Caleb Flynn murder trial: daughters appeared 'nervous' after meeting father, grandmother tells court

The grandmother of Caleb Flynn's two daughters testified that the girls seemed visibly nervous after a private walk with their father days after their mother was fatally shot.

Grandmother describes girls' anxiety after meeting with Flynn

Caleb Flynn's two preteen daughters appeared visibly unsettled following a private meeting with their father just days after their mother, Ashley Flynn, was fatally shot inside the family home in Tipp City, Ohio, in February, according to testimony reported by abc7ny.com on Tuesday.

Jill Smith — Ashley's mother and the girls' maternal grandmother — took the stand on the third day of Flynn's murder trial. She told the court that Flynn, who had been living away from the home while it remained an active crime scene, had requested to see his daughters. Flynn himself had previously told police he was lying in the girls' bedroom when he heard gunshots.

The two girls, now aged 12 and 10, later told their grandmother they had gone for a walk around a pond with their father. When they returned, they appeared "nervous," Jill Smith testified.

Later, while alone with her grandmother, one of the girls said she was "very nervous." Jill Smith said she asked why, but at prosecutors' direction did not testify about her granddaughter's answer or the substance of that conversation.

Jill Smith said she then "marched" the girl to Flynn and told him directly: "She's afraid to tell the truth. Tell her to tell the truth." According to her testimony, Flynn replied: "Of course, baby, you're supposed to tell the truth."

The girls again appeared "super nervous" as they drove away, Jill Smith said, noting they were about to be questioned by police and family and children's services.

Family testifies on finances and shock of Ashley's death

Flynn's defense attorneys chose not to cross-examine Jill Smith. She was one of several of Ashley's relatives to testify Tuesday, collectively describing the shock of her death and the defendant's conduct before, during and after the night of her killing.

Ashley's sister, Kayla Keyt, testified that she and Ashley had been deeply intertwined in each other's lives — "we tag-teamed life," she said — and that she had considered Flynn family, saying she "would've done anything for him."

Keyt's father runs a flooring and furnishing company where Flynn had worked as a salesman for roughly three to four years, earning approximately $200,000 a year. In August 2025, the family met with a financial advisor to plan for Ashley, Keyt and their husbands to inherit the business upon the father's retirement. After that meeting, Keyt said she showed both her husband and Flynn a spreadsheet projecting that continued growth could push individual earnings to between $300,000 and $400,000. Flynn later asked to see the spreadsheet again, she testified.

Capt. Tony Smith of the Tipp City police also testified Tuesday that Flynn was the sole beneficiary of a $100,000 life insurance policy on Ashley's life.

Affair revealed during FBI interview

Under cross-examination, Keyt said she had initially believed police had arrested the wrong man. "I trusted Caleb with everything I had in me," she told the court. She said she had heard rumours of an affair but dismissed them, convinced of his innocence. It was only during an FBI interview that she learned the affair was confirmed — with a fellow worship leader at the church both families attended — and described his behaviour as "pretty revolting."

Jill Smith testified that the Flynn marriage had appeared "strained" in the months before Ashley's death, though she could not identify a specific cause. "You could tell there was not a lot of peace in their home, and I couldn't pinpoint why — and I don't think she could pinpoint why," she said.

Daughters told of affair and accusations

Flynn's daughters have since been informed of both the affair and the accusations against their father. Keyt testified that the girls were shocked to learn of the affair. "They said: 'She loved daddy more than anyone else in life, so why did daddy not love her as much?'" she recounted.

The girls were also told their father is accused of killing their mother, though Keyt said they initially resisted those conversations for the first couple of months. She said she now tells them: "Police have sufficient evidence on your dad that points to him as the person who killed your mom."

Background and charges

Prosecutors allege Flynn fatally shot Ashley on February 16, citing a years-long affair as his motive. In their opening statement, they argued Flynn believed he could frame a "faceless" intruder for the killing and thereby retain his relationship with his mistress, full custody of his daughters, his position at the family business and his role as a worship leader at their church.

When police arrived at the scene, the centre console of Flynn's pickup truck was found open and a gun he had kept inside was missing, prosecutors said. Flynn told authorities he believed an intruder had broken in and shot Ashley while he was in the daughters' bedroom.

Flynn's attorneys acknowledge the affair but deny he committed the killing, arguing in their opening statement that he is "not on trial for being a bad husband" and that prosecutors lack key evidence, including the murder weapon.

Flynn has pleaded not guilty to aggravated murder and several additional charges. If convicted on the most serious count, he faces a potential sentence of life in prison without parole. Ashley's father, Todd Smith, also testified Tuesday; he described learning of his daughter's death while abroad.

Source: Google News MT — Crime (en)