American Idol contestant Caleb Carl Flynn has been convicted of murder.
Prosecutors accused the musician and pastor of staging a home invasion in February after shooting his wife, Ashley, a schoolteacher and volleyball coach.
During the trial, the woman who said she was having an affair with Flynn testified that he claimed he hated his wife and had thoughts of killing her.
Alleigha Botner testified she met Flynn in 2022, when she was a 20-year-old intern at his church, and had an affair with him for more than a year.
The night before the fatal shooting, he sent a text to his lover saying, “I choose you. I’m free. Actions will come tomorrow,” according to an assistant Miami County prosecutor.
Flynn could get up to life in prison without the chance of parole when he’s sentenced on Monday next week.
Flynn fought to maintain his composure as the judge read the guilty verdicts on charges of murder, felonious assault and tampering with evidence, the Associated Press reports.
He began sobbing while the judge dismissed the jury. His attorney called the verdicts “disappointing” and said he expects to file an appeal.
Flynn appeared on American Idol in 2013, telling TV viewers how his wife had encouraged him to chase his dreams on the singing competition.
He sang before judges Mariah Carey, Randy Jackson and Nicki Minaj but did not advance to the main competition in Hollywood.
