'I Choose You. I'm Free': Pastor Allegedly Texted Mistress Before Wife Was 'Executed' in Sleep

Former American Idol contestant and music pastor Caleb Flynn is standing trial over the death of his wife, Ashley Flynn, after prosecutors alleged he texted his mistress, 'I choose you. I'm free', the night before Ashley was shot in their bed on 16 February 2026.

For context, Flynn, 40, has pleaded not guilty to aggravated murder, murder, felonious assault, tampering with evidence and intimidation of a witness, attorney or victim in a criminal case. Ashley was 37. Jurors are being asked to consider a prosecution case built partly on Flynn's alleged messages and a defence challenge to the evidence presented against him.

Pastor's 911 Call And The Missing Weapon

Flynn called 911 on 16 February 2026 to report that there had been a burglary at his home. He said an intruder had shot his wife before fleeing. Prosecutors said officers found no evidence that an intruder had approached the house or gone inside.

Prosecutor Paul Watkins told jurors that Ashley's position did not suggest an intruder was responsible. 'She was executed,' he said. 'She was shot in the middle of the night, twice, in the back of her head, lying in bed in a sleeping position.'

That description forms part of the prosecution's case and has not been established as a finding by the jury. Investigators have not recovered the 9 mm weapon used in the killing. Watkins said Flynn was known to keep a 9 mm weapon in his truck's console, but investigators found the compartment open and empty.

Watkins argued that the evidence pointed towards Flynn. 'People lie, evidence doesn't,' he told the jury.

Texted Mistress Messages At Centre Of Pastor Case

Prosecutors said detectives allegedly uncovered more than 100,000 messages exchanged between Flynn and his mistress during the year before Ashley's death. Watkins said the messages repeatedly referred to Flynn's hatred of his wife, his desire for her to be gone and his wish to have a future with his mistress instead.

In one alleged message, Flynn wrote, 'I was up until 4 a.m. last night crying, literally trying to think of ways to kill her and not go to jail.' Another alleged message read, 'If I could literally kill her and not go to hell, I would do it in a heartbeat. That is how dark and how hateful I feel.'

Prosecutors also highlighted an alleged message sent the night before Ashley was killed. 'I choose you. I'm free. Actions will come tomorrow, February 16, a day I'll never forget,' it read.

'The truth was written by Caleb's own words, recorded by Caleb's own devices and confirmed by evidence Caleb left behind,' Watkins said. The alleged messages form part of the prosecution's case, while Flynn has pleaded not guilty to all charges.

Pastor's Defence Challenges The Prosecution Theory

Flynn's attorney, Emily Smith, acknowledged in her opening statement that her client had an affair. She said the defence would not excuse his betrayal of Ashley, but argued that evidence of a motive was not evidence that he had committed a crime.

'Caleb is not on trial for being a bad husband. He's not on trial for cheating,' Smith said. 'A man can fail as a husband without being a murderer, and a man can make selfish decisions without committing a crime.'

Smith told jurors there would be no direct or forensic evidence tying Flynn to his wife's death. She argued that investigators settled on Flynn after discovering the affair and then worked backwards to support that conclusion.

'Caleb was the most convenient scapegoat for them, and they worked backward,' Smith said. 'They reached their conclusion first and shoehorned the evidence in after.'

Flynn appeared on season 12 of American Idol, where he described himself as a 'music pastor'. He was eliminated after the first rounds in Hollywood, California.