Former ‘American Idol’ contestant and pastor, Caleb Flynn, 40, has been sentenced to life in prison without parole for murdering his wife, Ashley Flynn, 37, in Ohio, United States.
Flynn was convicted after prosecutors said he shot Ashley while she slept and staged their home to make it look like an intruder had broken in.
Investigators uncovered messages between Flynn and his former mistress, Alleigha Botner, whom he met while she was an intern at his church.
Prosecutors presented messages in which Flynn allegedly discussed plans to kill his wife and expressed a desire to have her “dead and gone.”
The jury rejected Flynn’s claim that he was asleep when the shooting occurred and convicted him of aggravated murder and other offences, including tampering with evidence.
At his sentencing, Flynn’s two daughters had emotional letters read in court, questioning how he could kill their mother and expressing their refusal to visit him in prison.
Flynn reportedly cried as the letters were read but continued to deny killing Ashley. His lawyer said he plans to appeal the conviction.
Flynn briefly appeared on ‘American Idol’ in 2013, where he spoke about his love for Ashley.