WILTON – It has been five long years for the family of Butch Weed. They wonder still who killed their brother and son.

His four siblings and mother won’t speculate on a suspect or discuss the details of the murder, but they’re hoping someday, someone will come forward with the missing piece police need to find and convict Weed’s killer.

Weed, 40, a self-employed contractor and owner of New Horizon Builders, was found dead by friends in his office, the entryway to his home on Main Street, around 7 p.m. on Dec. 23, 2003.

He grew up in Connecticut but visited Maine in the summers. Eventually, his parents moved to Weld and four of their children followed. Butch Weed moved to Wilton about 15 years before he was killed there.

He had established a reputation as a hardworking man, generous with his time and money, especially for those in need, and his love of children was well-known.

“He led a very full and active life. He was quite adventurous,” said his sister, Donna Trabucchi of Weld. “He went skydiving for the first time to celebrate his 40th birthday.”

Growing up as kids, younger brother Bill Weed of Maryland said, the two were always competitive with each other.

“But as adults, we realized that each of us had our own unique strengths, and we learned to admire them in each other rather than try to compete against each other,” Bill Weed said.

While time passes, the family’s angst does not.

“It doesn’t get any easier as time goes on,” Trabucchi said. “I have found it impossible not to let my grief turn into anger, but it has. It wasn’t right, it should not have happened, and the person that did this should not be walking free while we are left to continue our lives without Butch.”

Even if his killer is found, the family doesn’t believe they will ever have peace.

“No matter if we have an arrest and conviction, Butch is gone,” said his sister, Rachel Weed of Peru. “We will never be able to have him back, never have him at a birthday party, a family picnic or on Christmas Day.”

The time since his death has been “five long, heartbreaking years,” she said. “My sadness has turned to heartbreak, and anger. I try not to share that part with my children, as I do not want them to feel the same as I do. I can only hope that they keep the good memories alive and keep his love close to their hearts. As each day passes, we think of him and our love could only grow stronger as we miss him more and more.”

Terry Campbell, another sister, said she couldn’t believe it had been five years.

“I can still see Butch’s rough skin, his weathered hands, his curly hair full of sawdust, his bright eyes and contagious laugh,” Campbell said. “Butch always made light of everything. He saw the simplicity in every situation; the simple facts, the real grit.”

One of her most treasured memories of her brother is when their sister Rachel was in labor and he asked to touch her belly during a contraction before she gave birth to daughter Emily.

“At the time I gave it little thought, but now I know that it was the closest thing to becoming a parent that Butch would ever experience,” Campbell said. “That memory has become one of the most intimate, treasured thoughts I have. No one can take away what I have in my heart for my brother. Butch dreamed of becoming a father, a dream that was stolen.”

His mother, Elaine Weed, said this is one of the hardest times of the year for her. She misses both her son, Butch, and her husband, Raymond, very much, she said. Raymond Weed died at 63 of lung cancer, the April before Butch died.

“I do wish that we could have closure, but someday we will all be together and maybe then we will know,” she said.