Caleb Flynn’s Daughters Brutally Slam ‘American Idol’ Alum as He’s Sentenced to Life in Prison

Days after being found guilty in the murder of his wife, Ashley Flynn, American Idol alum Caleb Flynn was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole.

“In my almost 8 months of being here, this is my first opportunity I’ve had to speak. There’s so many things I would want to say, I would want to explain but I understand there’s not enough time today, this week, or the months that follow to say it all,” Caleb, 40, said through tears before the judge announced her sentencing on Monday, October 5.

He went on to address his daughters, Alyssa and Ava — whom he shared with Ashley — saying, “I don’t know if they’ll ever be able to hear this, but I want to say it regardless. I love you two. With absolutely everything inside of me.”

“I want to be there for your most important moments, and for that I’m sorry. There is so much I wish I could be there for, and so my heart breaks knowing I can’t. But please know I love you both and miss you more than you will ever know,” he added. “You are amazing and perfect in every way. Continue being the most amazing kind, beautiful and sweet girls you are. I could speak for hours and hours but never forget, I love you.”

Caleb then addressed his extended family, apologizing for the “awful and hurtful things” he had said about Ashley to them, which were revealed through the trial.

“I made vows to Ashley on our wedding day, I failed those vows. Through my decisions, I have caused you an incredible amount of pain. Through those decisions, I’m sure you have felt betrayal, confusion, anger and so much more. All the words don’t come close. I can never apologize enough,” Caleb said. “I take complete accountability and responsibility for my words and my decisions, and again, I am so sorry. I am so sorry. And pray you can one day forgive me.”

Despite apologizing for his words and “decisions,” Caleb denied killing his wife.

“I have unfortunately lied about a lot of things over the last couple of years. As I stand here before God, who is my ultimate judge, I am not lying when I say that I did not kill my wife. I will continue to fight for my innocence as long as the Lord allows me to. I did not kill my wife!” he said.

The former pastor shot and killed his wife inside their Ohio home on February 16. Caleb called 911 claiming he had found his wife with multiple gunshot wounds to the head.

After initially trying to point investigators towards an alleged home invasion, Caleb was arrested on February 19.

It was later revealed that Caleb was having an affair with Alleigha Botner, a woman from his church, prior to his wife’s murder.

Despite pleading not guilty to the charges, prosecutors argued that he staged the home invasion and provided text message evidence between Caleb and Botner in which they discussed killing Ashley.

“I was up until 4 a.m. last night crying, literally trying to think of ways to kill her and not go to jail,” a text message from Caleb to Botner from August 2025, which Botner was ordered to read in court, read.

After a brief trial, a jury found Caleb guilty of nine charges, including aggravated murder, murder, felony murder, and felonious assault.

Ava and Alyssa wrote statements to their father, which were read in court on Monday.

“Dear daddy, I don’t even know where to start. How could you do such a thing? I looked up to you. I loved you with all my heart. And then you lied to everyone. Mommy was the perfect person. What did she ever do to make you hate her so much?” Ava wrote.

She added, “And then you chose to kill the only mother I ever had. I miss her so much. So so so much. You have no idea. How could you cheat on her and go to that awful girl Alleigha? I never liked her.”

Alyssa, for her part, addressed her father by his first name.

“I loved you deeply with all my heart. And it’s sad that you can’t love anyone but yourself. I wish that you could come to understand that actions have consequences,” she wrote. “You truly don’t understand how much you hurt my life. I wish you could feel the pain I have been through. Something so tragic and to know it was my father was just shocking…And by the way, I don’t plan on coming to see you.”