Murder trial: Ex-American Idol contestant 'dreamed of killing wife'

Ohio pastor Caleb Flynn, 40, is on trial for the murder of his wife Ashley. His lover testified he sent her AI love songs and fantasised about killing his wife.

Ohio pastor sent AI love songs and murder fantasies to lover, court hears

Caleb Flynn, a 40-year-old former Ohio pastor and one-time American Idol contestant, told his girlfriend he dreamed of killing his wife and sent her AI-generated love songs, according to testimony heard this week in his aggravated murder trial, theguardian.com reports.

Flynn is charged with the 16 February shooting death of his wife, Ashley Flynn, as well as two counts of felonious assault and three counts of tampering with evidence. He has pleaded not guilty to all charges.

Prosecutors allege Flynn shot his sleeping wife twice in the back of the head, motivated by a desire to be with his girlfriend, Alleigha Botner. He allegedly staged the scene to resemble a deadly home invasion.

Flynn's defence team has acknowledged the affair but argued it falls short of proof of murder. "A man can make selfish decisions without committing a crime," defence attorney Emily Smith told the court.

AI songs and text messages recovered from Flynn's phone

Investigators retrieved the AI-generated songs from Flynn's phone. One track, sung in a Christian rock style, included lyrics such as: "That first time I saw you the room disappeared, love at first sight even though I was scared." It concluded: "Life is now empty, since the moment I lost you." A second version with similar lyrics, delivered in a more sombre tone, was also played to the court.

Botner, now 24, was 20 when she first met Flynn at their church. Flynn was 36 or 37 at the time. She testified that his expressions of intent had escalated over the course of the relationship.

"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 said from the stand.

Flynn also sent Botner multiple texts stating he hated his wife.

Anniversary cruise and an ultimatum

During an August 2025 cruise to mark the couple's 15th wedding anniversary, Ashley Flynn discovered texts her husband had sent to Botner and attempted to arrange a meeting with her. Botner avoided the conversation, citing other commitments.

In January, Botner gave Flynn an ultimatum: leave his wife or the relationship was over. Around this time, Flynn sent her the AI-generated songs.

On 14 February — two days before Ashley was shot — Flynn told Botner he was getting a divorce and would "finally be free" of his wife. Botner testified 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.

Sister trusted Flynn completely

When Ashley Flynn was found dead, her sister Kayla Keyt was unaware of the affair. She initially told police they had arrested the wrong man. "I trusted Caleb with everything I had in me… He was completely innocent. I really believed that with all of my heart," Keyt testified.

The FBI subsequently informed her of the affair. Keyt said the news left 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 told the court.

Brief Idol appearance in 2013

Flynn appeared briefly on the 12th season of American Idol in 2013, describing music as his passion and saying his wife had encouraged him to audition.

The trial is expected to conclude by the end of next week and is set to resume on Monday.

Source: Google News IE — Crime (en)