Dayton, Ohio - Caleb Flynn, a pastor and former American Idol contestant, has been found guilty of murdering his wife after a dramatic trial in Ohio.
The horrific killing took place on February 16 of this year in Tipp City, a suburb of Dayton, per the BBC.
While Ashley Flynn was sleeping, her own husband ended her life by shooting her in the back of the head – and blamed the crime on burglars to the police.
He claimed he was in his daughters' room when he heard the shots, telling officers that the garage door was left open. The 40-year-old later contradicted his own statements.
On Tuesday, Flynn was found guilty after an eight-day trial of murder and several other charges, including evidence tampering.
The former pastor faces a life sentence with no possibility of parole.
Among those testifying was his ex-mistress, Alleigha Botner, whom he had met while she was an intern at his church. She said she now hates Flynn "because I believe that he murdered his wife."
During the trial, some of his 100,000 text messages to Botner were read aloud.
"I was up until 4 a.m. last night crying, literally thinking of ways to kill her and not go to jail," Flynn wrote in August 2025. In another message he said, "I just want her dead and gone."
Prosecutor Paul Watkins told the court that Flynn – who competed on American Idol in 2013 – harbored a deep hatred toward his wife.
He feared that a divorce would cost him custody of his daughters, his job at his wife's family business, and his standing in the church.
In court, Flynn repeatedly broke down in tears. His sentence is expected to be announced on October 5.