Former American Idol contestant and Ohio pastor Caleb Flynn has been sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole after being convicted of murdering his wife, Ashley Flynn.
Flynn, 40, was convicted in connection with the shooting death of his 37-year-old wife at their home in Tipp City, Ohio.
Prosecutors argued that Flynn shot Ashley while she was asleep and subsequently attempted to make the killing appear to have been carried out by an intruder.
The jury rejected Flynn’s account that he had been asleep when he heard gunshots and later discovered his wife dead.
Evidence presented during the trial included police body-camera footage, data from Flynn’s iPhone and Apple Watch, and messages involving a former church intern with whom prosecutors said he had been having an affair.
According to prosecutors, some of the messages showed Flynn discussing ways to kill his wife without going to prison. The evidence was presented as part of the prosecution’s case and was considered by the jury in reaching its verdict.
Flynn was convicted of murder and additional offences, including aggravated murder and tampering with evidence.
He maintained his innocence during sentencing but apologised to his daughters, according to reports.
The judge ultimately imposed life imprisonment without parole, bringing the criminal proceedings to a conclusion at the trial-court level.