What began as a frantic 911 call reporting a late-night burglary has now unraveled into a chilling murder case that has stunned a quiet Ohio community.
Caleb Flynn, 39, a former church music pastor who once appeared on “American Idol,” has been charged with multiple felonies, including murder and tampering with evidence, in the shooting death of his wife, Ashley Flynn, 37. Prosecutors allege he shot her in the head while their two middle-school-aged daughters slept in nearby bedrooms — and then staged the scene to look like a home invasion.
According to court documents cited by the Dayton Daily News, Flynn called 911 around 2:30 a.m. Monday, claiming an intruder had broken into their home and shot his wife. In audio obtained by Fox News Digital, Flynn can be heard in apparent panic.
“Oh my god, somebody broke into my home … and shot my wife,” he told the dispatcher. “My wife, she’s got two shots to her head, there’s blood everywhere.” He repeatedly cried out her name, saying she was not breathing.
Responding officers initially encountered what appeared to be signs of a break-in, prompting a large-scale search involving drones and K-9 units. Dispatch logs obtained by WHIO described an open garage door and uncertainty about whether an armed suspect remained inside. At one point, responders confirmed only one adult male was present and that the couple’s daughters were asleep in separate bedrooms.
But investigators later concluded the crime scene had been staged. In a criminal complaint filed Friday, authorities stated they had been “led astray by the staging of the crime scene.” Detectives determined that only Ashley, Caleb, and their two daughters were inside the home at the time of the shooting.
Ashley Flynn, a teacher and volleyball coach, was found dead in her bedroom. Court records emphasize that the children “had not woke up and was still in their bedroom throughout this incident.”
Prosecutors allege Flynn used a 9mm handgun to shoot his wife before attempting to manipulate evidence to suggest a burglary. He was arrested and booked into the Miami County Jail late Thursday.
During a video arraignment Friday morning, Flynn pleaded not guilty and asked to be released. “I just want to take care of my daughters,” he told Judge Samuel Huffman. “I’m not a risk.” Bond was set at $2 million. His attorney, Patrick Mulligan, described the amount as “unnecessarily high,” arguing it would prevent Flynn from attending his wife’s funeral.
The case carries a stark contrast to Flynn’s public persona. During his 2013 appearance on “American Idol,” he spoke warmly about his faith and his marriage. “I absolutely love the Lord. I love my wife more than anything,” he said during a hometown segment.
Ashley’s death was first reported as a possible burglary. Within days, that narrative collapsed under investigative scrutiny. Now, instead of searching for an intruder, authorities are preparing for a murder prosecution that centers on the husband who made the desperate call for help.
The case remains under investigation.
