‘American Idol’ contestant’s murder trial: Former mistress says suspect wanted to kill his wife
MIAMI COUNTY, Ohio —
A former “American Idol” contestant is accused of killing his wife inside their Ohio home in February.
Caleb Flynn’s former “mistress,” as described by both the state and defense, took the stand Thursday to testify in his murder trial.
Alleigha Botner read text messages between her and Flynn and testified about their ongoing relationship.
“I just wish I didn’t say this, I didn’t mean it,” Botner said before reading one of the messages. “It says, I want to kill her, Caleb. I said, it’s so bad. He said that makes two of us,” Botner read aloud in court.
In a later message, Botner expressed that she did not want Flynn to kill Ashley, instead urging him to divorce her.
“On August 22nd, 2025, I said it would change everything, Caleb. I’m not asking that you take her life, obviously, because that’s not what you should do. And I know you actually wouldn’t. But to make the divorce happen, it would change everything,” she read.
Botner testified that she believes Flynn killed Ashley.
Flynn’s defense team argues there is no forensic evidence linking him to the crime, claiming instead that an intruder broke into the home and killed Ashley. The murder weapon has not been recovered.
The 24-year-old said she first met Flynn when she was 21 and while she was an intern at church where Flynn was a former pastor. Botner said she did not know Flynn was married at first.
She testified their relationship remained professional until March of 2024.
You can watch Botner’s full testimony in the video below.
When Botner was asked at the trial how she feels about Flynn now, she said “I hate him.” When asked why, she said, “because I think he murdered his wife.”
Botner testified there were 107,000 messages exchanged between her and Flynn throughout their relationship.
The prosecution played videos where Flynn would allegedly confirm no one was at his home. He would also send videos of his daughters.
Botner testified Flynn would say he hated his wife, Ashley, reciting texts between them saying so. Some of the texts mentioned Flynn “wanted her dead.”
Botner testified the two would refer to Ashley, often using derogatory names.
Botner testified the two would spend nights at her apartment or meet up in parking lots to engage in sexual acts. Botner testified when they would go on dates, he would show her where he kept his gun in the console.
When asked how many times Flynn wished Ashley was not in his life, Botner testified “every week at least.” When asked how many times Flynn made statements that he wanted her to die, Botner testified, “probably once a month.”
Botner testified that while Flynn and Ashley were on a 15-year anniversary cruise, Ashley saw texts between the two, and that Ashley texted Botner saying they needed to meet, but it didn’t happen. “I didn’t think I could face her,” Botner said.
Botner testified that after the cruise, she started giving Flynn deadlines to leave Ashley, but said by the date, it wouldn’t happen because he “didn’t want to hurt the girls.”
Botner testified that in January 2026, she told him it was his last chance to leave Ashley.
The prosecution presented song lyrics and voice messages Flynn sent to Botner. Botner walked through some of the lyrics and their meanings. For example, early mornings, was about the mornings they met up when he was supposed to be at the gym.
Botner also testified about her whereabouts on Feb. 15, the day of the alleged murder, saying she was house-sitting for a church pastor. She testified that after worship on the 15th, she went to her mom’s house until 11:50 p.m. and went back to the pastor’s house. She testified she did not stop anywhere along the way.
