The Miami county common pleas court in Ohio, where the trial is taking place. Photograph: Google MapsView image in fullscreenThe Miami county common pleas court in Ohio, where the trial is taking place. Photograph: Google MapsEx-American Idol contestant told lover he dreamed of killing wife, murder trial hears Alleigha Botner tells court Caleb Flynn, charged with murder of wife Ashley Flynn, sent her AI love songs
The Ohio former pastor and American Idol contestant accused of fatally shooting his wife fantasized to his then lover about killing his spouse and sent her AI-generated love songs, according to evidence presented at trial this week.
Caleb Flynn, 40, is on trial for aggravated murder in connection with the 16 February shooting death of Ashley Flynn. He also is charged with two counts of felonious assault and three counts of tampering with evidence, according to a March indictment. Flynn has pleaded not guilty to the charges.
Prosecutors say Flynn – motivated by a desire to be with his girlfriend, Alleigha Botner – shot his sleeping wife twice in the back of the head. He allegedly altered the crime scene to look like a deadly home invasion.
Flynn’s defense team has acknowledged the affair, but said at trial it does not make him a murderer. “A man can make selfish decisions without committing a crime,” defense attorney Emily Smith said.
Investigators recovered songs from Flynn’s phone, where he reflected on his friendship with Botner evolving into a romantic relationship.
“That first time I saw you the room disappeared, love at first sight even though I was scared,” a voice sang in a style reminiscent of Christian rock, according to video broadcast by Court TV. “Life is now empty, since the moment I lost you,” the song ended.
A second version with similar lyrics but delivered in a somber tone was also played to the court.
Botner was 20 when she met Flynn at their church, Botner testified. Flynn was 36 or 37 at the time.
“At first it was: I want her dead. I wish she was gone. And then it was: if I could kill her and not go to jail, I would. And one night, he was up really late – he told me he was thinking about ways to kill her,” Botner, now 24, said.
Flynn also repeatedly said he hated his wife in several texts to Botner.
During an August 2025 cruise to celebrate the married couple’s 15th wedding anniversary, Ashley Flynn found texts her husband had sent to Botner. She tried to arrange a coffee meet-up with Botner. Botner avoided the conversation, saying she was busy.
In January, Botner gave Caleb Flynn an ultimatum: leave your wife or it’s over.
At about this time, Flynn sent her the AI-generated songs.
On 14 February, two days before Ashley was shot, Botner testified that Flynn said he was getting a divorce and would finally be free of his wife, to which Botner said she did not believe him. “I told him that I don’t trust him and that I’m moving on with my life,” she said on the stand.
When Ashley Flynn was found dead, her sister Kayla Keyt did not have knowledge of the affair. She told police when Caleb was arrested that they had the wrong guy. “I trusted Caleb with everything I had in me … He was completely innocent. I really believed that with all of my heart,” Keyt said.
Keyt said news of the affair made the couple’s two daughters “mostly broken-hearted for mommy”.
“They said she loved daddy more than anyone else in life. So why did daddy not love her as much?” she testified.
Flynn appeared briefly on American Idol’s 12th season in 2013, describing music as his passion and saying his wife nudged him to go on the show.
The trial, which is expected to wrap by the end of next week, will resume on Monday.
