Lynn Edward Benton said he "just kind of lost it" when he found his wife dead in her beauty salon, according to a recorded interview he had with a detective in the hours after her May 2011 killing.

He checked for a pulse. She was cold. He told the detective he couldn't recall what else was in the room.

The former Gladstone police sergeant is accused of orchestrating Debbie Higbee Benton's death after their marriage started falling apart. Prosecutors contend Benton had been at the salon earlier in the day and watched a friend's son beat and strangle his estranged wife after a gunshot failed to kill her.

Benton is accused of offering Susan Ellen Campbell and her son, Jason Jaynes, $2,000 to kill his wife. Prosecutors contend the ex-cop had professional and financial incentives for the killing.

Prosecutors rolled tape of police interviews with Benton during his trial Tuesday in Clackamas County Circuit Court. He became visibly emotional at times during his second interview with Brad Edwards, then an Oregon City police detective -- at times crying and sitting with his head in his hands.

"I was supposed to be her husband forever," he said at one point in the second interview, choking back tears.

The interviews also reveal, as The Oregonian/OregonLive has previously reported, that the couple was separated at the time of her death and that their relationship was on the rocks because of Benton's decision to transition from female to male after they married in 2010.

Benton, 54, could be put on death row if convicted of aggravated murder. He also faces solicitation to commit aggravated murder, criminal conspiracy to commit aggravated murder and attempted murder charges. No date has been set for Campbell's trial, but Jaynes's case is scheduled for March 2017.

Edwards, who said he was promoted to sergeant in 2013, first interviewed Benton the day after Higbee Benton's death. The interview was conducted in the early morning of May 29 and was followed by another interview later that day -- once investigators determined the death warranted a criminal investigation.

Over the two interviews, Edwards and Benton talked about the couple's relationship, Higbee Benton's medical history and Benton finding her dead in her salon, among other topics.

Edwards said he never told Benton he was a suspect or person of interest.

Benton detailed a challenging relationship marred by arguments and, he said, at least one physical confrontation. He said that at one point, he lost his temper with his wife and pinned her against a wall with his arm.

Prosecutors previously said he had Campbell and Jaynes kill his wife because he feared he could lose his job if she turned him in for domestic abuse, and because he knew he would benefit financially from her death.

The former topic was subject of further discussion Tuesday. Edwards testified that Benton said his wife claimed she had photographs of her injuries.

Edwards testified that he didn't record that interview, which was conducted at the Troutdale home of Benton's sister. He said he didn't include that information in a report -- which he said was a mistake.

Benton also offered conflicting accounts of Higbee Benton's support for his gender change. Though she "really encouraged me to be who I was," he also acknowledged that the more masculine he became, the more she was having problems with the transition.

A prosecutor previously said Higbee Benton, 54, was initially supportive of Benton's transition but that changed when he started becoming more aggressive and violent toward her.

Benton said they had a fight about the gender change at one point and that his wife gave him an ultimatum to stop the process.

"And I just couldn't do that," Benton said.

Prosecutors also called three other law enforcement officers, a U.S. Bank employee, a debt manager and others to the stand Tuesday.

An Oregon City patrol sergeant who was working as a detective at the time of the killing, testified about the investigation and seizure of keys inside the salon.

A patrol deputy with the Clackamas County Sheriff's Office who was working in the agency's Special Investigations Unit in 2011, testified about detaining Campbell; finding a gun and magazine in separate paint cans in one of her neighbors' garages; and other facets of the investigation.

Another Clackamas County deputy who was working as a West Linn detective at the time, testified about the investigation and contents of a safe found in Higbee Benton's trailer. Investigators found envelopes containing more than $9,600, among other items.

The bank employee testified about Benton inquiring about a safety deposit box he and his wife owned.

The debt manager testified about Benton finishing his debt payments in May 2011.

The trial will continue Wednesday.

-- Jim Ryan

jryan@oregonian.com

503-221-8005; @Jimryan015

Everton Bailey Jr. of The Oregonian/OregonLive staff contributed to this report