Xavier Caro stood in his bedroom closet with the unenviable task of gathering some clothing and personal items before leaving his house.

The previous night, three of his children had been shot to death in their beds, and authorities say Caro made the harrowing discovery. Police had since requested he grab some of his things because they didn't want him to stay in the home, which was a crime scene.

He opened the top drawer of his dresser and saw his gold bracelet with his wedding ring attached.

His hands trembled.

He began to cry.

Someone had attached two other rings to the jewelry, both of which belonged to his wife, Cora. One was her wedding ring.

Caro pointed out the arrangement to Ventura County Sheriff's Detective Dan Thompson, who stood next to him. Police later theorized that Cora Caro placed the rings on her husband's bracelet as a sign their marriage was over.

Then, prosecutors say, she shot three of their children.

That testimony emerged Wednesday in Ventura County Superior Court during the ongoing trial of Cora Caro, 44, who is accused of shooting the boys -- Joey, 11; Michael, 8; and Christopher, 5 -- Nov. 22, 1999, inside their Santa Rosa Valley home.

She has pleaded not guilty and not guilty by reason of insanity. If convicted, she faces the death penalty. Her defense attorneys say she is a victim, that her husband is the one who pulled the trigger and framed her.

Thompson, now a District Attorney's Office investigator, testified that he watched Xavier Caro's demeanor change during the "bracelet incident," and decided the jewelry had "evidentiary value."

Prosecutors say Cora Caro killed the children as an act of revenge on her husband, who she knew was preparing to divorce her.

It was the ultimate crime against him, the prosecution says.

Thompson also interviewed Xavier Caro about six hours after dozens of rescue crews and police descended on the mansion at 12404 Presilla Road.

Sitting inside the Sheriff's Department's mobile command center in the home's driveway, Thompson questioned the father for one hour and 27 minutes.

"He was at times composed and professional, and other times he would cry, his voice would crack and he would lose it," Thompson said.

Senior Deputy District Attorney Jim Ellison did not ask Thompson about the interview's specifics, and it was apparent the prosecution would recall the investigator to the stand later in the trial, which is expected to last at least two months.

Also Wednesday, the paramedic who said the boys were dead at the scene, Bryan Bowen, testified he examined their head wounds and checked for breathing.

Christopher, who prosecutors say was shot twice in the head, was pronounced dead at 11:51 p.m. followed by Michael and Joey died minutes later.

-- Aron Miller's e-mail address is amiller@insidevc.com.