Mistress Testifies in American Idol Contestant's Murder Trial, Recounts Texts About Killing Wife

The mistress of a former American Idol contestant broke down in tears on the stand as she recounted text messages exchanged with the accused killer, Caleb Flynn, that discussed wanting his wife dead. Flynn, 40, is on trial in Tipp City, Ohio, for the alleged murder of his wife, 37-year-old Ashley Flynn, on February 16.

Prosecutors contend that Flynn shot his wife after engaging in a years-long affair with 24-year-old Alleigha Botner. They allege he then staged the scene to appear as a home invasion. Flynn has pleaded not guilty, asserting that an intruder killed his wife while he slept in a nearby room with their two young daughters.

Botner returned to the witness stand on Thursday and read aloud text messages she and Flynn exchanged about desiring Ashley Flynn's death. "I want to kill her, Caleb. It's so bad," Botner wrote in one message on July 10, 2025. She began to cry, telling the court, "I just wish I didn’t say this. I didn’t mean it."

Flynn's reply to that message was, "That makes two of us." He also sent a message on June 12, 2025, referring to his wife by a vulgar nickname: "Please hire someone to take douche out. I need you." Botner responded, "So tempting."

On Wednesday, Botner testified that she and Flynn used derogatory nicknames for Ashley Flynn. In another exchange on July 3, 2025, Flynn wrote, "I hate douche. I sure as heck ain’t hanging with her. I hate my life, and I hate her." Botner replied, "This is why, baby, we need to find a way. I want to show you what a real marriage can be."

The following day, July 4, Botner texted, "Douche needs to go." Flynn responded, "I would literally have a smile on my face the whole time. Please take her out."

Flynn sent a message to Botner on August 22, 2025, stating he had been awake all night contemplating ways to kill his wife without facing legal consequences. "All I want is you. I’m sorry I’ve hurt you. I was up until 4am last night crying, literally thinking of ways to kill her and not go to jail," the text read. He added, "Even though you have said if she was gone, you wouldn’t want me." Botner responded that same day, "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."

Flynn concluded his message with, "Don’t give me another thought. I’ll work on getting rid of her. Until then, I love you."

Botner testified that she met Flynn in 2022 at Christian Life Center in Dayton, Ohio, when she was 20 and he was 36 or 37. She stated their romantic relationship began in early 2024 after her breakup. Botner claimed Flynn told her he hated his wife and that she had given him ultimatums to leave her.

The two communicated until midnight on the night of the alleged murder. Botner testified that she sent Flynn screenshots of her research on divorce proceedings, including information about custody, deleting messages, and how his wife could prove infidelity. Flynn's last message to her read, "Good night, tomorrow's a big day. I've got to get to bed. I choose you, I'm about to be free."