Ex-American Idol contestant charged in wife's murder previously described as 'very talented' church leader

The Ohio antheral was described arsenic a "very talented" religion person earlier being accused of the brutal sidesplitting of his wife, according to online records.

39-year-old Caleb Flynn was charged with execution connected Friday successful narration to the decease of his wife, Ashley Flynn. Ashley, a mother, teacher and volleyball coach, was changeable and killed successful her Tipp City, Ohio, location aboriginal Monday morning. Caleb Flynn initially called 911 and told a dispatcher that idiosyncratic broke into his location and killed his wife, according to audio obtained by Fox News Digital.

Caleb Flynn was charged with murder, 2 counts of felonious battle with a deadly limb and 2 counts of tampering with evidence. He was booked into the Miami County Jail astatine 5:07 p.m. connected Thursday, according to inmate records. He was arraigned connected Friday greeting and pleaded not guilty. His enslaved was acceptable astatine $2 million. A preliminary proceeding is scheduled for February 26 astatine 1:00 p.m.

According to tribunal documents, Caleb Flynn allegedly changeable and killed his woman with a 9mm handgun and staged the transgression scene, which caused officers to beryllium "lead estray."

CHRISTIAN MOTHER, TEACHER'S AUTOPSY CONDUCTED AS POLICE PROBE HOMICIDE IN OHIO HOME INVASION

Tipp City parent of 2 recovered dormant aft reported location invasion; constabulary usage drones and K-9 units successful hunt for fishy arsenic assemblage mourns tragic loss. (Ashley Flynn/Facebook)

"Oh my God, idiosyncratic broke into my home, idiosyncratic broke into my location and changeable my wife," Caleb Flynn said erstwhile calling 911. "My wife, she's got 2 shots to her head, there's humor everywhere. Oh my God, ohio my God, ohio my God."

"Ashley, Ashley, baby, babe please, ohio my god, there's nary - she's not!" Caleb said.

Caleb Flynn past claimed that the doorway "leading to the store door" was "wide open" astatine the time.

Who is Caleb Flynn?

In 2013, Caleb Flynn was a contestant connected "American Idol," wherever helium discussed his emotion for his woman during an interrogation to beryllium connected the show.

"I perfectly emotion the Lord. I emotion my woman much than anything. She is very, precise pretty. ... I emotion her," Caleb Flynn said. "But, you know, I'm conscionable a mean idiosyncratic who perfectly loves to sing much than thing successful the world."

Caleb Flynn successful a 2013 "American Idol" Hometown Interview. Caleb is the hubby of Ashley Flynn, who was changeable and killed successful her Ohio location connected Monday, February 16, 2026. (YouTube/American Idol)

According to Caleb Flynn's LinkedIn, helium was a Worship Director astatine Free Chapel Church successful Spartanburg, South Carolina, from July 2015 to February 2021.

For astir a twelvemonth successful 2021, Caleb Flynn worked astatine Equis Financial earlier becoming the vice president of Sales astatine Richard D. Smith & Sons, which is simply a family-owned commercialized interior supplier.

CHRISTIAN MOTHER, TEACHER FOUND DEAD AS POLICE HUNT HOMICIDE SUSPECT IN OHIO HOME INVASION

Caleb Flynn's booking photograph from Miami County Jail successful Dayton, Ohio, connected Thursday, February 19, 2026. (Miami County Jail)

One idiosyncratic who worked with Caleb Flynn submitted a proposal connected LinkedIn, saying the 39-year-old is simply a "Very talented and passionate worship leader! A agleam aboriginal awaits this young man," the idiosyncratic wrote.

Beyond speeding tickets and postulation infractions, Caleb Flynn doesn't person a transgression history.

In a connection to Fox News Digital, Caleb Flynn's attorney, L. Patrick Mulligan, said prosecutors rushed to impeach his lawsuit of murder.

FBI JOINS PROBE IN MURDER OF CHRISTIAN TEACHER SHOT IN OHIO HOME AS 'AMERICAN IDOL' HUSBAND, CHILDREN SLEPT

Ashley Flynn, a Tipp City Schools substitute teacher and volleyball coach, was recovered dormant successful her Ohio location during the reported burglary. Police launched a homicide probe into her death. (Tipp City Schools)

"Caleb Flynn entered a plea of Not Guilty this greeting and looks guardant to defending this case. We are some disappointed and acrophobic astir the abbreviated timeline and seeming unreserved to judgement successful this case," Mulligan said. "When the authorities runs retired of leads oregon can't make leads and looks astatine a surviving spouse successful cases specified arsenic these, the accidental of a wrongful condemnation increases."

According to News Center 7, lone Ashley and Caleb Flynn arsenic good arsenic their 2 children were wrong the location during the incident.

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Ashley and Caleb Flynn successful an undated photograph with their 2 children. (GoFundMe)

In an earlier connection to Fox News Digital, Tipp City Chief Greg Adkins said helium believes the incidental is isolated.

"We judge that this was an isolated incidental targeting this circumstantial residence," Adkins told Fox News Digital Wednesday. "No accusation astatine this clip to judge the nationalist is successful immoderate danger. The probe volition proceed until we tin supply each the answers to the household and community."

Fox News Digital's Sarah Rumpf-Whitten contributed to this report.