Mistress Testifies 'American Idol' Contestant Planned Wife's Death

Former "American Idol" contestant Caleb Flynn repeatedly expressed a desire for his wife to die and once told his mistress he was "thinking about ways to kill her," the woman testified Wednesday during his Ohio murder trial. Alleigha Botner, who testified to having an affair with Flynn for approximately 18 months, stated that Flynn's comments about Ashley Flynn grew increasingly disturbing in the months leading up to her fatal shooting in their Tipp City home.

"At first it was, ‘I want her dead. I wish she was gone,’" Botner testified. She recalled Flynn later saying, "If I could kill her and not go to jail, I would."

Botner told jurors that Flynn's comments escalated further, recounting a night when he told her he was "thinking about ways to kill her." The mistress testified that the comments about wanting Ashley to die occurred at least once a month. Prosecutors presented messages recovered from the relationship, including one attributed to Flynn from February 2025 that read, "I need her to die, to cheat again, to leave." Other messages included "I want her dead and gone" and, in response to a question about what she could do for him, "kill her."

Flynn is accused of fatally shooting Ashley in the back of the head on February 16, 2026, inside their home and then staging the scene to resemble a break-in. He has pleaded not guilty to aggravated murder and other charges.

Botner also testified that Flynn possessed a gun before the killing, showing it to her once inside the center console of his truck. Investigators have not recovered the alleged murder weapon despite extensive searches.

Jurors heard testimony that Flynn and Botner routinely deleted messages throughout their relationship, including the night before Ashley was murdered. Botner acknowledged instructing Flynn on how to delete data from his devices multiple times, including the night before Ashley's death.

Botner stated their relationship began personally in March 2024 and became sexual approximately two months later. She testified that Flynn expressed hatred for Ashley, viewed her as a "roommate," and remained in the marriage due to their two daughters. Botner admitted knowing Flynn was married when their relationship became sexual and acknowledged the wrongfulness of their actions.

Over approximately a year, the two exchanged about 107,000 messages. By January, Botner testified, she gave Flynn an ultimatum: leave Ashley by January 11 or she would end their relationship. Flynn did not leave, and Botner ceased communication until February 14, Valentine's Day and two days before Ashley's death.

On February 14, Botner testified, Flynn told her he was "filing [for divorce] from Ashley" and "actually leaving her this time." They met at Christian Life Center, where they had initially met. Flynn told Botner he had already spoken with Ashley and informed her of the divorce. By the following night, February 15, Flynn was still telling Botner he planned to end the marriage on February 16, saying, "He said it'll be a day I never forget."

Botner recalled Flynn's late-night messages on February 15, including "Tomorrow is a big day," "I choose you," and that he was "about to be free." She understood these comments to mean Flynn was proceeding with the divorce. The morning of February 16, Botner expected to hear from Flynn but instead received an Instagram message from a fellow congregant asking if she had heard about Ashley.

The congregant sent Botner a news story about Ashley's death. "My heart started pounding," Botner testified. "It just seemed like too much of a coincidence that the day he's divorcing her, she's just dead all of a sudden." Botner immediately messaged Flynn asking if he was involved and if it was real, but he did not respond. She admitted deleting the message out of fear that investigators would find the affair.

Botner acknowledged that she initially lied to the FBI about her relationship with Flynn when interviewed days after the killing, stating she was "selfishly afraid that my reputation was going to be ruined and that I was going to lose my job." She began disclosing more details after investigators informed her they had found text messages on Ashley's phone.

When asked about her current feelings toward Flynn, Botner responded, "I hate him," because, she testified, "I believe that he murdered his wife."

Fox News Digital reached out to Flynn's attorney. Botner is expected to return to the stand on Thursday.