Caleb Flynn’s daughters had devastating words for the woman at the center of their father’s affair as they confronted the man convicted of killing their mother.

At Caleb Flynn’s sentencing on Oct. 5, 2026, victim impact statements written by his two daughters were read aloud in court by family members. Their words focused not only on the loss of Ashley Flynn, but also on the betrayal they felt after learning about their father’s relationship with 24-year-old Alleigha Botner.

Flynn, 40, was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole after a jury found him guilty of aggravated murder, murder, felonious assault and evidence tampering in connection with Ashley’s death. The 37-year-old mother was fatally shot while she slept in the family’s Tipp City, Ohio, home on Feb. 16, 2026.

Alleigha Botner in court (left); Ashley and Caleb Flynn with their daughters.

COURT TV; Ashley Flynn/Facebook

His daughters confronted him in court

The Flynns’ daughters were 9 and 11 when their mother was killed. During sentencing, Ashley’s mother and brother-in-law read statements written by the girls, who described their mother as their “best friend.”

The younger daughter expressed disbelief that her father could have turned against Ashley.

“What did she ever do to make you hate her so much?” she wrote. “She was my best friend. And then you chose to kill the only mother I ever had.”

She also questioned how Caleb could have cheated on Ashley and become involved with Botner.

“I never liked her,” the girl wrote of the younger woman, according to the statement read in court.

She went on to compare the two women’s singing, praising her mother’s voice and describing Ashley as an angel.

The older daughter was equally direct in her message to her father, accusing him of throwing away the life he had with Ashley for a woman much closer to his daughters’ ages than his own.

“By the way, Ashley Flynn was the best thing that ever happened to you,” part of her letter said. “You had the best life you had and you decided to throw all that away for a girl half your age.”

Court TV reported that Flynn sobbed as the statements from his daughters were read. His older daughter ultimately told him she did not plan to visit him in prison.

Alleigha Botner in court (left); and Ashley Flynn.

COURT TV; Sarah Blake Morgan

The affair became a major part of the murder trial

The relationship between Flynn and Botner was a central issue during the trial.

Prosecutors presented evidence showing that Flynn and Botner had carried on an affair for more than a year. Botner, who was 24, testified about the relationship and the extensive messages exchanged between the pair.

According to trial testimony, the two discussed Ashley repeatedly and exchanged hostile messages about her. Prosecutors presented more than 100,000 messages as evidence, while Botner testified that she and Flynn sometimes exchanged hundreds of messages in a single day.

Botner had also given Flynn multiple ultimatums to leave Ashley. Their relationship eventually ended before Ashley’s death.

Botner has not been charged with any crime in connection with Ashley’s killing.

Caleb Flynn (left); Ashley and Caleb Flynn.

The message sent just hours before Ashley died

One of the most closely examined pieces of evidence was a message Flynn sent to Botner shortly before Ashley was killed.

According to prosecutors, he wrote: “I Choose You. I’m Free.”

The prosecution argued that the message was significant because it was sent only hours before Ashley was shot.

Flynn had also previously discussed leaving his wife and finding a way to move forward with Botner. Prosecutors argued that his relationship with Botner provided a motive for the killing.

The defense disputed the prosecution’s interpretation of the evidence and challenged Botner’s credibility during the trial.

Flynn himself continues to deny killing Ashley.

At his sentencing, he told the court that he had lied about many things but insisted he was telling the truth when he said he did not kill his wife. His attorney has indicated that the conviction will be appealed.

Prosecutors said Flynn tried to influence his daughters

The case became even more painful for Ashley’s daughters after prosecutors revealed that Flynn allegedly tried to influence what they would tell police following their mother’s death.

According to prosecutors, he told the girls that what they said to investigators “could be the difference between life and death for him.”

The girls nevertheless provided information to investigators, and their statements became part of the broader case against their father.

For the children, the situation meant losing their mother while also discovering deeply disturbing information about their father and his relationship with another woman.

Ashley’s final weekend with her daughters

Before her death, Ashley had spent what would become her final weekend with her daughters celebrating Galentine’s Day.

The family’s celebration included a home spa, baking cookies and watching Cinderella together.

Ashley’s longtime friend Kara Crawford previously told PEOPLE that Ashley had a gift for turning ordinary moments into lasting memories.

“If she could make a memory out of anything, she would,” Crawford said.

Friends and family have since emphasized their determination to help raise Ashley’s daughters while keeping the memory of their mother alive.

Caleb Flynn receives life without parole

Following an eight-day trial, the jury deliberated for a little more than two hours before finding Flynn guilty of the charges against him. The verdict included aggravated murder, murder, felonious assault and evidence tampering.

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

In addition to the life sentence, he received consecutive prison terms connected to firearm specifications and evidence-tampering convictions.

As Flynn broke down in court, his daughters’ statements made clear how profoundly the case had changed their lives.

Their anger was directed at the father they said had betrayed their family—and at the woman they associated with the affair that became such a significant part of the case.

But above everything else, their statements were about Ashley: the mother they described as their best friend, whose life was taken while they were only feet away in their family home.