Caleb Flynn, a former American Idol contestant, stands trial in Miami County, Ohio, after he allegedly shot his wife, Ashley Flynn. On Thursday, his former mistress, Alleigha Botner, became very emotional while reading messages in court. Read on for more details.
The Arrest
In February, we reported that Caleb Flynn was arrested three days after he called 911 on February 16 and reported that during a break-in, someone had shot Ashley.
Distraught, he begged for EMTs to come. Caleb, a former pastor, is accused of trying to cover up a murder scene by staging a scene where an intruder allegedly committed the crime.
Pre-Trial Hearings
Tipp City, Ohio police initially charged him with murder, felonious assault, and tampering with evidence.
In March, Dayton Daily News reported that “A Miami County grand jury indicted him on 11 counts: aggravated murder, three murder counts, two felonious-assault counts, three tampering-with-evidence counts and two misdemeanor intimidation counts.”
After several pre-trial hearings and delays requested by both the prosecution and defense, the trial finally started on September 17.
Messages As Motive
Messages between Alleigha Botner and Caleb Flynn are part of the prosecution’s case to prove that the affair and messages provided a motive for the killing.
ABC News reported that on the second day of giving evidence, Alleigha Botner was asked to read some of the many messages.
The previous day, she testified about meeting Caleb Flynn in 2022 while interning at their church. She said she began having a sexual relationship with him in May 2024.
An Emotional Moment
The tears came when Botner read, “Do you know how badly I want to say eff it to any rules and any barriers and just love you with my entire heart for the rest of my life?”
Crying, she continued by saying, “Sorry, I just wish I didn’t say this. I didn’t mean it.” She’d written, “I want to kill her, Caleb.” And then she claimed that after she wrote it, Caleb agreed with that.
The Testimony of Botner
As the trial progressed, Botner testified that on an anniversary cruise in 2025, Ashley Flynn found text messages between the duo.
Per Botner, Caleb sent her messages saying how he’d been in tears and trying to figure out a way to get rid of Ashley without actually ending up jailed.
Further communications showed that Botner didn’t really want Ashley dead, but she did want Caleb Flynn to divorce her, claiming the affair wasn’t what she desired.
In her testimony, she also said that she told Caleb, “As Jesus is my witness right now, I swear on absolutely everything that I love, if you do not leave her next week, I don’t want this anymore for the rest of my life.”
Back-And-Forth Messages
In the messages, Flynn indicated that something was going to happen on February 16. After Ashley died, Botner suspected that her death wasn’t the result of an intruder.
Per court documents, she told the FBI she suspected Caleb had killed Ashley. Caleb had messaged her the day before, saying, “actions will come tomorrow.”
The defense disputes the prosecution’s version of events. Flynn’s attorneys argue there is no direct evidence, including a firearm, linking him to Ashley’s murder and say the case is built around his affair with Botner.
The Prosecution’s case
The prosecution maintains that Caleb killed Ashley and staged it so he could be with Botner and retain custody of their children.
Prosecuting attorney Paul Watkins said in court, “He would benefit financially, get to keep his lucrative job working for Ashley’s family business, and he’d get to keep his position as a worship leader.”
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