Former Worship Pastor Caleb Flynn on Trial in Wife’s Killing

TROY, Ohio — Former worship pastor and onetime “American Idol” contestant Caleb Flynn is standing trial in Ohio, accused of fatally shooting his wife, Ashley Flynn, and attempting to make her death resemble a home invasion.

Flynn, 40, has pleaded not guilty to charges that include aggravated murder, murder, felonious assault, tampering with evidence and witness intimidation. His trial began this month in Miami County Common Pleas Court and remains underway.

Ashley Flynn, 37, was found dead in the couple’s Tipp City home during the early morning hours of Feb. 16, 2026. She had been shot twice in the back of the head while in bed, according to prosecutors. The couple’s two daughters were also inside the house.

Caleb Flynn called 911 and reported that an intruder had entered the home and shot his wife. In the call, he told the dispatcher that he did not know whether the supposed intruder remained inside. Police arrested him several days later. He has maintained his innocence.

The prosecution’s case centers on Flynn’s relationship with another woman, thousands of electronic messages and evidence investigators say undermines the reported break-in.

An alleged affair becomes central to the case

Alleigha Botner, 24, testified that she met Flynn while serving as an intern at his church and later had a sexual relationship with him. She said the affair lasted roughly 18 months and that the pair exchanged more than 100,000 messages.

During two days of testimony, jurors were shown messages in which Flynn allegedly expressed hatred toward his wife and discussed wanting her dead. In one August 2025 message presented in court, Flynn allegedly wrote that he had stayed awake considering ways to kill Ashley without going to jail.

Botner testified that she interpreted many of his statements as expressions of anger rather than a genuine plan. She said she repeatedly encouraged him to obtain a divorce. When questioned about messages telling Flynn that she would remain apart from him until Ashley was “gone,” Botner said she meant until the marriage had ended.

The timing of several messages has become especially important to prosecutors. On the night before Ashley’s death, Flynn allegedly told Botner that he had chosen her, was “free” and that actions would follow the next day. Botner testified that she understood this to mean Flynn planned to discuss divorce with his wife and in-laws.

After learning that Ashley had been killed, however, Botner began to suspect Flynn. She testified that the death occurring on the same day he reportedly intended to pursue a divorce appeared to be too great a coincidence. Asked about her feelings toward Flynn now, she told the court that she hated him because she believed he had murdered his wife, CBS News reported.