Caleb Flynn sobs in court as Ashley Flynn's mom reads daughters' letter - Newsweek

Loved ones of Ashley Flynn, whose husband was convicted of killing her, said they refuse to let evil have the "final word in her story" as Caleb Flynn was sentenced Monday to life without possibility of parole.

Caleb Flynn, 40, a former Ohio music pastor and American Idol contestant who was convicted last week of aggravated murder and other counts, apologized in court to his family, including his two daughters, ages 12 and 10, but maintained that he was innocent.

"As I stand here before God, who is my ultimate judge, I am not lying when I say I did not kill my wife," Flynn said.

He also spoke directly to his two daughters, Alyssa and Ava, characterizing them as the "greatest joy" of his life.

"I don't know if they'll ever be able to hear this, but I want them to hear it regardless—I love you two," Flynn said, adding he was sorry he wouldn't be able to see them grow into adulthood.

Victim-impact statements were also delivered during Monday's hearing, including remarks by Ashley Flynn's mother and sister, WLWT reported.

"We trusted you, we believed in you, we honestly would've laid down our lives for you," said Ashley Flynn's sister, Kayla Keyt. "And because of that, one of my greatest fears, was that people will look at you and what you have done and begin questioning whether any of this, Christianity, faith, Jesus was real."

Ashley Flynn's brother-in-law, Matthew Keyt, requested that Miami County Common Pleas Judge Jeannine Pratt sentence the former pastor to the stiffest possible punishment. Prosecutors had said during his trial that Flynn staged a home invasion in February after shooting his 37-year-old wife and claiming she was killed by a burglar.

"Caleb's decision created permanent loss that has created permanent consequences," Matthew Keyt said Monday.

Matthew Keyt and Ashley Flynn's mother, Jill Smith, also read statements on behalf of Caleb Flynn's daughters as he broke down in tears, WLWT reported.

"I don't even know where to start, how could you do such a thing?" Matthew Keyt read from one of the daughter's statements. "I looked up to you, I loved you with all my heart, and then you lied to everyone. Mommy was the perfect person, the absolute perfect person, what did she ever do to make you hate her so much? You chose to kill the only mother I ever had."

Smith, also shared a statement in court written by one of Caleb Flynn's daughters, WLWT reported.

"You had the best life ever, and you decided to throw it away forever for a girl who was half your age," Smith said in court, adding that the daughter did not plan to visit her father in prison.

Pratt, meanwhile, admonished Flynn on Monday for using his faith to hide his "deceit" and "lust" while saying he posed the highest risk of harm to the public, ABC News reported.

"You could have walked away," the judge told Flynn. "You could have separated from her and left her here on this Earth to be able to be with the people that need her, who loved her, who looked forward to having her in their lives. But instead, through your greed, your selfishness, your lust, and your cruelty, you chose to take Ashley's life, and in doing so, you did far more than take the life of your wife. On that fateful day in February, the person who should have been protecting their children shattered their lives."

Flynn had faced life in prison without possibility of parole after a jury found him guilty on nine counts, including tampering with evidence. Jurors deliberated for less than three hours before reaching a verdict.

Prosecutor Paul Watkins previously read a statement by Ashley Flynn's family following the conviction last week.

"No verdict can bring Ashley back, give the girls back their mother, or erase the pain our family has endured," Watkins said. "But Ashley’s life will not be defined by the way it ended, she’ll be remembered for the way she lived."

Watkins said relatives are also refusing to "let the evil that ended Ashley's life have the final word in her story," ABC News reported.

"Ashley loved Jesus with her whole heart. Her faith wasn't simply something she simply spoke about. It was how she lived," Watkins added. "She loved people well, found joy beyond her circumstances, prayed boldly for her family, and wanted her life to point people to Jesus."

Newsweek’s reporters and editors used Martyn, our AI assistant, to produce this story. Learn more about Martyn here. Contact Newsweek editors on this story: Gabe Whisnant and Edward T. Cummins