The mistress of a former American Idol contestant accused of killing his wife reportedly searched online for information about unsolved murders just days after the alleged crime.
Caleb Flynn, 40, is facing trial over the February 16 killing of his 37-year-old wife, Ashley Flynn, at the couple’s home in Tipp City, Ohio.
Prosecutors allege that Flynn shot Ashley after carrying on a years-long affair with 24-year-old Alleigha Botner. They say he then attempted to make the killing appear to be the result of a burglary.
Flynn has pleaded not guilty. He maintains that an intruder entered the house and killed Ashley while he slept only a few feet away in another room with the couple’s two pre-teen daughters.
During cross-examination on Thursday, Botner acknowledged making several internet searches, including one for “Stories of wife being murdered and no suspect found.”
On February 19, she searched for “homicides in America that still remain unsolved” and “more recent homicides in America that still remain unsolved.”
Botner also testified that she searched for both her own name and Ashley Flynn’s name.
Earlier Thursday, Botner broke down while reading what prosecutors described as hateful messages exchanged with Flynn about wanting Ashley dead.
Caleb Flynn’s 24-year-old mistress, Alleigha Botner, sobbed on the stand as she read the text messages both of them sent about wanting his wife dead
The former American Idol contestant sat stoically in the courtroom as his mistress read their messages aloud on Thursday
“Do you know how badly I want to say, ‘F it,’ to any rules and any barriers and just love you with my entire heart for the rest of my life,” Botner wrote to Flynn on July 10, 2025.
As she read the message, Botner began crying and told the court, “I just wish I didn’t say this. I didn’t mean it.”
She then read the rest of the exchange: “I want to kill her, Caleb. It’s so bad.”
Flynn responded, “That makes two of us.”
The accused killer and former American Idol contestant remained expressionless in court as Botner read the messages aloud.
In a June 12, 2025, message, Flynn wrote to Botner, “Please hire someone to take douche out. I need you,” using the vulgar nickname the couple allegedly used for Ashley.
Botner replied, “So tempting.”
On Wednesday, Botner told jurors that she and Flynn called Ashley “douchebag” and used other derogatory nicknames for her.
Flynn, 40, is on trial for allegedly murdering his wife, 37-year-old Ashley Flynn, inside their Tipp City, Ohio, home on February 16
Botner said she was 20 when she met Flynn at Christian Life Center in Dayton, Ohio, in 2022, while she worked as an intern and he was either 36 or 37 and volunteered
DON’T MISS: Bettina Trump’s Rise: The Defining Moment She Took the Lead
In another text exchange from 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 next day, on July 4, Botner wrote: ‘Douche needs to go.’
‘I would literally have a smile on my face the whole time. Please take her out,’ Flynn responded.
Flynn wrote a message to his mistress on August 22, 2025, saying that he was up all night thinking of ways to kill his wife, the court heard.
‘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,’ Flynn wrote.
‘Even though you have said if she was gone, you wouldn’t want me.’
He continued: ‘I’m sorry, Alleigha, for this all. Gosh, I’m sorry. I hate every second of this life I have to live.’
Botner admitted that she made several shocking internet searches after he allegedly murdered his wife
Flynn has pleaded not guilty to the charges and insists that a home intruder killed his wife while he slept in a room just feet away with the pair’s two pre-teen daughters
That same day, Botner texted: ‘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 replied: ‘Don’t give me another thought. I’ll work on getting rid of her. Until then, I love you.’
On Wednesday, Botner revealed she was 20 when she met Flynn at Christian Life Center in Dayton, Ohio, in 2022, while she worked as an intern and he was either 36 or 37 and volunteered.
She then claimed that her relationship with Flynn became romantic after she went through a breakup in early 2024 and he began to show interest in her.
Botner testified that Flynn told her that he hated his wife, and she gave him several ultimatums and deadlines to leave her.
The pair communicated until midnight on the night of the alleged murder, and she testified that she sent him several screenshots of her research on divorce proceedings that included information about custody issues, deleting messages and how Flynn’s wife could prove he cheated.
The last thing Flynn told her was: ‘Good night, tomorrow’s a big day. I’ve got to get to bed. I choose you, I’m about to be free.’
Botner told the jury that prior to seeing Flynn in the courtroom on Wednesday, the last time she saw him was at Ashley’s parents’ house on February 16, hours after she was killed.
‘The first thing he said to me was, “It didn’t happen the way we thought it would, did it?”‘ Botner testified.
FIND OUT MORE: Dutton Ranch Season 2 Release Date: When Will the Next Season Premiere?
