Pastor Heads to Trial for Wife's Shocking Murder — Everything We Know

We are just days away from the start of what's expected to be one of the biggest trials of the year Caleb Flint a husband a father a former American idol contestant and a man of faith Is accused of a crime that is nothing short of either Oh my god. Oh my god. Oh my god. Flynn is accused of killing his wife as their daughters slept close by inside their home What we just learned from court and what Flynn's defense may be as he faces the possibility of life Behind bars. We're on the case presented by law and crime. I'm Christopher Guys stories like this just do not make sense. I mean no murder makes sense But when you're talking about someone who seemed to have and I don't mean this in a cliche kind of way But really like the perfect kind of life the kind of life that a lot of people want to have he seemed to love his wife They have two beautiful children. He's got a good job. They live in a good town They have a nice house. Why would that man allegedly become a killer? We're talking about Caleb Flynn and we're talking about a trial that is expected to get started this week that could help answer that question though No answer will ever make sense if he is guilty of what he's accused of. I mean I remember when this story first broke and the story was about Ashley Flint This substitute teacher and mom. She was a volleyball coach and she was shot dead in her home in the middle of the night and her husband claimed that someone had come in and done it and then ran away and Yet a couple days later Authorities say the person responsible allegedly was the man who called 911 Caleb Flynn the Lord I love my wife more than anything. She is very very pretty. Just woof. I love her But that is Caleb Flynn in 2013 when he auditioned on American Idol the video is still public on YouTube He actually made it to Hollywood the second round of American Idol on that season and in this segment They did introducing him to the audience. He talked a lot about how much he loves his wife She actually encouraged him to audition for the show How far a cry that video is from where we are now because this is Caleb Flynn in court yesterday for what is expected to have been the final hearing before his trial gets underway this week jury selection is slated for Thursday Now this hearing was over a couple motions before trial one of them related to the family of his alleged victim His wife Ashley who will talk about here in just a moment and another was related To the Flynn kids two daughters 10 and 12 years old and they may have to testify About what happened to their mom in February of this year now Caleb Flynn has been in jail since February after he was arrested For the alleged murder of his wife now we have covered this case from before his arrest And one thing I just know is this is kind of a comment here as we get into this Just looking at Caleb Flynn yesterday and you can just see I think the impact That everything is having on him because it just looks like he's lost wait You look at the stress. I mean you understand The reality that he may soon be a convicted killer Or he has been wrongly accused of killing his wife We don't know what the answer is yet and we don't know what a jury could decide But there's no question that the stakes are incredibly high in this case now We're gonna have a camera in the courtroom for this trial. We don't know What police believe Flynn's alleged motive would be for murder especially of his wife We also don't know what Flynn said to law enforcement that made them believe he's a killer We did learn some information about What testimony may look like at this trial and what testimony may look like If Caleb and Ashley's daughters have to testify They are potential witnesses in this case the Flynn girls two daughters 10 and 12 years old And they were sleeping in their rooms the night that police arrived on February 16th the early hours of the morning 2026 Are they still in there? I don't know. I don't know. Okay. What's the address? What are you seeing My wife This was the start of the nightmare that allegedly took place in the Flynn home in tip city Ohio on February 16th It's around 2 30 in the morning when Caleb Flynn Called police and he is screaming that someone came into their home and shot his wife Specifically, he said she was shot twice Now Caleb and Ashley they lived in tip city Ohio. It's north of Dayton They lived on a cul-de-sac Caleb's LinkedIn says that he was the VP of sales for a flooring company in tip city He and Ashley were both very active in their church Caleb was once a pastor He played in the church band Ashley taught at a local school. She coached