The Sunshine Stewart Murder: Peaceful Maine Community Shaken by Teen Suspect’s Arrest

Tragic Discovery Rocks Peaceful Summer Community

What began as a peaceful summer on the serene banks of Crawford Pond, Maine, was shattered when camp newcomer Sunshine ‘Sunny’ Stewart went paddleboarding and never returned. Police discovered the 48-year-old’s body, strangled and bludgeoned to death, the following morning.

The Investigation

Stewart, a resident of Tenants Harbor, ventured out alone on Crawford Pond on the evening of July 2. When she failed to return, authorities were alerted. Her body was discovered in the early hours of July 3 near 100 Acre Island, situated in the middle of Crawford Pond – an area only accessible by boat.

The investigation involved extensive evidence gathering at the campground, including reviewing footage from 16 security cameras that authorities later confirmed were crucial to solving the case.

Shocking Arrest

The breakthrough came when authorities arrested 17-year-old Deven Young, who will turn 18 in September. Young, from Frankfort, Maine, was apprehended without incident around 10:30 p.m. on July 16 in Union. According to officials, the teenager regularly spent vacation time in the Crawford Pond area with his family each summer.

Legal Proceedings

The Maine Attorney General’s Office has filed a motion to try Young as an adult for Stewart’s murder. If convicted as an adult, the suspect could face 25 years to life in prison.

Community Impact

‘It’s not a place where these things happen. It’s not a place where we’re suspect of each other,’ said Katharine Lunt, the owner of Mic Mac Campground. The community is now focused on remembering Stewart as a ‘true ray of sunshine’ and ‘a force to be reckoned with.’ As Lunt noted, ‘A beautiful individual was just going out for a paddle and never came back. It’s not fair.’