Alleigha Botner testified that Caleb Flynn repeatedly expressed hatred for his wife and urged him to leave her before Ashley Flynn was found dead in their Ohio home
Former American Idol contestant Caleb Flynn is on trial for the alleged murder of his wife. Flynn’s alleged mistress took the stand Wednesday, where she testified about text messages in which Flynn allegedly asked her to murder his wife.
Flynn, who appeared on Season 12 of the music competition show, is accused of murdering his 37-year-old wife, Ashley Flynn, who was found dead in their Tipp City, Ohio, home on Feb. 16.
Alleigha Botner testified that she was having an affair with Flynn for more than a year leading up to Ashley’s death. According to Botner, the two met when she was 20, and Flynn was in his mid-30s. Botner testified that while she knew Flynn was married when they began a sexual relationship, he repeatedly expressed hatred for his wife and said he intended to leave her.
Flynn met Botner while she was interning at Christian Life Center in the summer of 2022. Flynn was a worship pastor who mentored Botner and allegedly often did not wear his wedding ring.
In April 2024, Botner testified that a sexual relationship began between the two after Flynn expressed his feelings for her.
“It just started with little things and then it grew like cancer and I found myself in a place I never thought I would be,” Botner said of the relationship. “I never morally justified it, I just did it even though I knew it was wrong.”
During their relationship, Flynn allegedly told Botner that his wife “wasn’t worthy of being called her first name.” The pair used derogatory nicknames for Ashley, according to Botner, including frequently calling her “douche.”
Throughout 2025, text messages revealed in court portrayed Flynn as unhappy in his marriage. According to the messages, he frequently told Botner he was not happy with Ashley and repeatedly said he had “hate” for her. Botner often urged Flynn to leave his wife, and the two expressed a desire to marry one another and raise Flynn’s two daughters together.
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As the text messages progressed, the conversation turned darker. In March 2025, Botner received a text message from Flynn in which he said he was crying.
“I said, ‘What can I do?’” Botner read to the court. “He said, ‘Kill her.’”
After giving Flynn several ultimatums that he must leave his wife, Botner said the final deadline was Jan. 11, 2026. The day came, and Flynn ultimately did not leave Ashley. This is when Botner said her relationship with Flynn ended for the final time.
The two, according to Botner, had no contact for several weeks, with their first interaction being on Feb. 14. Botner said that following a Saturday service, Flynn approached her and said he was finally divorcing Ashley.
On the evening of Feb. 15, the two communicated over GroupMe, where Flynn said he was going to leave Ashley and delete the GroupMe app from his phone. Botner said she asked Flynn to protect her through the divorce because she did not want to lose her job because of the affair. Flynn said he would protect her at all costs, according to Botner.
That same day, Botner testified that Flynn had called Feb. 16 “a day I’ll never forget.” Botner said she believed he meant he would be officially leaving his wife.
“Good night, tomorrow’s a big day,” was the last thing Flynn said, according to Botner.
When Botner awoke the next morning at approximately 8 a.m., it was not Flynn she received a message from. Instead, Botner testified that a fellow CLC member contacted her via direct message.
“Did you hear about Mrs. Flynn?” Botner testified that the message said.
Through tears, Botner described reading a news article about Ashley’s death as her heart pounded, saying it felt like “too much of a coincidence” that Ashley died the same day Flynn said he was divorcing her.
She immediately texted Flynn, Botner testified, asking if the news was real and if he was involved, but said Flynn did not respond.
While on the stand, Botner testified that she initially lied about her relationship with Flynn out of fear that she would lose her job and tarnish her reputation. However, once the FBI informed Botner that investigators had text messages showing her involvement with Flynn, she began to tell the full story.
Botner testified that while she once believed she loved Flynn, her feelings have turned to hate because she believes Flynn killed his wife. As his former mistress testified against him, Flynn often looked down, clenching his jaw and occasionally appearing to take deep breaths.
Botner’s testimony for the prosecution will continue Thursday morning, after which Flynn’s defense will have the opportunity to cross-examine her.
Flynn has been indicted on 11 counts, including aggravated murder, three counts of murder, two counts of felonious assault, three counts of tampering with evidence and two counts of intimidation of an attorney, victim or witness in a criminal case. He has pleaded not guilty to all charges.