Flynn, 39, was shackled at the hands and feet when a deputy led him into the courtroom. He was indicted by a county grand jury Wednesday on 11 counts in the Feb. 16 death of his wife, 37-year-old Ashley Flynn, in their Cunningham Court home in Tipp City.
Credit: Bryant Billing
Credit: Bryant Billing
About a dozen of Ashley Flynn’s family members attended the hearing, sitting in the public gallery behind the prosecutor.
Wall read the 11 charges against him: aggravated murder, three counts of murder, two counts of felonious assault, three counts of tampering with evidence and two misdemeanor counts of intimidation of an attorney, victim or witness in a criminal case. If convicted as charged, Wall said he faces 25 to 30 years to life in prison or life without parole.
“Your honor, we would acknowledge receipt of the indictment,” said defense attorney L. Patrick Mulligan, who added that they “respectfully enter a plea of not guilty to all counts and specifications.”
Mulligan also requested a reduced bond.
“As you are aware, my client has no record whatsoever. This is the first time ever being actually in a court case. I would suggest that a reasonable bond should be set in light of the fact that we have entered a not guilty plea. He is represented by retained counsel and has the ability to appear in court,” he said.
Miami County Prosecutor Paul Watkins opposed a lower bond because the $2 million bond was set in municipal court when the highest charge was murder.
“There is now an aggravated murder charge, along with corresponding tampering with evidence and tampering with witness charges,” he said.
Credit: Bryant Billing
Credit: Bryant Billing
Also, there is precedent on an unrelated aggravated murder case with a bond set at $3 million for a defendant who had local ties and local employment.
“This defendant does not. Any of his local ties are through the victim’s family, and they’re not supportive at this time in terms of any sort of living arrangement. The defendant’s family does live out of state. The state would ask the court, Your Honor, to set bond in excess of $3 million,” Watkins said.
Although Flynn has no criminal record, Wall said that is not the only consideration for setting bond.
“The court considers the history of the charges, including that aggravated murder charge. … There is no local contact here that can be established, no residence at this time. Given the seriousness, nature of the charges, as well as the victim involved, the nature of the relationship, the court will order a $3.5 million bond blanket on all of that, cash bond,” Wall said.
Credit: Bryant Billing
Credit: Bryant Billing
If he posts bond, Flynn would have to verify a local address and would be under house arrest with electronic monitoring. He also could not violate any law or have any contact with the alleged child victims of the intimidation charges or their representatives, which includes no calling, texting, emailing or communicating through a third party, the judge said.
Flynn teared up hearing that he would not be able to have contact with his daughters.
Following the hearing, Mulligan said he is looking forward to defending the case.
Flynn is next due in court for a March 30 pretrial hearing before Judge Jeannine Pratt, who has been assigned the case.
Background of the case
Ashley Flynn found shot and killed early Feb. 16 at the home in the 900 block of Cunningham Court. The homicide initially was reported by Caleb Flynn as a break-in and shooting, according to 911 records.
She had been shot two times and was pronounced deceased at the scene, Tipp City Police Chief Greg Adkins said.
Caleb Flynn was arrested three days later and has remained held in the Miami County Jail.
The case has received heightened publicity on a national, and even international level.
The criminal complaint filed Feb. 19 in Miami County Municipal Court indicated Ashley Flynn was shot with a 9mm handgun, and that officers were led astray “by the staging of the crime scene.”
When police arrived, the side door to the garage on the north side of the house was open. Ashley Flynn was found in bed in the master bedroom. Two gun shell casings were found on the floor near the foot of the bed, according to an affidavit.
Inside the garage, the center console to a 2024 Ford pickup truck was open. This is where Caleb Flynn told police he kept a handgun. Also, police reported that the side door to the garage had a large refrigerator in front of it “that would’ve had to be pushed to open the door,” the affidavit stated.
Credit: Bryant Billing
Credit: Bryant Billing
Caleb Flynn, the couple’s daughters and two Goldendoodles also were home at the time of the shooting. Caleb Flynn told police he had a cough and was not sleeping in the master bedroom that night.
“The two children in the home had not woke up and (were) still in their bedroom throughout this incident,” the court record said.
The deadly shooting and Caleb Flynn’s arrest sent shockwaves through the tight-knit Tipp City community, which has rallied to support the couple’s two elementary-aged daughters. Proceeds from T-shirt sales and a portion of profits from business events plus other donations have been funneled to an online fundraiser that has raised nearly $175,000 from about 1,400 donors.
Ashley Flynn coached seventh-grade girls volleyball at Tippecanoe Middle School and worked as a substitute teacher for Tipp City Schools. She also worked as a teacher for LifeWise Academy in Tipp City, a nonprofit that provides weekly Bible-based lessons to public school students off campus. The Tippecanoe High School graduate also formerly worked as a teacher for Tipp City Schools.
Caleb Flynn was a worship leader at the couple’s church and a former “American Idol” contestant.
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