middle school volleyball But on the night of February 16th that seemingly perfect suburban cul-de-sac life was shattered Boy Okay Okay, have you checked have you checked on them that they've got 9-1-1? Yes No, no, no, no, no, no, no, no one Okay Oh my god. Oh my god. Oh my god. Oh my god. Okay, Seth, can you want to sit down? No, okay Take this. He's she gone so get me. Look at me. Take a breath. Okay. Look at me. I need you to breathe. Okay Right now Right now I need you to breathe. Okay Do you have any family that you can call? Okay, where's your phone at? Do you want to call family? Hold on Corey, do you watch him? Yep That door is open over there back that back door is open. Is that lead outside because I can't see is that a closet? Okay It is Should we have him? Okay, look at this. What's up? No, it's pink Do you see any blood? I'll go on to tuck it off Hey, someone watching somebody needs to be watching. Hey Where's You call Okay, are there any firearms in this house? I have a shotgun. Okay, I said okay a shotgun in a 22 and like a pelagon. Okay, where in I have a I have a handgun in my truck Okay, in the the the gold box. Okay Now in the bodycam video that has been released by police they blur what officers see when they go into the house But they keep the audio going and you can hear what they say Police are trying to gather the facts at this point But you can see that they do notice that the center console of Caleb's truck is open And there's also a door that is open in the garage Now Caleb says that he keeps a gun in the glove box of his car Police then work their way through the house and into the room of the Flynn daughters who appear to still be a sleep Sit down on the couch, okay? I don't think I'll have somebody [BLANK_AUDIO] Yep. [BLANK_AUDIO] Is this just around? [BLANK_AUDIO] Okay. [BLANK_AUDIO] [BLANK_AUDIO] Where did Cory go? [BLANK_AUDIO] What's that room here? [BLANK_AUDIO] [BLANK_AUDIO] The girls, okay? Yes, girls are okay. [BLANK_AUDIO] Okay, you're good, sit down. [BLANK_AUDIO] Do I get home, do I call anybody? Hold on, honey. [BLANK_AUDIO] Do you want to let him? [BLANK_AUDIO] [BLANK_AUDIO] Do you want to let him call any family or no? [BLANK_AUDIO] Yeah, he's okay to call family, but they cannot come inside the house. [BLANK_AUDIO] Okay. [BLANK_AUDIO] Yes, both the girls where they like woke up when we walked in. [BLANK_AUDIO] [BLANK_AUDIO] [BLANK_AUDIO] I don't want to ask him questions right now. >> That's fine, it's only perfect minutes. [BLANK_AUDIO] Sit down, honey, okay? Stay seated. [BLANK_AUDIO] [BLANK_AUDIO] Yeah. [BLANK_AUDIO] Are you able to tell me her information? Yeah? I know this is really difficult, okay? [BLANK_AUDIO] What's your name? Kayla? [BLANK_AUDIO] I'm sorry, okay? [BLANK_AUDIO] [BLANK_AUDIO] Oh my God, oh my God, oh my God. >> You can call family by the way, they just can't come in this house. They're not going to be able to come near the house or anything like that. >> I'm going to call it my parents living in Minnesota. >> Okay, before you do that, can you do me a favor, okay? >> Yeah. >> What's her first and last name? >> Please then cut audio, and they seem to redact what Caleb says about his wife. And what may have happened inside the house. Now, whatever is said there, that is so critical to what is going to play out over the next couple of weeks during a trial, up to this point. We don't know if police have a motive in this case. And even though they have redacted that part of the body cam video, there are some specifics that you learn in the 911 call. Let's play that. >> Okay, I need you to just take a deep breath for me. Okay, they're getting too as quick as they can, because that door's still open. Yes, it is. Yes, it is. >> Okay. What do I do? What do I do? What do I do? >> Is she breathing at all? >> I don't think so. I don't think so. >> Okay. >> Okay. >> If you are comfortable, I want you to go and find the cloth, then I want you to put a cloth on that gunshot wound, okay? >> The towel? >> Yes, like a towel. But do not apply direct pressure to it, just put it on the whole wood wound, okay? >> Okay. - Okay, oh my god, okay, okay, okay, okay, okay, okay, okay. Just get that cloth, I don't want you to put it on that wound, but don't apply direct pressure to it, okay? So come with you as quickly as they can, okay, I just laid it on your head. After about 45 minutes inside the home, Caleb Flynn makes his way outside and he seems to be embraced by either a family member or a close friend. - I'm gonna stay in the home. - Oh. - You're gonna squat to the canyon? - Okay. - I don't know what to do, I don't know what to do either. I'm just a whole shot, I'm in shock. Do you want to sit