Murder Trial of Transgender Ex-Cop Accused of Killing Wife Underway

It was May 28, 2011, and Debbie Higbee-Benton had not shown up for dinner. Two of her friends who were supposed to meet her called the shop next to Higbee-Benton's Gladstone Beauty Salon.

That shop owner called Higbee-Benton's husband, Gladstone Police Sgt. Lynn Edward Benton.

Benton went to the salon. Higbee-Benton was in the back. She was dead.

A deputy medical examiner who arrived at the scene determined the cause of death to be a heart attack. However, the next day, the autopsy determined that she had been strangled and shot. Her murder was a homicide.

On Wednesday, opening arguments got underway in Clackamas County in the trial of Benton, who is charged with planning the murder of his wife. The start of the trial had been delayed one day because of last minute motions.

The prosecution contends that Benton wanted his wife dead to stop her from accusing him of domestic violence, which could have jeopardized his career.

Benton's lawyers argue the prosecution's case is built on an unreliable informant with a long criminal history.

Benton is one of three people charged with aggravated murder — a charge that could bring the death penalty.

Each will be tried separately.

Also charged is Jayson Jaynes, who is scheduled to go on trial next March, and Jaynes' mother, Susan Campbell, who was the first arrested and had pleaded guilty to attempted aggravated murder as part of a plea deal that was recently revoked.

A trial date for her has not yet been scheduled.

Lynn Edward Benton was born a woman named Lynn Irene Benton. As a woman, she started her career in law enforcement working for the Multnomah County Sheriff's Office. She then joined the Gladstone Police Department, went to the Beaverton Police Department before returning to Gladstone in 1990.

Benton was promoted to detective and then sergeant.

After a failed marriage and then a failed domestic partnership, Benton and Higbee started dating in 2008 and moved in together.

They were married in October 2010. In December, Benton started going through gender reassignment over Higbee's objections.

Benton ended up moving out.

A few months later, Campbell would tell police that Benton was in her house with her and her son, and Benton wanted Higbee dead.

Jaynes jokingly mentioned a $2,000 fee. Benton said he wouldn't pay more than $5,000. Jaynes said he would not commit murder for less than $20,000.

A couple of days after Higbee-Benton was killed, the police tip line got a call from someone who would later say that Susan Campbell had made several incriminating statements related to the murder. This person agreed to meet Campbell and wear a wire.

Campbell was caught on tape saying Higbee-Benton had been shot and strangled — facts that had not been made public.

While Jaynes would be arrested on other charges, he would not be charged with aggravated murder until May 2014 after another inmate had come forward to say that Jaynes had admitted helping his mom "take care of" Higbee-Benton because his mom owed Benton a favor.

He claimed that Benton had made a rape charge against Jayne go away.

Benton, who had been placed on administrative leave after his wife's murder, was fired the following December after city officials found pornography on his work laptop.

In July 2012, Campbell agreed to cooperate with prosecutors but told them that "I lie all the time."

Still, she apparently gave them enough credible information that they were able to obtain an indictment against Benton the following November.

He was arrested as he arrived at the bus terminal in Portland where he had been working as a driver for Greyhound.

The trial is expected to last at least two months. As many as 75 witnesses may take the stand.

Photo Clackamas County Sheriff's Office.