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Former “American Idol” contestant Caleb Flynn, 39, is facing serious charges after being accused of murdering his wife, Ashley Flynn, and attempting to make the crime appear as a fatal burglary at their Ohio home.
Flynn was charged Friday with murder, felonious assault, and tampering with evidence in connection with the February 16 death of his 37-year-old wife. Court records from Miami County Municipal Court indicate he pleaded not guilty during his initial appearance and is currently being held on a $2 million cash bond.
His attorney, L. Patrick Mulligan, expressed disappointment and concern about the “short timeline and seeming rush to judgment” in the case, stating that Flynn looks forward to defending himself against the allegations. Authorities have not yet disclosed a possible motive for the alleged crime.
Caleb Flynn gained some public recognition during Season 12 of “American Idol,” where he was featured as a “music pastor” with a passion for singing. Ashley Flynn was a beloved substitute teacher and middle school volleyball coach in Tipp City, north of Dayton. The local school district remembered her in a Facebook post, highlighting her “beautiful smile, warmth, kindness, and the positive impact she had on so many.”
Tipp City police officers were dispatched to the couple’s home at 2:31 a.m. on February 16 following a reported burglary and shooting. In a 911 call, Caleb Flynn could be heard frantically informing a dispatcher that an intruder had broken in and shot his wife.
He reportedly stated that the garage door was “wide open” and his wife had been shot twice in the head. The couple’s two children were reportedly home at the time of the incident.
A police detective, in the official complaint, accused Caleb Flynn of fatally shooting his wife with a .9 mm handgun, then staging the scene to mislead investigators. The complaint, however, does not detail how authorities concluded that the scene was allegedly staged.