Flynn Trial Day Two: Stunning text messages subject of opening statements

Text messages sent by Caleb Flynn subject of murder trial’s opening statements

Editor’s Note: The Caleb Flynn trial began on September 17 with jury selection, then continued on Friday September 18 with opening statements and the first witnesses for the prosecution. The Tippecanoe Gazette had a reporter in the courtroom to cover the case.

Text messages from Caleb Flynn stating his desire to kill his wife, Ashley, were the focus of opening statements by the prosecution on Friday, the second day of his murder trial in the Miami County Court of Common Pleas.

Miami County Prosecutor Paul Watkins said the texts were among 100,000 messages shared between Flynn and a woman over the course of a year and were proof of a motive in the killing of his wife Ashley on Feb. 16 in their Tipp City home.

“I was up until 4 a.m. last night crying – literally trying to think of ways to kill her and not go to jail,” Watkins said, quoting two of the texts. “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.”

Watkins continued: “Those two messages are Caleb Flynn’s own words. The words about his wife Ashley. The words communicated to his mistress. Those messages were sent months apart and before Ashley’s murder. Those words tell you what this case is about.”

Flynn was indicted in March on multiple charges related to Ashley’s killing: aggravated murder, murder, felonious assault, tampering with evidence and intimidating a witness, victim or attorney.

Watkins finished his statement by quoting a text from Flynn sent the night before Ashley’s killing.

“I choose you – I’m free,” Watkins said, quoting the text. “Actions will come tomorrow. Feb. 16, a day I’ll never forget.”

Emily Smith, an attorney for the defense, said the state had no forensic evidence linking Flynn to Ashley’s killing. The murder weapon was never found by investigators.

“The evidence in this case will establish that the only thing we know is Caleb had an affair,” Smith said. “The State of Ohio has penned its entire case on the flawed claim that because Caleb Flynn had motive to leave his wife, he instead murdered her and manipulated the scene.”

Smith said Flynn’s text messages didn’t provide a motive and didn’t indicate a prevailing narrative in how he felt about Ashley, outside of wanting to end his marriage.

“Ashley Flynn’s death is a profound tragedy, but a woman’s life is worth more than mere speculation alone,” Smith said. “Ashley Flynn deserves justice, and a tragedy deserves more than a theory.”

According to Smith, the state couldn’t determine when a side door to the family’s garage had been damaged. Flynn told law enforcement an intruder kicked open the door to enter the home before shooting Ashley in a bedroom where she slept.

Smith said the state’s lack of physical evidence means it can’t meet the burden of proof for a guilty verdict.

“The state can’t meet their incredibly high burden of proof, so they are tasking (the jury) with believing this convenient story,” Flynn said. “There’s no forensic evidence linking Caleb to these crimes.”

The trial continues on Monday. September 21.

Trial Notes

Jury selection was completed on Thursday with six men and six women selected. The court saw around 70 potential jurors on Thursday and had scheduled around 70 more on Friday if selection wasn’t finished.

Jurors were asked if they could put aside the lack of a murder weapon when giving a verdict, if they could ignore infidelity in the case when giving a verdict and if they had a personal stake in the case.

According to Miami County Sheriff Dave Duchak, additional deputies have been placed at the courthouse for added security. He said the office hasn’t received any messages or threats related to the trial and the security is a precaution due to the high-profile trial.