Former American Idol Contestant Accused of Killing Wife, Staging Scene to Look Like Burglary

Ashley Flynn, a beloved volleyball coach and mom of two, was found dead by police in her home earlier this week

Ashley Flynn and Caleb Flynn’s family (left); and Ashley Flynn.Credit : 

Ashley Flynn/Facebook (2)

NEED TO KNOW

Caleb Flynn was taken into custody on several charges, including murder; he has pleaded not guilty to all the charges against him
Caleb was a contestant in American Idol Season 12 more than a decade ago
In an interview with the show in 2013, he praised his wife, saying he “loved her more than anything”

Authorities in Ohio have charged a former American Idol contestant in connection with the death of his wife.

The victim, 37-year-old Ashley Flynn, was pronounced dead after police responded to a Tipp City, Ohio, home early in the morning on Monday, Feb. 16, the Tipp City Police Department said in a statement.

Authorities were at the residence to respond to a 911 call, made by the woman’s husband Caleb Flynn, who claimed he was reporting a burglary, police said in the statement.

On Thursday, police took 39-year-old Caleb into custody on several charges. He has been charged with murder, two counts of felonious assault and two counts of tampering with evidence, according to online court records reviewed by PEOPLE.

Authorities are not sharing much else with the public in a bid to protect the integrity of the investigation, they said in a statement.

He has pleaded not guilty to all the charges and is being held on a $2 million bond.

In a statement to PEOPLE, Caleb’s attorney L. Patrick Mulligan writes that his client “looks forward to defending this case.”

Mulligan adds, “We are both disappointed and concerned about the short timeline and seeming rush to judgment in this case. 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.”

Ashley, who had two daughters, was a beloved volleyball coach at Tippecanoe Middle School and a substitute teacher at Lifewise Academy.

“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,” Tipp City Schools said in a social media post soon after her death.

In a GoFundMe set up to assist her daughters, Ashley’s family said she was a devoted mother. “Her laughter was contagious, she was the biggest encourager, and she loved people deeply,” reads part of the fundraiser.

Caleb Flynn.Miami County Sheriff’s Office

An online obituary is honoring the slain mother for her kindness.

“Ashley was known as a shining light of joy to all who crossed her path, effortlessly encouraging others along the way,” reads part of the tribute. “Her kindness and spirit touched countless lives, often in ways she never even realized.”

Middle School Volleyball Coach and Mom of 2 Fatally Shot at Her Ohio Home in Suspected Burglary Gone Wrong

Caleb was a contestant in American Idol in 2013, in the show’s 12th season.

“I love my wife more than anything, she is very very pretty, just oof, I love her,” he said in an interview on the show that aired in January 2013.