Mistress testifies in trial of former "American Idol" contestant charged with his wife's murder

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

Mistress testifies in trial of former "American Idol" contestant charged with his wife's murder

TL;DR

  • Alleigha Botner, the mistress of accused murderer Caleb Flynn, testified about their 18-month affair.
  • Botner revealed text messages where Flynn allegedly contemplated killing his wife, Ashley Flynn.
  • Flynn is accused of shooting his wife, staging a break-in, and claiming an intruder killed her.
  • Botner initially lied to the FBI but later stated she believed Flynn killed his wife due to suspicious timing and coincidences.
  • Flynn, a former "American Idol" contestant, pleaded not guilty to murder, evidence tampering, and witness intimidation charges.