The mistress of former American Idol contestant Caleb Flynn broke down in court while reading text messages in which she and Flynn discussed wanting his wife dead.
Flynn, 40, is facing trial over the alleged murder of his wife, 37-year-old Ashley Flynn, who was found dead inside their Tipp City, Ohio, home on February 16.
Prosecutors allege that Flynn shot Ashley after carrying on a years-long affair with 24-year-old Alleigha Botner. They say he then staged the house to make it appear that a burglar had broken in.
Flynn has pleaded not guilty and maintains that an intruder killed Ashley while he slept in a nearby room with the couple’s two pre-teen daughters.
Botner took the witness stand again on Thursday and was asked to read aloud what prosecutors described as hateful messages she exchanged with Flynn about wanting Ashley dead.
In a July 10, 2025, message to Flynn, Botner wrote: ‘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 began crying as she read the message and told the court: ‘I just wish I didn’t say this. I didn’t mean it.’
She then continued with the next line: ‘I want to kill her, Caleb. It’s so bad.’
Text Messages Read in Court
Flynn responded: ‘That makes two of us.’
The former American Idol contestant sat motionless in court as Botner read the exchanges aloud.
In a June 12, 2025, message, Flynn allegedly asked Botner: ‘Please hire someone to take douche out. I need you,’ using the vulgar nickname the pair had assigned to his wife.
Botner replied: ‘So tempting.’
Botner told the court on Wednesday that she and Flynn called Ashley ‘douchebag’ and used other cruel nicknames when discussing her.
During 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 answered: ‘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 wrote: ‘Douche needs to go.’
Flynn replied: ‘I would literally have a smile on my face the whole time. Please take her out.’
Court Hears Details of Texts and Affair
The court also heard that Flynn sent Botner a message on August 22, 2025, saying he had spent the night thinking about how to kill his wife.
‘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.
He added: ‘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.’
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.’
