Caleb Flynn’s Daughters Deliver Devastating Statements Before Former American Idol Contestant Is Sentenced to Life for Wife’s Murder

Former American Idol contestant and ex-church music pastor Caleb Flynn was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole Monday, as statements from his two young daughters laid bare the lasting impact of their mother Ashley Flynn’s murder.

Flynn, 40, cried in court as statements from Ava, 10, and Alyssa, 12, were read aloud before Judge Jeannine Pratt imposed the sentence.

The girls confronted their father not only over their mother’s death, but also over the affair prosecutors said was central to the motive for the killing.

Daughter Asks Why Her Father Hated Her Mother

One of his young daughters vowed never to visit him in prison.AP

Ava’s statement was read to the court by her uncle, Matthew Keyt.

She described Ashley as her best friend and “the perfect person,” before directing a painful question toward her father.

“What did she ever do to make you hate her so much?” Ava asked.

She also confronted Flynn over his affair with Aleigha Botner, an intern at the Ohio church where Flynn worked as a music pastor.

Ava told her father that he had “sinned big time,” but said he still had the opportunity to admit what he had done and seek forgiveness.

His Older Daughter Says She Won’t Visit Him

Alyssa’s statement, read by her grandmother, was equally direct.

The 12-year-old accused her father of causing enormous pain to the family and urged him to finally admit responsibility.

She then delivered another deeply personal message about what their relationship would look like after his sentencing: she did not plan to visit him in prison.

Flynn became visibly emotional as the statements were presented in court.

Girls Visit Their Mother’s Grave Nearly Every Day

Young Ava, 10, said her mother Ashley was “the perfect person.”Facebook / Ashley Flynn

Ashley’s sister and brother-in-law, Kayla and Matthew Keyt, are now caring for the two children.

They told the judge that both girls continue to struggle with the loss of their mother and the circumstances surrounding her death.

Kayla described comforting one of the children as she sobbed and tried to understand how her own father could have caused so much devastation.

Matthew revealed another painful part of their daily lives: the sisters frequently visit Ashley’s grave.

He said they cry and speak to their mother there, sometimes lying on the grass in front of her headstone as if being physically closer to the grave could somehow make them feel closer to her.

Prosecutors Said Flynn Staged an Intruder Story

Ashley, 37, was killed inside the family’s Tipp City, Ohio, home on Feb. 16.

Prosecutors argued that Flynn killed his wife and then staged the scene to make it appear that an unknown intruder had been responsible.

They contended that Flynn wanted to begin a new life with Botner, with whom he had been having an affair.

Botner ultimately testified against Flynn during the trial. Jurors also heard about messages exchanged between the two concerning Ashley’s death.

Flynn was convicted of murdering his wife.

Flynn Continues to Deny Killing Ashley

Before receiving his sentence, Flynn delivered a lengthy statement of his own.

He cried while speaking about losing the opportunity to raise his daughters and apologized for violating his marriage vows through his affair.

But on the central question that had brought him before the court, Flynn did not change his position.

Despite his conviction and the emotional statements from his daughters, he continued to maintain that he did not kill Ashley.

Judge Pratt subsequently sentenced Flynn to life in prison without the possibility of parole.