An emotional Myra Brown broke down in tears after reading the first few words of her appeal for help.
Father-of-two Ian Brown was killed as he walked home after a night out at a bowling club in Girvan, South Ayrshire.
The incident happened on the B734 Dailly to Girvan Road at 3.05am on July 28.
Police are trying to trace the driver of a Land Rover found burnt out on a forestry track, shortly after the 48-year-old was killed.
The blue Land Rover Discovery 3 Commercial 4x4 was discovered in Loch Doon, Ayrshire, around 20 miles from the incident.
Police have linked the vehicle to a number of crimes between July and August.
It was stolen from Nairn, in the north of Scotland, at night on July 3.
Officers say the driver went to great lengths to destroy it.
Mrs Brown, 47, made appealed for help as she and her 16 and 19-year-old sons, prepare to face their first Christmas without him.
She said: "It has been nearly five months since Ian was killed and the pain of losing him is as raw now as it was at the time of his death.
"Ian was a hard working man, who adored his family.
"Christmas is going to be a very difficult time for us – we are devastated by his death and miss him dearly.
"We would ask anyone with information that could help with this inquiry to contact police urgently."
Sergeant Jackie Dunbar said: "A set of number plates were stolen from a vehicle in Kilmahog on July 8 which were displayed on the stolen Discovery when it was involved in an incident in Stirling later on the same day.
"The Discovery 3 was then sighted in Castle Douglas on July 14. I would like to know who had possession of this vehicle in July as it may be related to this investigation."
caroline.wilson@eveningtimes.co.uk
