Investigators say Ashley Flynn was killed at home as her family slept nearby.
TIPP CITY, Ohio — Investigators in Tipp City are reviewing surveillance video, forensic evidence and community tips after Ashley Flynn, a 37-year-old volleyball coach and former teacher, was shot and killed inside her home during an apparent break-in before dawn Monday.
The homicide has drawn assistance from state and federal agencies as police try to identify a suspect and determine a motive. Authorities have said Flynn’s husband and two children were inside the house when officers arrived, but they were not injured. Police have not announced any arrests and have not said whether they believe one person or more than one person was involved.
Police were dispatched around 2:31 a.m. Monday to a home on Cunningham Court after a call reporting a burglary with a resident who had been shot. Officers arrived and made contact with Flynn’s husband and the couple’s children inside the residence, police said. Flynn was found shot and was pronounced dead at the scene. Tipp City Police Chief Greg Adkins said investigators believe two shots were fired inside the house, a detail that has become central as detectives try to reconstruct the moments leading up to the killing.
Adkins told reporters that early evidence suggested the shooting happened during a “burglary gone wrong” and that officers saw signs consistent with forced entry. In the hours after the killing, police established a perimeter in the neighborhood and used a police dog and a drone to search for a suspect. No one was located during the initial search, police said, and investigators shifted to collecting physical evidence and interviewing potential witnesses as daylight came. Crime scene technicians worked alongside agents from the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation, processing the home and the surrounding area for items that could carry fingerprints, DNA or other traces.
By Tuesday, investigators were still trying to answer basic questions: why the intruder entered the home, what the intruder expected to find, and what prompted gunfire. Adkins said he did not have a motive he could share at that point and that detectives were examining possible motives as evidence is processed. He also said investigators were being careful with what they released publicly, a sign that detectives were still piecing together a sequence of events that may include movements inside the house, entry points, and any indications that the suspect knew the layout or the family’s routines.
One of the biggest tasks has been reviewing video. Adkins said detectives have received multiple clips from doorbell cameras, home systems and other sources and that reviewing them has required “the manpower of several of our investigators.” Police have not described what the video shows, how many cameras captured activity, or whether investigators have images of the suspect. Officials have said they are comparing timestamps and perspectives from different angles to identify patterns, such as a vehicle moving through the neighborhood or a person approaching the residence before the burglary report came in.
An autopsy was conducted Tuesday morning, and investigators said the results were pending. Police have said they are following up on information obtained during the autopsy as they continue working the case. In homicide investigations, autopsy findings can help establish a clearer timeline and may offer details about distance, direction and other elements that can be compared against the scene and witness statements. Police have not released those details publicly, and they have not said whether the firearm used in the shooting has been recovered.
The investigation has expanded beyond Tipp City’s police department. In addition to Ohio BCI, police said they are working with the Miami County Sheriff’s Office and the Miami County Prosecutor’s Office. Adkins said he contacted the FBI for additional resources, a move that can provide specialized support and technical assistance for evidence processing and analysis. Police have emphasized that multiple agencies are involved to ensure the most thorough investigation possible and to help manage the heavy workload created by evidence collection, video review and follow-up interviews.
As detectives focused on the case, the person at the center of the investigation was being remembered across the district where she worked. Tipp City Schools identified Flynn as the seventh-grade volleyball coach at Tippecanoe Middle School and a “dedicated” substitute teacher who had previously served as a full-time teacher in the district. In a statement, the district said she was known for her smile, warmth and kindness, and for the positive impact she had on students in the classroom and on the court. For many families, Flynn was not a distant name in a police report but a familiar adult who helped guide kids through school days and team practices.
City leaders also spoke publicly about the loss as the investigation continued. At a council meeting Tuesday night, Tipp City leaders held a moment of silence for Flynn. Council President Ryan Liddy said Flynn coached his daughter and described her as caring, compassionate and supportive. Mayor Logan Rogers said his thoughts were with Flynn’s family, friends and students and also with law enforcement working the case. Council member Phil Cox said a tragedy like this may pass as a statistic in larger places, but in Tipp City it stunned residents and felt deeply personal.
A pastor who addressed the meeting offered a prayer for the family and the broader community, capturing the mix of grief and anxiety that has followed the killing. Flynn’s connections to local faith communities have been part of the public response, with church leaders describing her as a devoted mother and a loved member of the community. Pastor Jordan Hansen of the Christian Life Center in Butler Township publicly asked for prayers for Flynn’s husband and daughters, describing the loss as overwhelming and asking for comfort as the investigation moves forward.
Police have tried to balance reassurance with candor about what is still unknown. Adkins said investigators were continuing to go through evidence that had been collected and that the department was committed to pushing the case forward. He acknowledged the community’s desire for quick answers but said detectives were working through a large amount of information, including video, physical evidence and tips. In a statement released by police, the department said it understands concerns about the lack of a publicly identified suspect and said investigators are actively reviewing tips, processing evidence, examining possible motives and continuing scene-related investigations.
The quiet setting of Cunningham Court has added to the shock. Neighbors have described the area as a typical residential street where families come and go for school and work, and where kids play in yards when the weather allows. After the shooting, the visible signs of a major investigation—blocked-off areas, marked vehicles, and technicians moving in and out—made the violence feel out of place. Residents have described sleeplessness and worry, even as many also spoke of coming together to support the family and to help investigators by preserving any relevant camera footage.
The case has also raised questions about what detectives will do next and how long it may take for charges to be filed, if suspects are identified. Police have not announced any scheduled public briefings or court dates, and no suspect has been named. Investigators are expected to continue lab submissions and analysis in the coming days, a process that can include testing, comparisons and follow-up interviews once preliminary results are returned. Police have not provided a timeline for those steps, but they have said the family and the community deserve clear answers.
As of Wednesday, detectives were still reviewing evidence and waiting on key forensic and autopsy information while continuing to assess tips and video. Adkins has said the investigation will move forward with additional resources, and city leaders have continued to honor Flynn’s memory as the case remains open and active.
Author note: Last updated February 18, 2026.