Karin Johnson-Reporter

FRIDAY IN THE CALEB FLYNN TRIAL: Jurors heard Caleb Flynn describe, in his own words, what he says happened the morning his wife, Ashley, was killed.

Prosecutors played two police interviews recorded Feb. 16—one about two hours after Flynn called 911 and another that afternoon.

“She’s the nicest person in the world. Everybody loves her,” Flynn told investigators.

Flynn said he left the couple’s bedroom because he could not stop coughing, went on the couch, heard the dogs moving, got up to check on his daughters and fell asleep in the bottom bunk. He said he later heard two gunshots.

Detective.: You heard how many?
Caleb Flynn: Two.
Detective: Two. Ok, um, did you see that she was shot twice?
Caleb Flynn: No.

Flynn said he went into the dark bedroom and tried to wake Ashley.

Caleb Flynn: I ran in. The lights were off and I shook her at first, said her name.
Detective: Where did you shake her?
Caleb Flynn: At the bottom of her foot, just grabbed her calf. I don't know. It was dark. I said, Ashley, Ashley. And then when she didn't answer, that's when I turned the light on and saw.

He said he then called 911.

Friday morning, an FBI agent read messages recovered from Ashley’s phone. Some showed frustration in the marriage, while others showed affection and documented Caleb’s cough, doctor’s visit and medication in the days and weeks before Ashley’s death.

Andrea Kinzig/FBI special agent said, "There was a message where Caleb stated that he was worshipping and that he would call Ashley back later, and Ashley responded, 'you can be honest. Is it her?'"

There was no testimony of how Caleb responded to that.

Ashley sent this message to Caleb on Feb. 13:
"Three questions. One, did we decide which restuarant we are going to tonight? Two, what would you like me to wear? Three, hot tub after?"

Caleb's response: "I'm excited for Gnocchi. Surprise me. Yes."

Three days later, Ashley was dead.

The agent testified that she found no messages indicating Ashley feared for her safety.

Prosecutors accuse Flynn of killing Ashley and staging the scene to look like a home invasion. He has pleaded not guilty.

Want to watch police question Caleb Flynn after his wife Ashley’s death? Tune in to the live stream now. .com

And let me know what you think!

West Chester Township just released this response to comments made by Sheriff Jones on 700 WLW yesterday, which West Chester says “inaccurately portrayed West Chester Township as a sanctuary city and disparaged our police department.”

We have been requested by Hamilton, Ohio Police Department to assist in the search for Mr. Todd Payne. If you have seen or have any information regarding the whereabouts of Mr. Todd Payne, please reach out to
Det. Johnson with the Hamilton Ohio Police Department at 513-868-5811.

LOST IS NOT ALONE

TOGETHER WE CAN

Listen to the final text message exchanged between former pastor Caleb Flynn and Alleigha Botner before Flynn’s wife Ashley was killed.

Former mistress details messages with Caleb Flynn before and after Ashley Flynn’s killing Jurors in Caleb Flynn’s murder trial heard hours of deeply personal messages between Flynn and his former mistress, Alleigha Botner, including exchanges about wanting his wife, Ashley Flynn, “gone.”

TODAY IN THE CALEB FLYNN MURDER TRIAL: Jurors heard hours of testimony from Alleigha Botner, the woman who was having an affair with Flynn before his wife Ashley was killed.

Prosecutors walked Botner through some of the more than 100,000 messages she exchanged with Flynn during the course of their relationship.

Here are just a few that Botner read:

June 19, 2025
Flynn to Botner: "You understandably hate do**he and unless she dies, cheats again or we find a way to get rid of her, she will be around and that will kill you in every single way."

August 28, 2025
Flynn to Botner: "I hate her too with all my heart. I want this freedom more than my next breath."

Sept 12, 2025
Botner to Flynn: "I'm not moving forward with anything else unless there's a plan."

Oct. 28, 2025
Botner to Flynn: "I mean what I say. Until she's gone, I'm gone."

Dec. 9, 2025
Botner to Flynn: "If you leave her before Christmas, you can still have me ... If you don't, I have to move on."

Feb. 15, 2026 (day before Ashley was killed)
Flynn to Botner: "I just want to be free of her, have my girls and have a chance to start a life with you."
Botner to Flynn: "Get your freedom, you've wasted 15 years of your life."

The pair exchanged their final messages around 12:45 a.m. on February 16.
Flynn to Botner: "February 16, day I'll never forget."
Botner: "You're about to be free."
Flynn: "I choose you Alleigha. You're more than enough. Goodnight."
Botner: "Goodnight. Praying now."
Flynn: "Thank you, praying for you as well, goodnight."

Less than two hours later, Flynn called 911 and reported that an intruder had broken in and shot Ashley.

Botner said she found out the next morning from a member of their church and texted Flynn, "Caleb, I just saw the news. Someone told me to pray for Mrs. Flynn. What is going on right now? Were you behind this?"

No response.

Botner testified that when she later saw Flynn at the home of Ashley’s parents, (members of the church gathered there for support) he hugged her and said, “It didn’t happen the way I thought it would, did it?”

Botner also testified that Caleb told her that he was asleep on the couch when Ashley was killed. In his 911 call, he said he was with his daughters.

During cross-examination, Botner admitted she resented Ashley, was jealous of her and repeatedly demanded that Flynn leave his wife. Still, Botner maintained she believed Flynn was pursuing a divorce.... not murder.

Botner also testified that law enforcement never searched her apartment or vehicle or collected her DNA. She said prosecutors promised her nothing in exchange for her testimony.

It's been a busy week! We are on our way back to Miami County for continuing coverage of the Caleb Flynn murder trial. The woman he was having an affair with will be back on the stand this morning.

In the meantime... there have been developments in other high-profile cases I've been covering:

-ERICA GROVE CASE:
tJudge Peeler in Warren County announced his decision (this was a bench trial):
-Not guilty on four charges of r**e
-Not guilty of corrupting another with drugs
-Guilty on two of five charges of gross sexual imposition
-Guilty on two charges of child endangering
Sentencing date has not yet been set. She previously pleaded guilty to 4 other misdemeanors of sexual conduct with animals. Her ex-boyfriend, Tony McCollister has a bench trial set for Sept. 28.

-VIP SMOKE SHOP CASE:
Two brothers who own more than 100 VIP Smoke Shops in Ohio, Kentucky and Indiana pleaded guilty to felony drug trafficking and organized crime charges.
-Wael Sharaydeh, 57, of Cincinnati, and Ismail Sharida, 40, of West Chester, pleaded guilty to five counts of trafficking hashish and one count of trafficking a schedule I controlled substance analog.