TROY, Ohio (Court TV) — The woman prosecutors say provided the motive for a former “American Idol” contestant to allegedly kill his wife took the stand on Wednesday, telling the jury she once loved the defendant but now hates him.
Caleb Flynn appears in court on Sept. 23, 2026. (Court TV)
Caleb Flynn, 40, has pleaded not guilty to multiple charges, including murder and aggravated murder, in the death of his wife, Ashley Flynn, 37, who was shot to death in the couple’s bedroom in the early hours of Feb. 16, 2026. Caleb Flynn sobbed through much of the first two days of testimony but remained stone-faced as his ex-girlfriend took the stand on Wednesday.
Alleigha Botner, 24, testified that she met the defendant when she was 20 years old and an intern at the Christian Life Church. Caleb Flynn was on the “worship team” at the church, and Botner was interning for the main worship leader. “At first I didn’t know that he was married, because he never wore his wedding ring,” Botner testified, though she admitted that she knew the defendant was married by the time their relationship turned sexual in March 2024. “It was completely wrong, and I shouldn’t have,” she said.
When Caleb Flynn first said that he had feelings for her, Botner said, “He said that the reason why he thinks it’s OK to have those feelings is because his wife cheated on him. … He told me that he only sees her as a roommate. That the only time they ever talk is from picking the girls up from school, dropping them off. He told me that he hates her. He told me the only reason he’s still with her is because of the girls and that he lost his chance to divorce her because it’s already been two years since it happened.”
Prosecutors say Caleb Flynn didn’t want to divorce his wife not only because of the two daughters the couple shared, but also because he worked for his father-in-law and the family business. Botner testified, “[Caleb Flynn] would say he hated [his wife and her family]. He would say he doesn’t like being around them … He just expressed to me that he loathed them.”
Alleigha Botner testifies on Sept. 23, 2026. (Court TV)
Botner testified that her relationship with the defendant continued for more than a year, and that the couple even got matching lightning bolt tattoos on one date; Botner showed the jury the tattoo on her arm and said that the defendant’s was in his armpit — where his wife wouldn’t see it.
In the texts the two exchanged, they rarely referenced the victim by name because the defendant said she “wasn’t worthy of being called her first name,” choosing instead to call her derogatory names and “Spawn of Satan.” “He would say that he hated her, that he wanted her dead,” Botner said. “He would say so, so many awful things.” Botner estimated that she and Caleb Flynn exchanged as many as 300 messages a day.
Botner said after giving Caleb Flynn multiple ultimatums and deadlines to leave his wife, she ended their relationship in early January 2026. The two didn’t talk again until Feb. 14, when Caleb Flynn allegedly reached out to her and said, “I’m finally free of Ashley.” When they spoke in person on Feb. 15, the defendant allegedly told Botner that he had already told his wife that he wanted a divorce and planned to tell his in-laws the next day.
Discussing her first interview with FBI agents after Ashley Flynn was killed, Botner admitted that she lied and said that she had no romantic or sexual relationship with Caleb Flynn. “I was selfishly afraid that my reputation was going to be ruined and that I was going to lose my job. And, now that there was a murder attached, I didn’t want to be attached to that in any way.” When she was confronted with her text messages, she admitted to her relationship with the defendant.
Prosecutors asked Botner how she feels about Caleb Flynn now. “I hate him,” she said.
Caleb Flynn appeared on season 12 of “American Idol,” and described himself as “kind of a crybaby” in an interview on the program before his elimination.
