FARMINGTON— Nearly $8,000 was raised Sunday for a reward fund in the Grace Burton killing, her son, Robert Butterfield, said Monday.
Sixty-two bidders participated in the auction at the Elks Lodge in West Farmington. The proceeds will be added to the more than $5,000 raised through donations and canisters left in local stores.
The money will go to the person who provides information that leads to the arrest and conviction of Burton’s killer.
Burton, 81, died June 21 from stab wounds received in a confrontation with an intruder who broke into her Fairbanks Road apartment in the early morning hours.
Volunteer auctioneer Roger Lambert of Strong kept the bidding going as nearly $9,000 in merchandise and services donated by local businesses and individuals went on the auction block, Butterfield said. Farmington auctioneer Adrian Harris relieved Lambert at times.
“The rules are …. there are no rules,” Lambert humorously told the crowd as he began the auction.
A rooster sculpture composed of shovels and saw blades and made by Butterfield drew bids, with Bobby Neal of Wilton buying it for $275.
Neal donated the rooster back to the auction and when the offer rose to $320, he bought it again donated back to the auction.
In the third round of bids, Tim Callahan purchased the sculpture for $300, Butterfield said. Between what Neal and Callahan paid for Rocky the rooster, a final amount of $895 was raised.
“It was unbelievable. The whole crowd got into it,” he said. “Everyone was so very generous. I can’t thank everyone enough for participating and helping. It was a good turnout for the weather.”
Other items ranged from seafood gift certificates to two tickets for a Jan. 1 New England Patriots football game. Some items were offered as a silent auction and a 50/50 raffle was held to help raise money.
Friends and family really pitched in to make the auction a success, Butterfield said. The family hopes the reward fund will lead someone to come forward with information that will help police find the person who killed Burton, he said.
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