Caleb Flynn has been sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole after his two daughters delivered emotional statements at the hearing for the murder of their mother, Ashley Flynn.
Flynn, 40, a former music pastor who competed on season 12 of American Idol, was convicted over the killing of Ashley, 37, who was shot twice in the head at the couple’s home in Tipp City, Ohio, on February 16.
He was found guilty of aggravated murder, three counts of murder, two counts of felonious assault and three counts of tampering with evidence.
At the sentencing hearing in Ohio on Monday, Flynn continued to deny killing his wife and said he intended to keep fighting to prove his innocence.
“I have unfortunately lied about a lot of things over the last couple of years, but as I stand here before God, who is my ultimate judge, I am not lying,” he said. “I did not kill my wife.”
His lawyer has previously indicated that an appeal against the conviction was expected.
Flynn’s daughters address their father
Flynn’s daughters, Ava, 10, and Alyssa, 12, had statements read in court. Their words referred to allegations that their father had cheated on Ashley with 24-year-old Alleigha Botner.
Ava wrote that she had loved and looked up to her father before accusing him of lying and choosing to kill “the only mother I ever had”. She described Ashley as “the perfect person” and said: “She loved you and she cared for you. She took care of you. She loved you with all her heart. She was my best friend.”
She also urged her father to confess and repent, writing that she prayed every night for him and Botner to acknowledge what they had done. “Please tell Jesus that you’re sorry,” she wrote.
Ava ended her statement by telling Flynn that there was still a chance for him to seek forgiveness, adding: “I hope you will bring Jesus back into your heart.”
Alyssa told her father that she had loved him deeply but accused him of thinking only of himself. She said his actions had caused profound pain to the family and urged him to admit responsibility.
“The least you could do is tell everyone you did it and receive your outcome,” she wrote.
Alyssa also referred to her mother as “the best thing that ever happened to you” and questioned how Flynn could stand in church singing about his love for God while keeping secrets from his family.
She wrote that discovering her father was responsible for such a tragedy had been shocking and said he had made her feel unable to trust him.
Despite everything that had happened, Alyssa said her family had grown stronger. She ended her statement by telling Flynn that she did not plan to visit him in prison.
