‘American Idol’ Contestant Learns Fate In Wife’s Murder Case

Former “American Idol” contestant Caleb Flynn was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole for the murder of his wife, Ashley Flynn.

Judge Jeannine Pratt sentenced Flynn on Oct. 5 for murdering his 37-year-old wife, the mother of his two children, after he had an affair. Prosecutors said Flynn staged a home invasion in an attempt to conceal his involvement in the murder, according to CNN.

BREAKING: Former "American Idol" contestant Caleb Flynn was sentenced to life in prison without parole after being found guilty of murdering his wife and staging the crime scene to make it seem as if an intruder had broken in. Judge Jeannine Pratt called the former pastor’s actions "abhorrent" and "quite honestly impossible to fathom." Read more: https://t.co/1SnG03hu6q

Prior to sentencing, Flynn, who also worked as a pastor, broke down in tears and told the court he was innocent.

Alyssa Flynn, his 12-year-old daughter, wrote a scathing statement that Ashley’s mother, Jill Smith, read aloud.

“You truly don’t understand how much you hurt my life and I wish you could feel the pain I have been through,” her statement read, according to CNN.

“I wish that you could come to understand that actions have consequences and you have a lot to pay,” Alyssa said in her statement.

She continued, “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.”

“By the way, I don’t plan on coming to see you,” she said, according to CNN.

🚨 THE MOMENT CALEB FLYNN BREAKS DOWN — BUT FIRMLY DECLARES HIS INNOCENCE❗️❗️❗️ During his sentencing statement, Caleb Flynn became emotional as he acknowledged lying about “a lot of things” over the past couple of years — but was firm when he insisted he did not kill his wife. “I am not lying when I say I did not kill my wife.” He vowed to continue fighting for his innocence “as long as the Lord allows me to.”

Judge Pratt called Flynn’s actions “abhorrent” in her lengthy address.

“The layers of deceit, manipulation, and cruelty that you have shown are quite obviously impossible to fathom. And frankly, sir, you used your faith to manipulate the lives of others, and the court finds that deeply disturbing,” she said, according to CNN.

“And of all the awful things that you said and you did, your marriage did not need to end the way it did. It did not have to end with the brutal, premeditated murder of your wife, Ashley, the mother of your children, in her in her own home, a place where she should have been safe, a place where she should have been loved, and while your children were sleeping just a few feet away, you could have walked away,” she continued. (RELATED: Former ‘American Idol’ Contestant Caleb Flynn Convicted Of Wife’s Murder)

Pratt went on to say, “You could have separated from her and left her here on this earth to to be able to be with the people that need her, who loved her, who looked forward to having her in their lives, but instead, through your greed, your selfishness, your lust, and your cruelty, you chose to take Ashley’s life.”

Pratt scolded Flynn for “shattering” the lives of his two daughters.

“You shattered their sense of security. You shattered their innocence,” she said, according to CNN.