Mistress Testifies at Ex-'Idol' Contestant's Murder Trial

Former 'American Idol' contestant Caleb Flynn is on trial in Ohio for the February 2025 murder of his wife Ashley, who was shot in the back of the head. Prosecutors allege Flynn staged the scene to resemble a home invasion. He has pleaded not guilty to aggravated murder charges.

His former mistress, Alleigha Botner, testified over two days, reading from 34 books containing transcripts of 107,000 messages exchanged during their 18-month affair. The messages reveal Flynn's hatred for his wife and explicit discussions about killing her.

“I was up until 4 a.m. last night crying, literally thinking of ways to kill her and not go to jail”

In an August 2025 message, Flynn wrote he stayed up until 4 a.m. "crying, literally thinking of ways to kill her and not go to jail." Earlier messages show him asking Botner to hire someone to "take [Ashley] out" and stating, "I hate her, loathe her. I want her dead."

The affair began in March 2024 after they met at an Ohio church where Flynn was a worship leader. Botner testified she suspected Flynn hacked her phone and social media accounts during the relationship. They also got matching Harry Potter tattoos.

Former prosecutor Josh Ritter told Fox News that Botner's testimony provides the critical "why" for jurors, establishing a clear motive. The defense acknowledges the affair and messages but argues prosecutors lack physical evidence, including the murder weapon, to prove Flynn committed the crime.