Former “American Idol” contestant Caleb Flynn returned to center stage Monday as his Ohio murder trial entered its second week. Jurors continued watching his recorded police interview while prosecutors moved closer to completing their case.
The jury began viewing the interview Friday. In it, Flynn described what he said occurred inside his Tipp City home before and after his wife, Ashley Flynn, was fatally shot on Feb. 16.
Prosecutors claim Flynn shot Ashley in the back of the head and then staged the home to make it appear that an intruder had entered. Flynn has pleaded not guilty to aggravated murder and other charges.
Prosecutors were also considering calling the couple’s 10- and 12-year-old daughters, who were home when their mother was killed, to testify Monday. No final decision had been announced before court resumed.
Caleb Flynn speaks with investigators during a recorded police interview following the Feb. 16, 2026, shooting death of his wife, Ashley Flynn. (CREDIT: WKEF)
If they testify, the girls will do so by audio only, according to the court.
During the interview shown Monday, Flynn pointed investigators toward a stranger he said had appeared outside the family’s home the day before Ashley’s death.
Flynn said Ashley and their daughters were in the living room when a car pulled up and remained outside. A man then stepped out and approached the front porch.
“My daughter can confirm,” Flynn told investigators.
He described the man as long-haired and acting awkwardly. Flynn said the man was not wearing clothing with a visible company logo and delivered what he called a “weird” sales pitch involving an American flag.
According to Flynn, Ashley eventually shut the door after the man said he would come back later.
Flynn also recounted his movements before the shooting. He said the family dogs were with him as he slept on the couch until one began shaking and scratching, waking him.
He said he checked on his daughters, tucked his youngest daughter back into bed and then chose to lie down beside her.
Flynn told investigators that gunshots woke him again.
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. (Credit: WKEF)
“The shots woke you up?” an investigator asked.
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“Yes, sir,” Flynn replied, describing the gunfire as “back-to-back” and “loud.”
Detective Sgt. Mike Morgan later testified that Flynn said he froze for four to six seconds before rushing across the house to the master bedroom, where he found Ashley had been shot.
The recorded interview followed two days of testimony from Flynn’s former mistress, Alleigha Botner. She described their affair and read messages the pair exchanged during the months leading up to Ashley’s death.
Botner testified that Flynn repeatedly discussed wanting his wife dead. In one message, he allegedly wrote that he had stayed awake until 4 a.m. “literally thinking of ways to kill her and not go to jail.”
But Flynn’s attorneys used their cross-examination to emphasize the broader context of more than 107,000 messages exchanged during the roughly year-and-a-half affair, including emotionally charged language used by Botner herself.
Alleigha Botner wipes away tears while testifying about messages exchanged with Caleb Flynn during his murder trial in Ohio. (CREDIT: WKEF)
Botner also testified she understood Flynn’s plans for Feb. 16 to mean he intended to finally leave Ashley and seek a divorce – not kill her.
Shortly after midnight that morning, however, Flynn allegedly told Botner, “It’s happening,” followed by, “February 16th – day I’ll never forget.”
“You’re about to be free,” Botner responded.
Ashley Flynn, a Tipp City Schools substitute teacher and volleyball coach, was found dead in her Ohio home on Feb. 16, 2026. (Tipp City Schools)
“I choose you,” Flynn replied.
Investigators have not recovered the gun prosecutors allege was used to kill Ashley despite extensive searches. There was no eyewitness to the shooting, and testimony showed no gunshot residue was found on Flynn.
Ashley and Caleb Flynn in an undated photo with their two children. (GoFundMe)
Prosecutors have several additional witnesses they plan to call as they move closer to resting their case. It remained unclear Monday morning whether Flynn’s daughters would be among them.
News Outlet has remained in contact with Flynn’s attorney, who declined to comment while the trial is ongoing.




