Daughters of Caleb Flynn condemn father at murder sentencing: 'You had the best life ever'

Former American Idol contestant Caleb Flynn was sentenced to life without parole for killing his wife Ashley. His two daughters delivered devastating impact statements read aloud in court.

Flynn daughters condemn father in court as judge hands down life sentence for wife's murder

Former American Idol contestant Caleb Flynn was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole on Monday, days after a jury convicted him of aggravated murder, felonious assault and tampering with evidence in the killing of his wife, Ashley Flynn, according to Toronto Sun Crime.

The jury deliberated for just two hours following an eight-day trial before returning a guilty verdict.

'Mommy was the perfect person'

Before Judge Jeannine Pratt handed down the maximum sentence, the court heard victim impact statements from Flynn's two daughters — Ava, 10, and Alyssa, 12. Neither girl was present in the courtroom. Ava's letter was read aloud by her uncle; Alyssa's by her maternal grandmother.

"Mommy was the perfect person, the absolute perfect person. What did she ever do to make you hate her so much?" Ava wrote.

She described Ashley as her "best friend" with the "voice of an angel." Flynn, already visibly emotional, began to sob as the words were read.

Ava's statement made clear where she placed responsibility for the loss of her mother.

"My heart aches to see you hurt, but then I think it was your choice," she wrote. "It was your choice to leave your only two daughters. It was your choice to hide everything from everyone, and it was your choice to kill the only mother I've ever had."

She urged her father to confess and seek forgiveness: "Please tell Jesus that you're sorry. It's not going to change your punishment, but it will determine your eternal reward someday."

'You had the best life ever'

Alyssa's statement opened with a direct challenge to her father's capacity for love.

"I love you deeply with all my heart, and it's sad that you can't love anyone but yourself," she wrote. "Did you really even think about how much pain you would bring your own two daughters?"

She also referenced Flynn's nearly two-year extramarital affair with 24-year-old Alleigha Botner as context for the betrayal.

"Ashley Flynn was the best thing that ever happened to you. You had the best life ever, and you decided to throw it away for a girl who was half your age," Alyssa wrote.

Her statement closed with a stark message: "I wish that you could come to understand that actions have consequences and you have a lot to pay. The least you could do is tell everyone you did it and receive your outcome." She added: "And by the way, I don't plan on coming to see you."

Flynn maintains innocence, apologizes for 'broken vows'

Flynn addressed the court before sentencing, apologizing to Ashley's family for breaking their wedding vows and thanking his own family for their "unwavering love." He stopped short of admitting guilt.

"I have unfortunately lied about a lot of things over the last couple of years," he told prosecutors. "But as I stand here before God, who is my ultimate judge, I am not lying. I did not kill my wife."

He described his daughters as the "greatest joy in this life" and said he had harbored hopes of watching them grow up.

"I have so many thoughts and dreams of raising you and seeing you grow up to be mighty women of God, but unfortunately, I can't," Flynn said. "There's so much I wish I could be there for, and so my heart breaks knowing I can't."

Judge: 'They will live with the scars'

Judge Pratt addressed Flynn directly before imposing the sentence.

"You took from them something they can never get back — their mother," Pratt said. "They will live with the scars of what you did for the rest of their lives."

The sentencing was streamed online by CourtTV. Both daughters described sustained grief in their statements, with Ava writing that she still cries every day since her mother's death.

Source: Toronto Sun Crime