Former Mistress Testifies in Murder Trial of Ex-‘American Idol’ Contestant Caleb Flynn

Alleigha Botner testified Thursday in the Ohio trial of Caleb Flynn, a former “American Idol” contestant and music pastor accused of killing his wife and staging the scene as a break-in.

Prosecutors allege Flynn, 40, shot Ashley Flynn twice in the back of the head while she slept at their Tipp City home on Feb. 16, then called 911 and blamed an intruder. The firearm has not been recovered. Flynn says he was in another room when his wife was killed. He has pleaded not guilty to murder, evidence tampering and witness intimidation charges.

Botner, 24, described an approximately 18-month affair with Flynn, whom she met while interning at his church. She testified about the pair’s efforts to conceal their communications and the more than 100,000 text messages they exchanged before Ashley Flynn’s death. Botner also acknowledged initially lying to the FBI.

One message presented in court showed Flynn writing that he had stayed awake “thinking of ways to kill her and not going to jail.” Botner replied that he should pursue a divorce and said she did not believe he would actually kill his wife.

Botner told jurors she initially said she did not think Flynn was responsible. During a second FBI interview, she changed her view, calling the death “way too much of a coincidence.” Asked in court how she now felt about Flynn, she said, “I hate him.”

The defense argues investigators focused on Flynn too quickly and that extensive publicity distorted the case.