Caleb Flynn's Daughter Tells Him: 'It Was Your Choice To Kill the Only Mother I've Ever Had'

Ava Flynn, 12, accused her father, Caleb Flynn, of killing her mother in a letter read at his Ohio sentencing on Monday, 5 October 2026. 'It was your choice to kill the only mother I've ever had,' she wrote.

Flynn, a former worship leader and American Idol contestant, received life imprisonment without parole for killing his wife, Ashley Flynn.

The hearing followed a jury's 29 September verdict finding Flynn, 40, guilty on nine counts, including aggravated murder, murder, felonious assault and evidence tampering.

Prosecutors said he shot Ashley, 37, as she slept at their Tipp City home on 16 February before staging a break-in.

The couple's daughters were at home that night. At sentencing, their letters confronted both their mother's death and their father's refusal to admit killing her.

Despite Flynn maintaining his innocence and quoting scripture, Judge Jeannine Pratt denounced his layers of deceit and manipulation before handing down consecutive prison terms.

Caleb Flynn's Daughter Accuses Him in Courtroom Letter

Ava Flynn's uncle, Matthew Keyt, read her letter aloud. 'It was your choice to kill the only mother I've ever had,' she wrote, accusing her father of destroying their family.

She also challenged him over his affair with Alleigha Botner, who testified during the trial. 'It was your choice to have an affair,' Ava wrote. She described her mother as 'the perfect person' and said she cried every day.

Yet Ava urged her father to seek forgiveness through their Christian faith. She told him repentance wouldn't remove his punishment, but he could still acknowledge his actions. 'All you have to do is tell God that you're sorry and that you want to confess and repent to Him,' she wrote.

Her sister Alyssa's letter was read by her maternal grandmother, Jill Smith. Alyssa questioned how Flynn could lead worship while keeping secrets from his family. She urged him to confess and made her intentions clear. 'I don't plan on coming to see you,' she wrote.

Flynn addressed both children during his statement. 'I love you two, Alyssa and Ava, with absolutely everything inside of me,' he said. He called them his greatest joy, regretted the milestones he would miss and urged them to 'seek the Lord every day.'

Caleb Flynn Maintains Innocence as Judge Condemns His Actions

During the trial, Botner testified that Flynn had spoken about hating Ashley and thinking of killing her. Jurors also heard about messages exchanged during their affair. Botner was not charged in connection with the killing.

At sentencing, Flynn admitted breaking his marriage vows, telling lies and making 'awful and hurtful' comments about Ashley and her relatives. He apologised for those actions but continued to deny the murder.

'I did not kill my wife,' he said, adding that he would continue fighting for his innocence. Flynn quoted Proverbs 3:5-6 and offered a prayer as he addressed the courtroom.

Judge Jeannine Pratt accused Flynn of using his Christian faith to 'manipulate the lives of others.' She condemned his 'layers of deceit, manipulation and cruelty' and found that he had shown no remorse for the killing.

Ashley Flynn's Family Forgives Him but Demands Justice

Ashley's sister, Kayla Keyt, described how one of the daughters questioned her faith after losing her mother. 'Why should I even believe in Jesus if He allowed this to happen to us?' the child asked, according to Keyt.

Kayla said she tried to explain that faith did not prevent suffering. Addressing Flynn, she told him, 'I do forgive you,' while stressing that forgiveness did not excuse his actions or remove their consequences.

Kayla and her husband, Matthew, said they were raising four girls, including Ava and Alyssa. They pledged to uphold Ashley's values as they cared for the children.

Ashley's father, Todd Smith, also told Flynn he had forgiven him. But he sought 'absolute justice for Ashley' and asked the judge to impose the harshest available punishment.

Pratt imposed life without parole alongside consecutive prison terms for other offences. She also ordered Flynn to pay $20,000 (£15,000) towards Ashley's funeral expenses.

After the hearing, Flynn's lawyer, Patrick Mulligan, said his client intended to appeal. Flynn's denial remained unchanged, even after the letters from the two daughters who had lost their mother. The appeal will challenge the trial proceedings as Flynn begins serving his life sentence in state prison.