An American Idol contestant, Caleb Flynn, allegedly told his mistress that he planned to turn to God for direction on ending his marriage to Ashley Flynn, months before Ashley was fatally shot.
Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation analyst Samantha Reeb testified Sept. 28 that Caleb wrote to Alleigha Botner about undertaking a 40-day fast. According to Reeb, he said he wanted to “seek guidance from the Lord” about whether to leave Ashley and how to do it.
Reeb also said Caleb claimed he believed God had given him permission to leave his wife, although he was still trying to determine the details of doing so.
The alleged messages were sent in August 2025, the same month Caleb and Ashley took a cruise to mark their wedding anniversary.
That anniversary trip reportedly intensified tensions between Caleb and Botner, Reeb told the court.
By September, Caleb allegedly told Botner he would leave Ashley in October. When that did not happen, he reportedly promised to do so in November, but that deadline also passed.
Reeb testified that the repeated delays frustrated Botner, who pushed Caleb to make good on his promises before Christmas.
On Jan. 3, Botner allegedly gave Caleb a final choice: leave Ashley or end their relationship.
“On January 11, she informs him that he has not met his deadline,” Reeb testified, adding that Botner then stopped communicating with him.
On Feb. 16, Caleb called 911 from the couple’s home in Tipp City, Ohio, and reported that Ashley had been shot.
In the call, obtained by Oxygen, Caleb allegedly told dispatchers that an intruder had entered the house and shot his wife. He described Ashley as having two gunshot wounds to the head and repeatedly exclaimed that there was blood throughout the home.
Prosecutors said in court Sept. 18 that officers found the garage door open. Caleb’s firearm was also missing; he had previously told police that he stored the gun in the center console of his truck.
Caleb faces charges of aggravated murder, three counts of murder, two counts of felonious assault and three counts of tampering with evidence.
According to a criminal complaint reviewed by Oxygen, investigators said the apparent staging of the scene initially “led [them] astray.” Caleb has pleaded not guilty.
Prosecutors contend Caleb killed Ashley so he could pursue a life with Botner. Their case includes more than 100,000 text messages allegedly exchanged between Caleb and his mistress.
In one alleged message, Caleb wrote that he had spent the night crying and considering ways to kill Ashley without being imprisoned. He also said he would kill her immediately if he could do so without going to hell, describing his feelings as deeply hateful.
Hours before Ashley’s death, Caleb allegedly sent Botner another message saying, “I choose you. I’m free,” and declaring that his actions the following day, Feb. 16, would make it a date he would never forget.
Caleb’s attorneys have acknowledged that he and Botner had an affair. However, they have argued that he is not being prosecuted simply for failing as a husband.
Botner testified Sept. 24 and read portions of her own messages in court. In one exchange, she allegedly wrote, “I want to kill her, Caleb.” He responded, “That makes two of us.”
Botner later clarified in a message, cited by CNN, that she was not asking Caleb to kill Ashley. She allegedly said that ending Ashley’s life was not something he should do and that she did not believe he would actually do it, but added that making the divorce happen would change everything.
The prosecution and the defense have rested their cases, and closing arguments begin Sept. 29.
