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Caleb Flynn, former ‘American Idol’ singer, found guilty of wife’s murder
NBC News • • nation
Key Points:
- Caleb Flynn, a former "American Idol" contestant and music pastor, was found guilty of murdering his wife, Ashley Flynn, in their Ohio home in February, with a jury convicting him on all nine charges including murder, assault, and tampering with evidence.
- Flynn had claimed an unknown intruder shot his wife, but prosecutors presented evidence that he staged the home invasion and had expressed thoughts of killing Ashley in text messages to his mistress, Alleigha Botner.
- Botner testified about her affair with Flynn and his expressed hatred and plans to kill his wife, including texts where Flynn discussed wanting Ashley dead months before the murder.
- The defense did not call any witnesses and argued that infidelity does not equal murder, while prosecutors highlighted electronic device data contradicting Flynn’s claim that he was asleep during the shooting.
- Flynn faces sentencing on October 5, where he could receive life in prison without parole; he was visibly emotional when the verdict was read in court.
