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In a shocking turn of events, Ohio authorities have apprehended a former “American Idol” contestant, charging him with the murder of his wife. The man is accused of orchestrating the crime scene to throw off investigators.
Caleb Flynn, 39, has entered a plea of not guilty to charges that include murder, assault, and evidence tampering, during a court appearance on Friday.
During his arraignment, which was conducted via video from jail, Flynn expressed his desire to care for his daughters, stating, “I just want to take care of my daughters. I’m not a risk,” to Judge Samuel Huffman.
Judge Huffman has set Flynn’s bond at $2 million.
According to a Tipp City Police news release, 37-year-old Ashley Flynn was discovered dead on Monday following reports of a burglary and shooting at a residence in Tipp City. At the time of the incident, her husband and their two children were present in the home when law enforcement arrived.
In a 911 call released by authorities, a frantic Caleb Flynn tells a dispatcher someone broke into his home and killed his wife. He says she was shot multiple times in the head and he doesn’t know whether the intruder was still there.
“There’s blood everywhere, oh my god, oh my god, oh my god,” he says.
His attorney, Patrick Mulligan, said in a statement on Saturday he and Flynn were “disappointed and concerned about the short timeline and seeming rush to judgment in this case.” Police arrested Flynn on Thursday.
“When the government runs out of leads or can’t develop leads and looks at a surviving spouse in cases such as these, the chance of a wrongful conviction increases,” the statement said.
Tipp City Police Chief Greg Adkins defended the investigation, saying in an email on Saturday that it had “not moved fast.”
“Rather, it has progressed at a pace dictated by a thorough and deliberate investigative process,” he said.
Ashley Flynn was a middle school volleyball coach and substitute teacher, Tipp City Schools said on its Facebook page.
“She was known for her beautiful smile, warmth, kindness, and the positive impact she had on so many-both in and out of the classroom and on the court,” the post said.
The video in the player above is from a previous report.
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