A former teacher and middle school volleyball coach was found shot to death after police responded to a reported burglary in progress at her home before dawn, authorities said, launching a multi-agency homicide investigation in this small city north of Dayton.
The victim, Ashley Flynn, was 37 and was known in local schools and church circles as a warm presence around students and athletes. Tipp City Police Chief Greg Adkins said detectives are treating the killing as a complex case as they sort through tips, security video and physical evidence. No suspect has been publicly identified, no arrest has been announced, and officials said autopsy findings and forensic results will help determine what happened inside the home and what charges could follow.
Police were dispatched about 2:31 a.m. Mon., Feb. 16, to the 900 block of Cunningham Court after a call came in as a burglary in progress involving a resident who had been shot, authorities said. Officers arrived and made contact with Flynn’s husband and the couple’s two children inside the house. Flynn was pronounced dead at the scene. Adkins said investigators believe two shots were fired inside the residence, but he said he could not share a motive and would not speculate publicly about whether the shooter knew the family. “I believe it was two shots fired inside the house,” Adkins said in a televised interview as investigators continued canvassing the neighborhood.
In the hours after the shooting, police secured the home and set up a perimeter through the surrounding neighborhood, deploying a police canine and a drone to search nearby yards and streets for anyone who might have fled on foot. No suspect was found during the initial sweep, authorities said. Detectives and crime scene technicians stayed on site through the day collecting and processing evidence, and police kept a visible presence on the cul-de-sac into the night as the work continued. Officials have not said what kind of weapon was used, whether anything was taken from the home, or whether they believe the intruder acted alone or with help. Adkins said investigators are also trying to confirm how the person got into the house and when the gunfire occurred during the reported break-in.
One major focus has been building a timeline from camera footage and tips. Adkins said residents and businesses have been sending in doorbell and security video from the overnight hours, and he said reviewing it has taken a large share of the department’s resources. “It’s pretty much taken the manpower of several of our investigators just reviewing the videos that have been coming in,” Adkins said. Police asked anyone with video or information from the area around Cunningham Court during the early morning hours of Feb. 16 to contact investigators. Officials have not released a description of a suspect, a vehicle, or any clothing tied to the case, saying they are trying to protect details that could be important later.
As the investigation expanded, Tipp City police called in outside help and said they are working with several agencies. Ohio’s Bureau of Criminal Investigation responded to assist with evidence processing and follow-up work, and police said they also contacted the FBI for additional resources. The Miami County Sheriff’s Office and the Miami County Prosecutor’s Office have been involved as well, authorities said. Adkins said Tipp City is a small department and does not operate as a dedicated homicide team, making the extra staffing and specialized support important as leads are chased down and evidence is analyzed. Investigators have not said whether they believe the suspect remains in the area, but Adkins said he wanted residents to feel they could keep moving forward as the case unfolds.
An autopsy was conducted Tuesday morning, police said, and results were pending as detectives continued interviews and evidence review. Officials said they are following up on information obtained through the autopsy process while awaiting laboratory work. The chief has not described the medical examiner’s preliminary observations, and he has not said whether there were signs of a struggle beyond the gunfire. Police also have not publicly addressed conflicting early accounts about forced entry, though officials have consistently said the original call was for a burglary in progress and that the shooting happened inside the home. Prosecutors have not announced a court filing connected to the killing, and police have not said whether they have recovered a weapon.
Flynn’s death prompted a wave of grief across Tipp City’s schools and church community. Tipp City Schools said Flynn served as a former teacher and a substitute teacher and coached seventh-grade girls volleyball at Tippecanoe Middle School. She also taught for LifeWise Academy in Tipp City, a nonprofit that provides Bible-based education to public school students away from campus during school hours. In statements shared by community groups, she was remembered for her kindness and the way she treated children and athletes. Pastor Jordan Hansen of Christian Life Center described Flynn as a devoted wife and mother and said the family had been active in the church. Neighbors on the cul-de-sac described a household often seen outside with children and dogs, sports gear in the yard and a routine of greeting people as they walked by.
City and community leaders also acknowledged the loss in public settings as investigators worked. Tipp City officials observed a moment of silence and offered condolences at a meeting as residents continued to ask for answers. Vigils and prayer gatherings were organized in the days after the shooting, and local groups moved quickly to support Flynn’s family. Police said tips continued to come in, and Adkins said detectives were weighing information carefully while trying not to release details that could compromise the investigation. The department urged patience as forensic work and interviews proceed, noting that homicide cases often turn on small pieces of evidence that take time to confirm.
On Wednesday, the investigation remained active, with no suspect named and no charges announced. Police said the next major update is expected as autopsy findings, forensic testing and reviewed video help clarify what happened inside the Cunningham Court home early Feb. 16. Adkins said evidence collection was nearing completion and the focus would shift further toward analysis and follow-up interviews, as authorities try to identify who entered the home and why.
Author note: Last updated February 18, 2026.