“Sir, I just want to take care of my daughters,” the father of two told the judge while fighting back tears
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc():focal(749x0:751x2):format(webp)/Caleb-Flynn-ashley-022126-5a6c0e8532474688b710309525380619.jpg)
Caleb Flynn’s court appearance on Feb. 20, 2026; Ashley and Caleb Flynn.Credit : WLWT/Youtube;Caleb Flynn
Caleb Flynn held back tears as he reassured a judge that he’s “not a risk” after being accused of murdering his wife.
On Friday, Feb. 20, the American Idol alum, 39, made his first court appearance at the Miami County Municipal Court, four days after he allegedly murdered his 37-year-old wife, Ashley Flynn, in their Ohio home.
In a video of the appearance obtained by local news outlet WLWT, a lawyer representing Caleb can be heard emphasizing his not guilty plea, after which the father of two told the judge while fighting back tears, “Sir, I just want to take care of my daughters. I’m not a risk.”
Ashley was pronounced dead on Feb. 16 after police responded to a call made by Caleb claiming that there was a burglary at their residence in Tipp City.
“Somebody broke into my home and killed my wife,” the caller cries in the nearly eight-minute call obtained by PEOPLE. “Please, please hurry.”
“She’s got three shots to her and blood everywhere,” the caller continues, later adding that she was shot in the head. “Ashley, baby, baby please. Oh my God!”
Want to keep up with the latest crime coverage? Sign up for PEOPLE’s free True Crime newsletter for breaking crime news, ongoing trial coverage and details of intriguing unsolved cases.
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc():focal(665x0:667x2):format(webp)/Caleb-Flynn-family-022126-1ed8de57138d4cdb98d2c2e04f2858cf.jpg)
Caleb and Ashley Flynn with their daughters.Ashley Flynn/Facebook
The caller also told the dispatcher that he was with his children when the shooting happened and was calling 911 from their bedroom where Ashley’s body was found.
Three days later, Caleb, who was an American Idol contestant in 2013, was taken into custody and charged with murder, two counts of felonious assault and two counts of tampering with evidence, according to online court records reviewed by PEOPLE. He has pleaded not guilty to all charges and is being held on a $2 million bond.
Ahead of Caleb’s recent court appearance, his attorney, L. Patrick Mulligan, expressed that his client “looks forward to defending this case.”
“We are both disappointed and concerned about the short timeline and seeming rush to judgment in this case,” he said in a statement to PEOPLE. “When the government runs out of leads or can’t develop leads and looks at a surviving spouse in cases such as these, the chance of a wrongful conviction increases.”
Following Ashley’s death, her family remembered her for bringing “endless light into our world” and expressed their belief that Caleb’s arrest was “made carefully and not without serious consideration.”
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc():focal(465x392:467x394):format(webp)/Ashley-Flynn-Caleb-Flynn-022026-59e9239ec7db4bcd942e5a157889df13.jpg)
Ashley and Caleb Flynn.Ashley Flynn/Facebook
“After speaking with both local police and federal authorities, we trust the proper steps were taken and the process is being handled appropriately,” they explained to Fox News. “We are clinging to our faith — just as Ashley did each and every day.”
If you are experiencing domestic violence, call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233, or go to thehotline.org. All calls are toll-free and confidential. The hotline is available 24/7 in more than 170 languages.
News
“I AM MADELEINE.” — A young German woman has stunned the world by unexpectedly declaring live on air that she is Madeleine McCann.
“I AM MADELEINE.” — A young German woman has stunned the world by unexpectedly declaring live on air that she is Madeleine McCann. The emotional moment and the memories she shared immediately went viral, reigniting the global debate surrounding the mysterious disappearance that has lasted for years. Many believe this could be a shocking turning […]
“NO ONE MORE CENT!” — Charles III is rumored to have delivered a “fatal blow,” completely cutting off royal funding for Meghan Markle and Prince Harry…
“NO ONE MORE CENT!” — Charles III is rumored to have delivered a “fatal blow,” completely cutting off royal funding for Meghan Markle and Prince Harry. According to rapidly spreading rumors, the King is said to have ordered an end to all financial privileges related to the Sovereign Grant — a move dubbed a “TOTAL […]
In the corner, Jed – the man she had to call father – trembled, clutching his old hunting rifle. The trailer door rattled violently under the pounding from outside…
“She’s Deaf—Take Her!” The Drunk Father Shouted, But Mountain Man Whispered, “I Know You Can Hear…” The Great Smoky Mountains of Tennessee in late November presented a bleak and harsh beauty. Thick, dark clouds hung low over the pine trees, bringing with them gusts of biting, bone-chilling wind. Inside the dilapidated trailer, the stench of […]
Behind the wheel sat Liam Hayes. At twenty-eight, he had just completed the sale of his tech startup to a Silicon Valley giant for thirty million dollars.
HE CAME HOME A MILLIONAIRE TO SURPRISE HIS FAMILY… THEN HE SAW TWO “HOMELESS” PEOPLE IN THE RAIN OUTSIDE HIS HOUSE A cold, gray November rain poured down on Willow Creek, Pennsylvania. But inside the cockpit of his new Mercedes-Maybach S-Class, everything was warm and perfect. The scent of genuine leather mingled with the fragrance […]
“THEY TURN THE MUR-D;ER..E;R INTO A VI;CTI;;M?” — A PARENT’S LETTERS CAUSE OUTRAGE, THE FAMILIES OF TWO VI….CTI–MS “ERASED” FROM TRA-GED-Y
🚨 “THEY TURN THE MURDERER INTO A VICTIM?” — A PARENT’S LETTERS CAUSE OUTRAGE, THE FAMILIES OF TWO VICTIMS “ERASED” FROM TRAGEDY The letter to the judge is being heavily criticized for focusing solely on the “pain” of the suspect’s parents, instead of the irreparable loss suffered by the victims. Many believe this is proof […]
“Caleb… Caleb…” She could only call his name amidst her sobs, burying her face in the crook of his neck. The wounds on her body seemed to no longer hurt.
Three Years of Beatings and Abuse — Until a Mountain Man Walked Through the Door… The Bitterroot Mountains in Montana never showed mercy to anyone, especially on those stormy December nights. The wind howled through the dark pine trees, lashing against the reinforced glass walls of the secluded wooden mansion. Inside, the air was even […]
End of content
No more pages to load
