Lynn Benton was found guilty by a jury in 2016 of aggravated murder, criminal conspiracy to commit aggravated murder and attempted murder
Portland, Ore. The Oregon Court of Appeals has overturned the murder conviction of a former police sergeant in the death of his estranged wife.
Lynn Benton was found guilty by a jury in 2016 of felony murder, criminal conspiracy to commit grievous murder, and attempted murder in connection with the 2011 death of Debbie Higby-Benton. Higby-Benton was found dead at her Gladstone salon on May 28, 2011. Officials said an autopsy showed he was shot in the back and strangled.
Benton was found guilty of arranging the murder.
The Oregon Court of Appeals overturned the murder conviction of former Gladstone Police Sergeant Lynn Benton on February 9, 2022.
The Oregon Court of Appeals reversed the February 9, 2022 murder conviction of former Gladstone Police Sergeant Lynn Benton. (Fox 12 Oregon)
As KOIN-TV reports, the Oregon Court of Appeals found Wednesday that a prison informant was acting as a state agent after coming to authorities with information about the case.
Prosecutors said Benton killed his wife because he feared he could lose his job if he disclosed the domestic abuse.
Prosecutors at the Clackamas County District Attorney's Office are now considering whether to appeal that decision to the Oregon Supreme Court or try the case again.