Mistress testifies in trial of former “American Idol” contestant charged with his wife’s murder

September 24, 2026 / 7:47 PM EDT / CBS News

The Ohio trial of a former "American Idol" contestant and music pastor charged with murdering his wife earlier this year continued Thursday with the testimony of his mistress.

Alleigha Botner, 24, who had an affair with the defendant Caleb Flynn, 40, concluded two days of testimony by discussing the more than 100,000 text messages the two exchanged before Ashley Flynn's death.

Prosecutors allege Flynn shot his wife twice in the back of the head while she was asleep in bed on Feb. 16. They allege he then staged their Tipp City, Ohio, home to mimic a break-in and called 911 to claim an intruder was responsible for the murder. The gun used in the shooting has not been recovered. Flynn has claimed he was in another room when his wife was murdered.

He is also charged with tampering with evidence and intimidating a witness. Flynn, who was on season 12 of "American Idol," pleaded not guilty to all charges, and his defense has argued that police moved too quickly to accuse him and that the case has been distorted by intense publicity.

Botner testified to a roughly 18-month sexual affair…

Original source: https://www.cbsnews.com/entertainment/