hurry.” This sense of urgency underscores the intensity of the situation he found himself in.

When asked to describe what he was seeing, Caleb was overwhelmed by the gruesome scene, stating, “My wife, she’s got two shots to her head. There is blood everywhere… oh my god, oh my god, oh my god.” The raw emotion in his voice paints a vivid picture of the trauma he was experiencing at that moment.

Asked what he can see, Caleb said: ‘My wife, she’s got two shots to her head. There is blood everywhere… oh my god, oh my god, oh my god.’ 

After Caleb wept over the phone as he claimed his wife was killed in a break-in, prosecutors allege that he shot his wife in the head before staging the scene in an effort to mislead investigators. 

He has been charged with murder, two counts of felonious assault with a deadly weapon and two counts of tampering with evidence.

Former American Idol contestant Caleb Flynn, 39, was heard in newly released audio hyperventilating and crying to 911 as he said he discovered his wife Ashley Flynn, 37, dead in their Ohio home in the early hours of February 16. He has since been charged with her murder

Flynn seen on American Idol in 2013, where he spoke proudly of his wife and boasted of his devotion to his Christian faith, saying: ‘I absolutely love the Lord. I love my wife more than anything. She is very, very pretty. … I love her’

Authorities arrived at the couple’s home in Tipp City, around 20 miles outside of Dayton, Ohio, at 2:30am on February 16, and pronounced Ashley dead at the scene. 

Court documents allege that Caleb used a 9mm handgun to shoot his wife in the head, while their two children were sleeping in rooms nearby.   

According to dispatch logs, officers responded to reports of a possible burglary and found the garage door was open, suggesting a potential intruder could still be inside. 

Prosecutors said police at the scene established that only Ashley, Caleb and their two daughters were inside the home, along with their two dogs. 

When officers arrived, Ashley was found in bed in the master bedroom with gunshot wounds to the head.

Two shell casings were discovered near the foot of the bed, the affidavit states.

Inside the garage, investigators found the center console of a 2024 Ford pickup truck open – where Flynn told police he kept his handgun.

Police also noted that a large refrigerator had been positioned in front of the garage’s side door and would have had to be pushed aside to open it.

The former reality show contestant seen in his mugshot 

Ashley (far right), pictured with her two daughters and Caleb, was found with gunshot wounds to her head in their Ohio home while their children slept in the home 

In his time on the American Idol contest, Caleb spoke proudly of his wife and boasted of his devotion to his Christian faith. 

‘I absolutely love the Lord. I love my wife more than anything. She is very, very pretty. … I love her,’ he said at the time.

Flynn had also served as a music pastor and worship leader at Christian Life Center in Butler Township.

Ashley was a beloved teacher who was a graduate of Tippecanoe High School and Lee University and coached girls volleyball at Tippecanoe Middle School.

She also worked as a substitute teacher for Tipp City Schools and taught at LifeWise Academy, a nonprofit providing Bible-based lessons to public school students.

Ashley’s school district remembered her as a dedicated educator who left a lasting mark on her students, saying she ‘was known for her beautiful smile, warmth, kindness and the positive impact she had on so many – both in and out of the classroom and on the court.’ 

Ashley was described as a beloved teacher  who ‘was known for her beautiful smile, warmth, kindness and the positive impact she had on so many’

Caleb has been charged with murder, two counts of felonious assault with a deadly weapon and two counts of tampering with evidence and he was jailed on a $2 million bond 

A GoFundMe established after Ashley Flynn’s death raised more than $100,000 in its first day, which said the proceeds would go to her daughters ‘during this unimaginable time.’ 

The fundraiser read: ‘Ashley lived her life as the hands and feet of Jesus. Her laughter was contagious, she was the biggest encourager, and she loved people deeply.’  

Tipp City Police Chief Greg Adkins denied reports circulating online that a suspect had confessed.

‘The Flynn family is coping with an unimaginable loss, and the department will not try this case in the media,’ said Adkins on Thursday. ‘This matter will be resolved through the judicial process and adjudicated in a court of law.

The FBI, Miami County Sheriff’s Office and the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation have been assisting Tipp City Police with the ‘complex’ probe. 

Caleb’s bond was set at $2 million during his arraignment Friday morning, and he is due back in court next Thursday for a preliminary hearing.

Jail records show he was booked into the Miami County Jail at 5.07pm on Thursday.