Former American Idol contestant found guilty of wife’s murder

Former American Idol contestant Caleb Flynn has been found guilty of murdering his wife after jurors heard evidence of his affair, thousands of text messages with his mistress and songs he wrote about their relationship.

Flynn, 40, was convicted on Wednesday of aggravated murder and a number of other offences, including felonious assault and tampering with evidence, over the death of his wife, Ashley Flynn, 37.

The jury deliberated for nearly two and a half hours before finding him guilty on all charges, ABC News reported.

Flynn called 911 on February 16, saying an intruder had broken into the couple’s home in Tipp City, Ohio, and fatally shot Ashley. Prosecutors argued he instead shot her twice in the back of the head while she slept, then staged the scene to resemble a break-in.

Flynn became emotional as the verdict was read, appearing to tear up and briefly sob in court, according to ABC News. He is due to be sentenced on October 5 and faces up to life in prison without parole.

The case drew widespread attention during the trial because of Flynn’s appearance on American Idol and evidence surrounding his relationship with 24-year-old Alleigha Botner, his former mistress.

Botner spent two days on the witness stand, testifying about the affair and more than 100,000 messages exchanged between the pair. She told jurors she eventually came to believe Flynn was responsible for his wife’s death.

“I simply thought that it was way too much of a coincidence that she was all of a sudden dead on the day that he was going to divorce her,” Botner testified, according to CBS News.

Jurors were shown messages in which Flynn and Botner expressed hostility towards Ashley Flynn and discussed ending the marriage.

“I want to kill her, Caleb,” Botner had written, which was read out in court.

“That makes two of us,” Flynn replied.

In a later message, Botner told Flynn she was not asking him to take Ashley’s life and urged him to pursue a divorce. She testified that references to wanting Ashley “gone” meant ending the marriage.

Ashley and Caleb Flynn lived in Tipp City, Ohio. Photo / Ashley Flynn

One of the most closely watched moments of the trial came when prosecutors played songs Flynn allegedly wrote about Botner.

The Daily Mail reported the lyrics were transformed into audio tracks using artificial intelligence and played to the jury. Flynn was described as visibly uncomfortable as the songs were heard in court.

During closing arguments, prosecutors said the evidence showed Flynn wanted a new life with Botner but also wanted to preserve his reputation, employment and relationship with his daughters.

They pointed to text messages, phone records and evidence they said contradicted his account of the shooting.

Flynn’s lawyers argued the case was circumstantial and maintained there was no direct physical evidence linking him to the killing. Defence lawyer Patrick Mulligan said after the verdict that an appeal was expected.

Outside court, prosecutor Paul Watkins urged attention to shift from Flynn and to Ashley’s life and legacy.

“This world would be a much better place if all of us in it lived like Ashley,” he said, according to ABC News.