Former “American Idol” contestant Caleb Flynn’s mistress, Alleigha Botner, testified in his Ohio murder trial that he repeatedly expressed a desire for his wife, Ashley, to die and discussed ways to kill her. Flynn is accused of shooting Ashley in the back of the head at their home on 16 February and staging the scene to resemble a break-in; he has pleaded not guilty.

Botner said their affair lasted about 18 months and that she issued Flynn an ultimatum weeks before the killing. Prosecutors presented thousands of messages allegedly showing his threats, while Botner also described helping him delete electronic data and sending ChatGPT research about permanently removing messages the night before Ashley was killed. The alleged murder weapon has not been recovered, and the trial is continuing.