Days after it was revealed in court that former worship pastor and ‘American Idol’ alum Caleb Flynn texted his mistress his dark fantasies about killing his wife, he has been sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole.
During the trial, Prosecutor Paul Watkins revealed that Flynn had been engaged in a long-term affair and had sent his mistress more than 100,000 text messages in the year leading up to his wife’s death, saying things like:
“I was up until 4 a.m. last night crying, literally trying to think of ways to kill her and not go to jail.”
and
“If I could literally kill her and not go to hell, I would do it in a heartbeat. That is how dark and how hateful I feel.”
On the night before Ashley was murdered, Flynn texted his mistress:
“I choose you. I’m free. Actions will come tomorrow, February 16, a day I’ll never forget.”
Now, he’ll die in prison.
Tragically, his family read victim impact statements to a weeping Flynn, including from his 12-year-old and 10-year-old daughters, who begged him him to confess and repent of his sin, saying in part:
…Daddy, affairs are a big sin. But there is still a chance. There’s a choice for everything in life. All you have to do is tell God that you’re sorry and that you want to confess and repent to Him. I promise you it won’t take away your punishment, but you will have a life in heaven someday. I cry and cry every day, and my heart breaks to see the people I love hurt.
I’ve seen images, pictures and videos of you everywhere on YouTube. My heart aches to see you hurt. But then I think it was your choice. It was your choice to have an affair. It was your choice to go off with that dirty girl. It was your choice to leave the perfect woman, Ashley. It was your choice to lie to everyone. 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. Unfortunately, that was a choice that cannot be erased, even though I really wish it could. And look, you and Aliyah sinned big time, but you still have a chance to tell God that you are sorry. I pray every night for you and Aliyah to confess to Jesus that you sinned. And this is my prayer every night.
“Dear Jesus, thank you for dying on the cross for us and for our many blessings. Jesus, I pray that you would help Daddy and Aliyah to repent to you and confess that they sinned. Please help them to realize what they’ve done, to stop lying, and to tell the truth to you. In Jesus’ name, amen.”
I promise you, Daddy, that is every single night. Please tell Jesus that you’re sorry. And as I said before, it’s not going to change your punishment, but it will determine your eternal reward someday. Remember, there’s still a chance. There’s a choice for everything. I hope you will bring Jesus back into your heart.
Love, Ava
and, from his other daughter:
…I love you deeply with all my heart, and it’s sad you can’t love anyone but yourself….please, you have already caused so much pain to your family and the world. The least you could do is tell everyone you did it and receive your outcome. Also, please repent to God, the one who created you. Your time isn’t over. Did you really even think about how much pain you would bring your own two daughters?
By the way, 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. How could you stand in that church and sing about how much you love God when you knew all the secrets you had inside? And watch your girls cheering you on and your wife, who believed in you so much and loved you more than life itself?
You truly don’t understand how much you hurt my life. And I wish you could feel the pain I have been through. Something so tragic and to know that it was my father was just shocking. You made me feel like an idiot thinking that I could trust you.
But God has been working through me and I have changed. Also, our family has never been stronger. And through all of what you put me through, God is going to work something out for good. And by the way, I don’t plan on coming to see you.
For his, Flynn refused to take responsibility and claimed someone else did it, pleading for his innocence.
