Jurors in the murder trial of former “American Idol” contestant Caleb Flynn spent hours Thursday reviewing text messages between Flynn and his former mistress, Alleigha Botner, before defense attorneys argued the exchanges reflected talk of divorce rather than a plan to kill Flynn’s wife, Ashley.
Botner testified that months before Ashley Flynn was killed, she sent Flynn a message reading, “I want to kill her, Caleb.” She said Flynn responded, “That makes two of us.” Botner grew emotional on the stand, telling jurors, “I just wish I didn’t say this.”
Prosecutors focused much of the day’s testimony on messages exchanged the night before Ashley Flynn was shot. Botner read from the exchange: “I said, ‘Caleb, I’ve never felt anything as deep as I felt with you. I trusted you with my heart. I’m terrified. But thank you for saying all that. We will see if your actions finally match your words.'” She said Flynn replied, “I’ve never felt anything like it either. It’s why I know it’s actually real … I’m terrified as well, but tomorrow it all starts.”
When Botner asked whether he was “more excited or scared,” she testified Flynn wrote back, “Well, I got a pretty massive day tomorrow so I’m gonna head to sleep. Please be praying for me and I’ll update you the whole time.” Later, Botner said she texted, “You’re about to be free,” and Flynn replied, “I choose you … You’re more than enough. Good night.”
Botner testified she later went to the home of Ashley’s parents, where church staff had gathered after the shooting. She said Flynn hugged her and told her, “It didn’t happen the way we thought it would, did it?” She said she began questioning him and grew suspicious as he described hearing a gunshot, finding blood inside the home and discovering Ashley.
Defense pushes divorce narrative
Defense attorney Emily Smith pressed Botner on whether Flynn’s repeated references to becoming “free” and leaving Ashley meant he was planning to divorce her. Botner said yes. Asked whether she understood the same messages to mean Flynn planned a murder, Botner said, “I did not.”
Smith also questioned Botner about research she conducted using ChatGPT before Ashley’s death, which Botner said involved looking up divorce proceedings. Botner testified she deleted messages and other digital evidence because she feared Ashley might discover the affair if Flynn went through with a divorce, not because she was covering up a killing.
Asked about Flynn’s repeated statements that he wanted Ashley dead, Botner said she never believed he meant it. “I did not believe that he meant it,” she testified. “I don’t think he could ever be capable of doing something like that.”
Smith also read messages in which Botner pressured Flynn to leave his wife, including one in which Botner wrote, “I’m so done with you. You have murdered my heart,” and another stating, “I hope you’re glad you took my virginity and also my heart and stomped all over it. Enjoy your marriage. I’m done.” Botner acknowledged giving Flynn four or five separate deadlines to leave Ashley after he failed to follow through on earlier promises, and testified she had demanded reassurance that Flynn hated his wife and had threatened to end the relationship if he didn’t leave her.
Digital forensics testimony begins
After Botner left the stand, prosecutors called Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation Special Agent Joseph Wilhelm, a digital forensics examiner, who began walking jurors through data extracted from Flynn’s iPhone. Wilhelm testified investigators eventually obtained a full copy of the phone after earlier extraction attempts failed, then analyzed browser history, location data, health information and application activity to reconstruct the device’s use in the hours before Ashley Flynn’s death.
Jurors heard that ChatGPT was uninstalled from Flynn’s phone on Feb. 15, and that GroupMe and Instagram were removed shortly after 1 a.m. on Feb. 16. Wilhelm also testified that investigators found no text messages between Flynn and Ashley on the device. He outlined location data, Apple Watch activity, AirPods connection records and a timeline leading to Flynn’s 911 call, which prosecutors are expected to revisit later in the trial.
Before court adjourned, prosecutors played two AI-generated songs recovered from Flynn’s phone. Wilhelm testified the files related to Flynn’s relationship with Botner and matched lyrics saved in the phone’s notes app.
Flynn’s attorney, L. Patrick Mulligan, declined to comment while the case is ongoing. Botner could not immediately be reached for comment.