down on the steps? - You have a blank, can you get them on the blanket? - Yep, yep. Okay, okay, okay, okay, okay, okay, okay, okay, okay, okay, okay, okay, okay. Okay, okay, okay, okay, okay, okay, okay, okay, okay, okay, okay, okay, okay, okay, >> How long were you here before we got here, like 20 seconds? >> Yeah, not too long, because I think I've seen you guys in the light. >> No cars came driving out. >> I didn't see anything either, all down high. >> And I came first run, it came in and I started off fast when they said. - Yeah. - Yeah. - Like, hit my side. - Oh yeah. sign off the ways down, so I'm scared of no one. Yeah, I can't find you the first time. Well, that the back that back to side doors. What's open? It's open still in the hours after Ashley Flynn was killed. Police said they were working a theory that this was a burglary that turned deadly. I mean, that is what Caleb was claiming happened according to the 9-1-1 call. Police say they put drones in the air. They had dogs on the ground, but they could not find a sign of an intruder. I do want to show you this. This is a map of the Flynn's neighborhood. And this is also something that could be really key in a trial because you can see that there's some open spaces behind where their house is, the open fields there that were searched by law enforcement, looking for a suspect that would have done this, but also it's key to note in this cul-de-sac neighborhood, there is one way in and there is one way out. And you have to wonder what any sort of doorbell camera might have seen whether there was another vehicle coming in. Could the killer have come from outside the home? Police, though, they believe that the killer was inside the house and it allegedly was Caleb Flynn. Now, one thing you notice as you continue to watch this body cam video is that it does appear that pretty early on. Police seems somewhat suspicious of Caleb. Everything? Yeah. The back door is open. There's like a door on the side right there. It's open, so you guys clear the garage there? Yeah. We didn't, the truck, the center console truck's open and that's where he said he keeps his gun. So, you show the wife. In the same room? Yeah. In her bed. In the bed. In here? I haven't talked to him. Cory's the one that's talked to him. Here's body cam video of an officer talking to an EMT about what he saw when he arrived. I know you're not sort of a dumbass. How long do you think you've been going for? It's not long. Okay. We're just going to figure out why in the hell where was he at? As we got here about a temporary call. Yeah, I'm guessing, but not ours. Okay, but don't be able to get your body temperature. Okay. And they will be able to tell you a time. Okay. Yeah, it hasn't been five hours. Yeah, that's what we think. The color is so good. Okay. Okay. It's great matter at the exit. Yeah, I've seen I mean, you've gone. I don't have to get the name of the data bird that you come by the station later. Yeah, we can hang out too. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. We don't be pretty much hanging out here until I get here. Okay. So, yeah. Now, it's possible at trial that Caleb Flynn's defense argues that police were zeroed in on their client during the critical hours when they could have been doing more searching for a person who fled. Police definitely seem to have questions pretty early, but they say since Caleb is so hysterical, they're waiting for him to calm down and for a detective to arrive. Now, here is the friend who is comforting Caleb outside that person hasn't been identified and they're just asking questions to police about what might have happened. Yeah, yeah, I would say probably 40 minutes to go now. I don't know what you're saying, I don't know. I don't know what you're saying, I don't know what you're saying, I don't know what you're saying. I don't know what you're saying, I don't know what you're saying, I don't know what you're saying, I don't know what I don't know what you're saying, I don't know. Eventually Caleb Flynn wrapped in a blanket is walked to a police car, where the police say he voluntarily went to the station to answer some questions. This is the moment that Caleb Flynn was put under arrest. And we talk about how shocked people seem to be in this community. The people who know Caleb Flynn personally or at least thought they knew him personally, so shocked that he would be the person arrested. This is video of Caleb Flynn giving his DNA voluntarily to police. I'm sorry to meet you under the circumstances, sir, but again, you can call me Will. Now what was your first name, sir? Caleb. All right, I'm going to try to get everything processed with that, and we'll see what