Former American Idol contestant Caleb Flynn has been sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole for murdering his wife and attempting to make her death look like the result of a home invasion.
The 40 year old former music pastor was sentenced Monday in Ohio, less than a week after a jury found him guilty of aggravated murder, murder, felonious assault and tampering with evidence.
Associated Press reports that prosecutors said Flynn shot his 37 year old wife, Ashley Flynn, while she was sleeping at their home in Tipp City in February.
Flynn initially told investigators that an intruder had entered the home and killed his wife.
Prosecutors presented a very different account.
They argued that Flynn staged the apparent break in after killing Ashley while he was involved in an affair. The couple's two daughters were inside the home at the time.
Flynn breaks down while addressing his daughters
The sentencing hearing became particularly emotional when Flynn spoke about his children.
He apologized for the pain he had caused his family and acknowledged failing the vows he had made to Ashley.
Flynn nevertheless continued to insist that he did not murder his wife.
According to CBS News, Judge Jeannine Pratt ultimately imposed the maximum sentence of life without parole.
Statements written by Flynn's daughters were also presented during the hearing.
The case attracted enormous attention because of Flynn's previous television appearance and the disturbing evidence presented during his trial.
Affair became central to prosecution's case
Flynn briefly appeared on American Idol in 2013 but did not advance to the main Hollywood competition.
Years later, he worked as a music pastor.
During the murder trial, prosecutors focused heavily on Flynn's relationship with another woman and the enormous volume of messages exchanged between them.
ABC News reports that his former mistress testified for prosecutors and read messages exchanged with Flynn during their relationship. Prosecutors argued that the communications helped establish Flynn's state of mind before Ashley's death.
Investigators also challenged Flynn's claim that he had been asleep around the time of the killing, using digital evidence and other information from inside the home.
The defense argued that prosecutors relied heavily on circumstantial evidence and emphasized that the murder weapon was never recovered. Flynn's attorney has indicated that the conviction is expected to be appealed.
But for now, the sentence means the former television contestant is expected to spend the remainder of his life behind bars.
A man once seen pursuing a music career on one of America's biggest television shows has now become the center of a murder case that has shocked audiences far beyond Ohio.
