Former Worship Pastor And ‘American Idol’ Contestant Pleads Not Guilty To Wife’s Murder
A former Ohio worship pastor and American Idol contestant, accused of murdering his wife pleaded not guilty to 11 charges during a March 19 arraignment.
A Miami County grand jury indicted Caleb Flynn, 39, March 18, according to WDTN-TV Ch. 2, an NBC affiliate. He has been charged with aggravated murder, murder, felonious assault, tampering with evidence and intimidation of an attorney, victim or witness.
At the arraignment, Judge Stacy Wall increased Flynn’s bond from $2 million to $3.5 million and ordered him not to have any contact with his two daughters as the case proceeds, WDTN reported.
If found guilty on all charges, Flynn could face a life sentence without eligibility for parole.
Police arrested Flynn on Feb. 19, three days after responding to a 2:30 a.m. burglary call at his home in Tipp City, a suburb of Dayton in southwest Ohio. Investigators found his wife, Ashley Flynn, 37, with two gunshot wounds. She was pronounced dead at the scene.
Initial charges against Flynn were murder, felonious assault and tampering with evidence.
Flynn appeared on the 12th season of American Idol in 2013. He shared about his love for his wife during an interview on the show and compared her to his favorite American Idol contestant, Carrie Underwood, who won the fourth season.
Flynn worked as a worship leader at Christian Life Center in Dayton, Ohio, according to The Independent. Before that, he worked as a worship pastor at Free Chapel in Spartanburg, South Carolina, according to his LinkedIn profile.
The Roys Report (TRR) reached out to Christian Life Center for comment but did not receive a response before publication.
In a Feb. 21 Facebook post, Christian Life Center Pastor Jordan Hansen described Ashley Flynn as a “devoted wife, loving mother, and cherished member” of the church.
“Her life touched many, and her absence is deeply felt throughout our church family,” Hansen wrote. “As the events surrounding this tragedy continue to unfold, we join you in the shock, sadness, and unanswered questions many are experiencing. In moments like these, we are reminded of our calling as the body of Christ: mourn together, to care for one another, and to draw near to God, who is our source of comfort and peace.”
A GoFundMe page launched by Jon Crawford, the husband of Ashley Flynn’s best friend, has raised nearly $175,000 to support Flynn’s daughters, far surpassing its goal of $50,000.
“This fundraiser was created as a way to come alongside (the Flynn girls) and help ease some of the financial burden in the days and months ahead,” Crawford wrote.
Crawford said Ashley Flynn “lived her life as the hands and feet of Jesus” and that she was “an incredible encourager who loved people deeply.”
A pretrial hearing for Flynn is set for March 30, according to WHIO-TV Ch. 7, a CBS affiliate.
This article was originally published at The Roys Report.
Ann Marie Shambaugh has reported as a print journalist in multiple states, including currently in Carmel, Indiana.