Caleb Flynn Denies Killing Wife, Says 'I Didn't Touch Her' In Cop Interview Played At Murder Trial
American Idol alum and pastor Caleb Flynn strongly denies even touching his slain wife in a police interview played for the jury as the testimony wraps in Ashley Flynn's murder case.
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Add BollywoodShaadis on GoogleFormer American Idol contestant and church pastor Caleb Flynn repeatedly denied killing his wife, Ashley Flynn, during a police interview played for jurors on Monday, September 28, 2026, as testimony wrapped up in his Ohio murder trial. The 40-year-old singer is accused of fatally shooting his 37-year-old wife, Ashley Flynn, in February 2026.
Prosecutors believe Flynn killed Ashley at their Tipp City home and then staged the scene to make it appear that someone had broken into the house and killed her. As he pleads not guilty to the murder, the police interview played inside the courtroom captures Flynn's claims.
Caleb Flynn Says an intruder killed his wife
During the recorded interview, investigators directly questioned Flynn about whether he had anything to do with his wife’s death. According to the recording played in court, the former pastor said, "I’m telling you, I didn’t touch my wife."
“The evidence is a little contrary to that,” Chief Deputy Steve Lord of the Miami County Sheriff’s Office responded, but Flynn kept repeating that he never touched Ashley. He has maintained that an unknown intruder was responsible for his wife's death.
In interviews with investigators, Caleb said he had left the couple’s bedroom because his coughing was disturbing his wife. He told police he eventually fell asleep in one of their daughters’ bedrooms after checking on the children.
According to the American Idol star's account, he woke up to the sound of gunshots and discovered Ashley in bed with gunshot wounds. His frantic 911 call was also played during the trial, where he can be heard screaming:
"Somebody broke into my home. Somebody broke into my home and shot my wife."
He told the dispatcher that Ashley had been shot in the head and urged emergency responders to hurry. However, prosecutors believe the shooting was also a part of Flynn's plan so that he appeared to be another victim of a home invasion. Investigators testified that they found no evidence supporting the presence of an outside attacker.
Investigators also reported a 9mm handgun that Flynn had reportedly kept in the center console of his truck. Before the cops arrived, that weapon was no longer there. The prosecution has argued that Ashley, too, was killed with 9mm ammunition. The defense has challenged the firearm theory, saying that the police never recovered the alleged firearm, so there is no physical evidence that could connect Flynn to the shooting.
Caleb Flynn allegedly texted his mistress about killing Ashley
A major part of the prosecution's case has focused on Flynn’s relationship with Alleigha Botner, a former worship leader at his church. The mistress also testified in court about her affair with Flynn, saying they exchanged more than 100,000 messages. Prosecutors presented some of those messages as evidence of Flynn’s alleged hostility toward his wife and his relationship with Botner.
Botner became emotional while reading some of the exchanges in court, including a message in which she wrote, "I want to kill her, Caleb," and Flynn responded, "That makes two of us."
One of the texts read that he was awake, trying to find ways to kill her and not go to jail. His message can be read as "I was up until 4 a.m. last night crying, literally trying to think of ways to kill her and not go to jail." In another message from May 2025, Caleb wrote, "If I could literally kill her and not go to hell, I would do it in a heartbeat."
The defense has acknowledged that Flynn made what his lawyers described as “ugly, hurtful” statements in his conversations with Botner. His attorneys have argued that he was saying things to appease her and that the messages do not prove he carried out the killing. Prosecutors also played AI-generated love songs Flynn allegedly created for Botner, using the material to illustrate the nature of their relationship.
Flynn was arrested February 19, 2026, three days after calling 911 to report a burglary and shooting at their Tipp City home. He has pleaded not guilty to aggravated murder, murder, felonious assault and tampering with evidence. Prosecutors allege he shot Ashley twice in the back of the head, then staged the scene to make it appear an intruder was responsible.
After more than a week of testimony from roughly 40 prosecution witnesses, the case is now headed toward closing arguments.
Image courtesy: Court TV/YouTube, Ashley Flynn/Facebook
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