Former "American Idol" contestant Caleb Flynn has been placed in solitary confinement at the Miami County Jail in Ohio as he awaits trial on charges that he murdered his wife, Ashley Flynn, and staged the crime scene to look like a break-in.
A veteran corrections officer at the jail said Flynn is being held alone in a single cell for his safety because of his high-profile status and interest from other inmates. Staff monitor him around the clock with cameras and check on him about every 30 minutes, according to the officer.
Flynn, 39, was arrested in mid-February after police found 37-year-old Ashley shot to death in the couple's Tipp City home, where their two children were also present. Prosecutors have charged him with murder, felonious assault, and tampering with evidence, alleging he shot her in the bedroom and then staged the scene as a burglary, according to TMZ.
In a 911 call released by authorities, Flynn told a dispatcher that someone broke into the home and shot his wife, saying she had been shot in the head and he did not know if the intruder was still there. Police later said evidence at the scene did not match a forced-entry burglary and instead pointed to an intentionally altered crime scene.
During a video arraignment, Flynn pleaded not guilty and told the judge he wanted to take care of his daughters and was "not a risk." A judge set his bond at $2 million, and court records show he remains jailed pending further hearings, Billboard.
Jail officials said Flynn's solitary status limits his direct contact with other inmates but still allows controlled privileges. He is permitted to shower daily, receives three meals in his cell, and has access to a tablet for approved movies, phone calls, and reading scanned letters, the officer said.
Flynn, who auditioned for season 12 of "American Idol" in 2013, had previously spoken publicly about his family life, crediting his wife with encouraging his music career. Ashley, a teacher and volleyball coach, has been remembered by colleagues and family as a devoted mother and educator, and the case has drawn heavy attention in their Ohio community, as per USA Today.
