American Idol Alum Caleb Flynn’s Interview Played in Murder Case

Former “American Idol” contestant and church pastor Caleb Flynn told investigators he “didn’t touch” his wife, despite being accused of fatally shooting her, according to a recording of his police interview played for jurors Monday as testimony concluded.

“I’m telling you, I didn’t touch my wife,” Flynn, 40, said while detectives questioned him about the February shooting of 37-year-old Ashley Flynn inside the couple’s Ohio home.

“The evidence is a little contrary to that,” one investigator replied, according to the Dayton Daily News.

The interview recording was presented before the prosecution and defense completed testimony. Flynn’s attorneys chose not to call witnesses. Closing arguments are scheduled for Tuesday.

Flynn, a father of two who appeared on the singing competition in 2013, is accused of shooting Ashley in the head while she lay in bed. Their daughters, now 10 and 12, were asleep in nearby rooms at the time, prosecutors said.

Authorities allege that Flynn then staged the scene at the family’s Tipp City, Ohio, home to make the killing look like a burglary or home invasion.

Prosecutors have said Flynn’s motive was his nearly two-year affair with 24-year-old Alleigha Botner.

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Botner, who served as a worship leader at the same church, was among the 40 witnesses called by prosecutors. On the stand, she was made to read text messages exchanged with Flynn in which she said she wanted his wife dead.

“It says, ‘I want to kill her, Caleb,’” Botner read through tears.

Flynn responded, “That makes two of us,” Botner told jurors.

“I just wish I didn’t say this,” Botner said tearfully during her testimony.

Flynn told police that an intruder killed Ashley while he slept in one of the girls’ bedrooms. Investigators, however, testified that they found no evidence supporting the account. A police dog detected no scent indicating an intruder, and officers canvassing the neighborhood found no information pointing to a home invasion.

Defense attorneys argued that prosecutors’ case was circumstantial and incomplete, noting that the alleged murder weapon was never found. They maintained that the case relied largely on Flynn’s affair, which they said did not establish that he killed his wife.

Flynn has pleaded not guilty to aggravated murder, evidence tampering and other related charges. A conviction on the aggravated-murder count could result in life in prison without the possibility of parole.