Former ‘American Idol’ singer Caleb Flynn is sentenced to life in prison for wife’s murder

A erstwhile Ohio euphony pastor who erstwhile appeared connected “American Idol” was sentenced to beingness successful situation without the anticipation of parole Monday aft a assemblage convicted him of murdering his woman portion helium was having an affair.

THIS IS A BREAKING NEWS UPDATE. Check backmost for updates. AP’s earlier communicative follows below.

A erstwhile euphony pastor successful Ohio who appeared concisely connected “American Idol” was acceptable to beryllium sentenced Monday aft a assemblage convicted him of murdering his woman portion helium was having an affair.

Prosecutors said Caleb Flynn, 40, staged a location penetration successful February aft shooting Ashley Flynn, a 37-year-old schoolteacher and volleyball coach. Flynn claimed she was killed by a burglar.

With tears rolling down his cheeks, Flynn addressed the courtroom up of the sentencing and apologized to his family, starting with his 2 daughters.

“I made vows to Ashley connected our wedding day. I failed successful those vows,” helium said. “I cannot apologize enough.”

Although helium admitted to lying astir galore things, Flynn remained adamant that helium was innocent.

“As I basal present earlier God, who is my eventual judge, I americium not lying erstwhile I accidental I did not termination my wife,” helium said.

Flynn faces up to beingness successful situation without the anticipation of parole aft the assemblage recovered him blameworthy past week of murder, felonious battle and tampering with evidence.

Flynn appeared concisely connected “American Idol” successful 2013, telling TV viewers astir however his woman had encouraged him to pursuit his dreams connected the singing competition. He did not beforehand to the main contention successful Hollywood aft singing earlier judges Mariah Carey, Randy Jackson and Nicki Minaj.

During closing arguments, prosecutors told jurors that Flynn wanted retired of his matrimony erstwhile helium changeable his woman astatine their location successful Tipp City, a suburb northbound of Dayton. The couple’s 2 daughters were location with their begetter erstwhile constabulary arrived.

He sent a substance connection to his person the nighttime earlier the shooting, saying, “I take you. I’m free. Actions volition travel tomorrow,” prosecutors said.

During the trial, Alleigha Botner testified she met Flynn successful 2022 portion she was a 20-year-old intern astatine his religion and had an matter with him for much than a year. She told jurors that Flynn said helium hated his woman and had thoughts of sidesplitting her.

Jurors besides heard AI-generated emotion songs that prosecutors said helium made for Botner. Flynn didn’t attest connected his ain behalf, nor did anybody else.

The weapon utilized to termination Ashley Flynn was not recovered astatine the scene, and his lawyer told jurors that investigators recovered nary grounds that Caleb Flynn fired a weapon that day. Prosecutors said his fingerprints and DNA were astatine the country and that his devices showed him moving astir the house, adjacent though helium claimed helium was dormant astatine the clip of the shooting.