'American Idol' star Caleb Flynn allegedly texted mistress about wife's murder - USA Today

"American Idol" alum Caleb Flynn's trial for the murder of his wife is officially underway.

Opening statements took place in an Ohio courtroom Friday, Sept. 18, where prosecutors laid out their case against the singer, who is accused of killing his wife Ashley Flynn in February, alleging he sent more than 100,000 messages to a mistress about his desire to carry out the crime.

“I choose you. I’m free,” Flynn wrote the night before the killing, according to prosecutor Paul M. Watkins. “Actions will come tomorrow. February 16, a day I’ll never forget.”

Caleb Flynn, who was a contestant on Season 12 of "American Idol," was arrested in February after he told police someone broke into their Ohio home and shot Ashley Flynn.

He has been charged with one count of aggravated murder, three counts of murder, two counts of felonious assault, three counts of tampering with evidence and two counts of intimidation of an attorney, victim or witness, following a grand jury indictment in March. He pleaded not guilty.

Prosecutors allege Flynn used a handgun to kill his wife and staged the scene to look like a burglary. Flynn told 911 dispatchers the garage door was open and that he didn't see anyone in the house, but investigators found no signs of a break-in.

While the gun has not been recovered, Watkins said in his opening statement, "Caleb kept a 9-millimeter handgun in his truck console. The truck was parked in the garage. When officers arrived on the scene, the console was up, and the gun was missing." Ashley Flynn was shot with 9-millimeter bullets.

Caleb Flynn was also allegedly in a “yearslong relationship with his mistress,” Watkins said, and written communications between the two show his intent to end the marriage by allegedly killing Ashley Flynn and his efforts to cover it up.

During the defense's opening statements, attorney Emily Smith said they would present evidence to show a sufficient amount of reasonable doubt in the case, noting “Caleb is not on trial for being a bad husband."

“Caleb gave them motive, and his conduct made him incredibly easy to dislike,” she said. “None of those things can substitute for proof of murder.”

Smith added: “A tragedy deserves more than a theory, and Ashley deserves an investigation that is willing to follow the evidence wherever it may have led, as thoroughly as possible, not simply whatever story is easiest to tell.”