Authorities are investigating the killing of an Ohio woman who was found dead inside her home following a reported burglary, police said.
The woman, 37-year-old Tipp City resident Ashley Flynn, was a mother of two children and a local teacher, according to police and news reports.
Tipp City police were sent to Flynn’s home at around 2:31 a.m. on Monday, February 16, after “a reported burglary with a resident inside the home who had been shot,” the Tipp City Police department said in a news release issued later that day.
There, officers found Flynn’s husband and two children inside the home, where Flynn was ultimately pronounced dead, according to police.
Officers did not find any potential suspects after securing the home and the nearby area, police said. Officers had set up a perimeter, sent out police canines and deployed a drone to search for possible suspects.
In an update on February 16, the police department described the circumstances surrounding Flynn’s death as a “complex situation.”
In response to an inquiry from Us Weekly the afternoon of Tuesday, February 17, Tipp City Chief of Police Greg Adkins said via email that his department “will continue to keep everyone informed and will schedule a press conference to provide further updates when additional information is available.”
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“In the meantime, updates will be shared through official media press releases,” he said.
In an update on February 17, the police department said it is investigating Flynn’s death with other law enforcement agencies, including the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation, the FBI, the Miami County Sheriff’s Office and the Miami County Prosecutor’s Office.
“Through these partnerships, investigators are confident that the evidence collected will help determine what occurred inside the residence on Cunningham Court,” the department said. “The family and the community deserve answers and the most thorough investigation possible.”
Flynn’s autopsy results are pending, according to police.
Flynn worked as a substitute teacher after previously teaching for Tipp City Schools, the school district said in a statement shared to Facebook on February 16. She also worked as a Tippecanoe Middle School volleyball coach.
“She was known for her beautiful smile, warmth, kindness, and the positive impact she had on so many — both in and out of the classroom and on the court,” the school district said. “Our thoughts are with all who are grieving during this difficult time.”
Flynn was also a member of the Christian Life Center in Dayton.
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In a statement shared to Facebook, the center’s pastor, Jordan Hansen, wrote that Flynn was a “beloved member” of the church, a “devoted servant of Jesus, and wife, mom, daughter…”
The Tipp City Police Department acknowledged the community’s concern over the identification of a potential suspect or suspects in the agency’s February 17 update.
“We want to reassure the public that investigators are actively reviewing all tips, processing evidence, examining possible motives, and continuing scene-related investigations,” the department said in the statement. “While we remain committed to transparency, certain information must be protected to preserve the integrity of the investigation.”
The department is asking anyone with information or video footage relevant to the investigation to contact police at (937) 667-3112 or the Miami County Communications Center (937) 440-9911.
Tipp City is about a 75-mile drive west from Columbus.