A 75-year-old Stamford man accused of killing his wife in what police call a botched murder-suicide made his first court appearance on Friday.

Newly released court documents show police arrived at their home on Hycliff Terrace last week to find 74-year-old Eden Claxton lying in her bed, stabbed multiple times in the neck, with a kitchen knife near her body.

Allen Claxton appeared to officers with a rope around his neck and stated to them someone had placed the rope around his neck from behind and strangled him until unconsciousness. That's allegedly when he awoke and found his wife bloody and unresponsive.

But police say there was no other person involved and that Allen Claxton's injuries came from a failed attempt to hang himself. His arrest warrant lists notebooks found with research on suicide and murder, along with emails Allen Claxton sent to himself showing his slide toward that decision.

In them, he writes about his fear of going broke and concerns over the couple's financial situation.

Allen Claxton also appears depressed about aging and medical problems. In one email he states, "The only way out is to create a horrific event where we both die at the same time." Later he writes, "Taking your own life is not something I ever contemplated but I also never planned to become destitute."

Police say financial records showed the couple had a brokerage account with $4.5 million and a home in England they were selling.

No plea was made Friday. The judge said Claxton, who had no prior criminal history, is not allowed to leave the state without permission. He's due back in court next month.