WILTON – A team of State Police detectives was scouring a Wilton home Christmas morning seeking leads to the apparent murder of a 40-year-old contractor.

Raymond E. “Butch” Weed, owner of New Horizon Builders, was found dead at his 32 Main St. home Tuesday just before 7 p.m. by some friends who were dropping off Christmas presents, said State Police spokesman Stephen McCausland.

“A half-dozen investigators were back in Wilton late this morning and are still at it,” McCausland said Thursday night.

He said those state investigators went home for Christmas Eve and returned Thursday. “We’ll be back in Wilton tomorrow and we’ll be working at the police station, which is just up the street from Weed’s home.”

Investigators believe Weed was killed between 5:30 p.m. and just before 7 p.m. when his body was discovered, the spokesman added.

He said the body was found on the floor near the entrance to the office in the house. Weed operated his business out of his home.

“We are in an info gathering stage trying to learn as much as we possibly can and we do that by interviews. Interviews are primarily what we’re concentrating on. We began to do that yesterday,” McCausland said Thursday, adding that everyone they know of who worked for Weed or might have recently come in contact with him was or will be interviewed. “We’re determined to find out who is responsible for his death.”

McCausland declined to give any details as to how Weed died or why it is believed he was murdered. “It is obvious to us this is an apparent homicide,” he said.

If ruled a homicide, it will be Maine’s 16th this year, he said. Maine has averaged about 26 homicides each year over the last 30 years. There were 14 murders in state last year.

According to McCausland, the friends who found the body Tuesday night immediately made a 911 call to the Franklin County Sheriff’s Department, who then dispatched Wilton Police.

Upon arriving at the scene, local police called the State Police, who began arriving shortly thereafter. Detectives and a team of medical examiners were at the scene for much of the night, removing the body and transporting it to Augusta, where an autopsy was being conducted Wednesday morning.

McCausland said autopsy results and the type of weapon used could not be released at this time.

Detectives were canvassing the scene this week and interviewing people who may have had contact with Weed in his last days, McCausland said.

“We’ll be there as long as it takes to resolve this,” McCausland said, adding that authorities are “aware he (Weed) is a well-known businessman in town.”

Weed was divorced and lived in his Wilton home alone.

State Police Sgt. Walter Grzyb out of the Gray barracks is the lead investigator on scene.

The last place Weed was reported seen was Mario’s Of Wilton, a small downtown restaurant. He left there around 5 p.m. and less than two hours later, was found dead.

Tami Greene has been employed at Mario’s for five years. Though she wasn’t working, she saw Weed Tuesday night at the restaurant.

Greene said Weed came in every day, mostly in the morning, during her shift. Weed always got decaffeinated coffee and often a glazed doughnut, she added.

“I think Butch was a wonderful person,” she said over the phone from the restaurant on the afternoon of Christmas Eve. “He was very pleasant and well-liked by the community.”

Weed was very generous, she said, and a good tipper. He liked kids, Greene added, explaining that he used to coach football for area youngsters, and was a member of the Lion’s Club.

A former Wilton Planning Board member, he was well-known and respected around town, people said.

Those at the restaurant and throughout the quiet neighborhood where Weed lived, which sits near Wilson Lake, were shocked and saddened by the crime.

“It just amazes me, the whole thing,” said Calvin Sewall, who has lived across the street since 1948.

Weed moved in about 15 years ago, Sewall explained, and was a good neighbor who would plow Sewall’s small driveway for free.

Sewall spoke as a cold rain fell and while passers-by in cars slowed to look at the scene. When Weed moved in, Sewall said, the house was “very much run down.”

Weed “fixed it up into excellent shape,” Sewall explained, pointing to the stylish white cape wrapped with bright yellow police tape.

Sewall said Weed’s crew did a fine job weather-sealing his basement a few years back.

Sewall was home all day Tuesday, he said, and did not hear or see anything until police started arriving around 7 p.m.

“I never thought I’d see this,” Sewall said sadly.

– John Plestina contributed to this report.

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