Caleb Flynn, 39, on Friday pleaded not guilty to charges accusing him of assaulting and murdering his wife, Ashley Flynn, 37, early Monday morning at their home in Tipp City, Ohio. Photo Courtesy of the Miami County Jail
Caleb Flynn pleaded not guilty to charges accusing him of murdering his wife, Ashley Flynn, and trying to make her death look like a burglary that went wrong.
Caleb, 39, is charged with murder and two counts of felonious assault and two counts of tampering with evidence in the Miami County (Ohio) Municipal Court, where he denied guilt during his Friday morning video-arraignment hearing.
“I just want to take care of my daughters. I’m not a risk,” he told the court, as reported by the Dayton Daily News.
Municipal Court Judge Samuel Huffman set his bail at $2 million and scheduled a preliminary hearing on Thursday.
Ashley, 37, was found dead from a gunshot wound at 2:30 a.m. EST Monday at the family’s home in Tipp City, which is located 16 miles north of Dayton in southwestern Ohio.
Local police had responded to a 911 call from Caleb and reporting a burglary in progress at their home.
The emergency call lasted about eight minutes, during which Caleb claimed someone broke into their home and killed Ashley.
“She’s got three shots to her and blood everywhere,” he said, as reported by People. “Ashley, baby, baby, please! Oh my god!”
Tipp City Police Chief Greg Adkins said Ashley had been shot twice and was pronounced dead at the scene, and there was evidence of a forced entry.
“The family and community deserve a thorough, professional and compassionate investigation into this very sensitive matter,” Adkins said in a statement made on Thursday evening.
“As a result of the investigation, probable cause existed to charge Caleb Flynn with the murder of his wife,” he said. “Due to the ongoing nature of this case, specific investigative details will not be released at this time.”
Local police arrested Caleb on Thursday, and his attorney, L. Patrick Mulligan, said the former pastor is ready to prove his innocence.
About the same day as Caleb’s arrest, Ashley’s family released a statement in which they said she “brought endless light to our world” and that they “are trying to navigate the immense loss” in a statement shared with People.
Caleb was a “music pastor” and competed on the American Idol television show in 2013, while Ashley was a volleyball coach, substitute teacher and mother to the couple’s two daughters.
