Botner was on the stand for a total of almost seven hours on Wednesday and Thursday, reading through months of text messages she exchanged with Flynn.
Testimony continued into day six of the Caleb Flynn murder trial.
Flynn's former mistress returned to the stand, reading text messages about their affair and the multiple attempts to end his marriage. The defense also got a chance to cross-examine Alleigha Botner.
Botner was on the stand for a total of almost seven hours on Wednesday and Thursday, reading through months of text messages she exchanged with Flynn during their nearly two-year affair. Botner was reading messages establishing an emotionally intense affair. Prosecutors used these messages to present a recurring claim of how much Flynn hated his life with Ashley and his family.
Prosecutors presenting 34 binders containing the 107,000 text messages between Flynn and Botner. Messages numerous times in which Flynn and Botner called derogatory names of Ashley. Flynn trying to get out of a marriage, and escalating messages of a mutual discussion between Flynn and Botner about wanting Ashley dead or gone.
Botner became emotional while reading one message in July 2025, in which she wrote that she wanted to kill Ashley.
"I just wish I didn't say this," Botner said.
"There was a message said," Prosecutors said.
"It says. I want to kill her. Caleb," Botner said.
"Who said that?" Prosecutors asked.
"Me," Botner said. "I said it's so bad. He said that makes two of us."
The defense later doing cross examination of Botner. Defense Attorney Emily Smith focused on Botner's text messages that were more than double what Flynn sent. Botner acknowledged she initially lied to the FBI about the affair, saying she was trying to protect her reputation.
Botner admitted she had searched unsolved homicides and had not been truthful in her first FBI interview. Botner testified that she did not take Flynn’s messages about being “free” as a plan to kill Ashley; she believed he meant divorce.
"I did not believe that he meant it. No, I don't think he could ever be capable of doing something like that," Botner said.
Botner said investigators did not search her home or car, collect her DNA or fingerprints. Botner said she had no role in the investigation beyond FBI interviews, has not been charged, and was not promised anything for testifying.
The trial is expected to go another week.
Flynn is the former pastor and American Idol contestant accused of murdering his wife Ashley in their Tipp City home in February.
Court resumes on Friday at 8:30 a.m.