we can do about it as far as I give it back to you as soon as possible. But unfortunately in the situation, it's kind of standard for us to, you know, collect everything. Okay, I'm going to step out since you're doing anything with him if you need anything. All right, it's a pretty simple process, so I'm sure the detective Morgan, this time. Yeah, I got one. Thank you. I kind of told you, so we, for touch DNA, for stuff left at the residence, this would eliminate you. Like if, that way, if the crime lab they see it, they're like, okay, now this matches the homeowner, so we need, or it doesn't. So now we have this other profile we got to try to find out who that is. So with these, it's real simple, sterile new packaging, so if you just open your mouth, and then I just put it in, and I swirl it around on your cheek a couple times. Spread your fingers, then spread them out, yep, then, okay, thanks sir, you put shirt on. Is there any injuries on you at all? Sorry, I don't know much about the situation, other than, there's, sounds like a home invasion and went bad or something like that, so, all right, let me check what the detectives look like if they need that, I don't know if they would actually need your boxers, if they do, then I'll ask, but, yeah, you can open, hey, do you need his boxers, I don't think so. Okay. I don't think you want to ask, so, yes, actually before you do that, I forgot one last thing. Could I get a picture at the bottom of your feet? Thank you, sir, I appreciate it. I want you to look at this, this is what happened when Caleb Flynn made his first court appearance in the judge asked him if he had anything to say. A grand jury indicted Caleb Flynn on nearly a dozen charges in the death of his wife Ashley. Caleb's pleaded not guilty to those 11 charges. Caleb heads to trial accused of aggravated murder and three counts of murder in the death of Ashley. And also facing two counts of felonious assault, three counts of tampering with evidence and two counts of intimidation of an attorney, victim or witness in a criminal case, it has not been released, who authorities believe Caleb Flynn allegedly intimidated. Now, there are also some firearm specifications attached to the murder charges in the news release that was initially sent out authorities in tip city wrote quote, if convicted Flynn will serve life in prison without the possibility of parole. Now, we have been following several hearings over the last year involving Caleb Flynn. But a lot of the evidence in this case has yet to be unveiled publicly, which is going to make this trial something that so many people, I think, will be keeping a close eye on. Now, as far as Flynn's daughters, who are potential witnesses in this case in July, a judge ruled if they are called to testify, they will have to confront their dad face to face. The prosecution had asked for protections to be put in place for the children, including a screen that would block their view of their dad Caleb, but the defense objected and the judge agreed. So if those girls testify, they will have to do it with a clear line of sight to their dad. Now, we did learn yesterday at Flynn's hearing that courtroom cameras will not be allowed to have juvenile witnesses recorded on video. Their audio, though, can be recorded. The other motion was about whether members of Ashley's family will be allowed in the courtroom for the trial, even if they're going to be called as witnesses, typically potential witnesses are not allowed to hear testimony outside of their own because it could theoretically impact the story that they tell the jury and that could be seen as unfair to the defendant. The state is asking for permission to allow Ashley's mom, sister and brother-in-law in the courtroom. Right now, her dad is designated the victim representative who would be allowed in the courtroom, but the prosecution wants more family members. They want that to be extended out. The defense is pushing back on allowing those members of the family, whether they would be allowed beyond when they would be called to testify. Today, the judge issued a ruling that witnesses will not be allowed to come into the courtroom before they testify. The judge cited the massive public interest in media coverage in the case. He said potential witnesses will also not be able to view any coverage of the case or live streaming of it before they testify. Opening statements are expected as early as Thursday afternoon. Longcrime's AngeNet Levy, host of CrimeFix, is expected to be in the courtroom during this trial and we are going to be streaming it as well. That will do it for on the case presented by Longcrime. I'm Chris Stewart. We'll see you next time.