Former “American Idol” contestant Caleb Flynn was convicted Tuesday of murdering his wife, Ashley Flynn, after an Ohio trial centered on his hidden affair and disturbing messages in which he discussed wanting her dead.
Jurors found Flynn guilty on every count.
Caleb Flynn becomes emotional in court during his murder trial in Ohio. Flynn is accused of killing his wife, Ashley Flynn, in February 2026 and staging the scene to look like a break-in. (COURTESY: WKEF)
The case included nine charges: aggravated murder, three counts of murder, two counts of felonious assault and three counts of tampering with evidence related to a missing firearm, a side garage door and emails. Jurors also weighed firearm specifications attached to several of the charges.
Flynn visibly unraveled as the verdicts were read. He shook, wiped tears from his face and repeatedly lowered his head toward the defense table. When he looked up, his eyes were red and filled with tears.
The court is scheduled to sentence Flynn at 3 p.m. Oct. 5.
Prosecutors said Flynn shot Ashley in the back of the head inside their Tipp City home, then arranged the scene to suggest that an intruder had broken in.
Flynn had pleaded not guilty to aggravated murder and the other charges.
The prosecution’s case was largely circumstantial. Investigators did not find the firearm they believe was used in the killing, no witness saw the shooting and testimony indicated that Flynn had no gunshot residue on him.
Body camera footage shows Caleb Flynn reacting to his wife’s murder inside their home in Tipp City, Ohio on Feb. 16, 2026. (Tipp City Police Department)
Jurors heard two days of testimony from Flynn’s former mistress, Alleigha Botner. She described their approximately 18-month affair and reviewed many of the more than 107,000 messages they exchanged, including conversations about Ashley’s death.
In a message from May 2025, Flynn allegedly wrote, “If I could literally kill her and not go to hell, I would do it in a heartbeat.”
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Alleigha Botner testifies Wednesday in the Ohio murder trial of former “American Idol” contestant Caleb Flynn. Prosecutors say Botner had an affair with Flynn before his wife, Ashley Flynn, was killed. (CREDIT: WKEF)
Botner testified that months later, Flynn told her he had remained awake until 4 a.m., “literally thinking of ways to kill her and not go to jail.”
Messages exchanged by Flynn and Botner in the hours leading up to Ashley’s death were also presented as evidence.
Shortly after midnight on Feb. 16, Flynn allegedly texted Botner, “It’s happening.”
Ashley and Caleb Flynn in an undated photo with their two children. (GoFundMe)
He later sent another message: “February 16th – day I’ll never forget.”
Botner replied, “You’re about to be free.”
Flynn responded, “I choose you.”
Botner testified she understood Flynn’s plans at the time to mean he intended to finally leave Ashley and seek a divorce – not kill her.
Flynn’s attorneys argued prosecutors failed to prove he killed Ashley, pointing to the missing murder weapon, lack of eyewitnesses and absence of gunshot residue while accusing investigators of rushing to judgment.
“This simply is proven versus not proven,” defense attorney Patrick Mulligan told jurors during closing arguments Tuesday.
Jurors received the case Tuesday after closing arguments and lengthy instructions from Judge Jeannine N. Pratt.
