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Former “American Idol” contestant Caleb Flynn’s words took center stage Monday as his Ohio murder trial resumes for a second week, with jurors watching more of his recorded interview with police as prosecutors move closer to wrapping their case.
Jurors began watching the interview Friday, hearing Flynn describe what he said happened inside his Tipp City home before and after his wife, Ashley Flynn, was fatally shot Feb. 16.
Prosecutors allege Flynn shot Ashley in the back of the head and staged the scene to look like an intruder had broken in. He has pleaded not guilty to aggravated murder and other charges.
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Prosecutors also could call the couple’s 10- and 12-year-old daughters, who were inside the home when their mother was killed, to testify Monday, though a final decision had not been made as court prepared to resume.
If called, the girls would testify by audio only, per the court.
In the interview played Monday, Flynn directed investigators to a stranger he said appeared outside the family’s home the day before Ashley was killed.
Flynn said Ashley and their daughters were in the living room when a car pulled up and sat outside before a man got out and walked to the front porch.
“My daughter can confirm,” Flynn told investigators.
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He described the man as having long hair and behaving awkwardly, with no company logo visible on his clothing. He said the man gave Ashley what he described as a “weird” sales pitch involving an American flag.
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He told the investigator Ashley eventually closed the door after the man indicated he would return later.
Flynn also walked investigators through his movements before the shooting, saying the family dogs were with him while he slept on the couch before one began shaking and scratching, waking him.
Flynn said he went to check on his daughters, retucked his youngest into bed and decided to lie down beside her.
He told investigators he was awakened again by gunshots.
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“The shots woke you up?” an investigator asked.
“Yes, sir,” Flynn responded, describing the shots as “back-to-back” and “loud.”
Detective Sgt. Mike Morgan later testified that Flynn said he froze for four to six seconds before running across the house to the master bedroom, where he discovered Ashley had been shot.
The interview comes after jurors spent two days hearing from Flynn’s former mistress, Alleigha Botner, who detailed their affair and read messages exchanged in the months before Ashley’s death.
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Botner testified Flynn repeatedly talked about wanting his wife dead, including one message in which he allegedly said he stayed up until 4 a.m. “literally thinking of ways to kill her and not go to jail.”
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But Flynn’s attorneys used their cross-examination to emphasize the broader context of more than 107,000 messages exchanged during the roughly year-and-a-half affair, including emotionally charged language used by Botner herself.
Botner also testified she understood Flynn’s plans for Feb. 16 to mean he intended to finally leave Ashley and seek a divorce – not kill her.
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Shortly after midnight that morning, however, Flynn allegedly told Botner, “It’s happening,” followed by, “February 16th – day I’ll never forget.”
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“You’re about to be free,” Botner responded.
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“I choose you,” Flynn replied.
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Investigators have not recovered the gun prosecutors allege was used to kill Ashley despite extensive searches. There was no eyewitness to the shooting, and testimony showed no gunshot residue was found on Flynn.
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Prosecutors have several additional witnesses they plan to call as they move closer to resting their case. It remained unclear Monday morning whether Flynn’s daughters would be among them.
Fox News Digital has remained in contact with Flynn’s attorney, who declined to comment while the trial is ongoing.
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