UNION, Maine (WGME) — The 17-year-old Maine boy charged with murder in connection with the death of a paddleboarder in Union has been identified.
According to court documents, 17-year-old Deven Young is accused of killing 48-year-old Sunshine “Sunny” Stewart of Tenants Harbor.
Young was arrested on Wednesday in Union and charged with murder. He is being held at Long Creek Youth Development Center in South Portland.
Police say Stewart’s body was found under “unusual circumstances” on an island on Crawford Pond around 1 a.m. on July 3 after she never returned from a solo paddleboard trip the day before. Her death was ruled a homicide.
The Office of the Chief Medical Examiner in Augusta says her cause of death was strangulation and blunt force trauma.
It is currently unclear if the suspect and victim knew each other.
The owner of Mic Mac Campground, where Stewart was staying, says she was looking forward to paddleboarding all summer long.
“She was just a great, great person all-around,” Union resident Meredith Smith said. “To know Sunny, I don’t think she had a bad bone in her body, and anyone that knew her was just in awe of her. Nobody would want to hurt Sunny. So, it’s kind of scary for all of us who live local to think that somebody out there, if they can do that to her, then what could possibly happen next.”
The lack of information made public around her death put the small Maine town on edge.
“My granddaughter’s here for the summer working at the store, and we’ve been worried,” Union resident Debbie Wadsworth said. “We don’t want her to walk home. Just not sure who it was. So, I’m very happy they found him.”
“It’s frightening. Just frightening, and I’m delighted that there’s been an arrest,” Union resident Susan Creighton said. “There was all kinds of rumors circulating about a New England serial killer.”
The motive for Stewart’s murder has not yet been released, but families are relieved knowing they’ve apprehended a suspect.
“I think they did a good job in finding the person,” Union resident Peter Eckardt said.
“A lot of good people in town that were upset about what happened,” Union Assessor’s Agent James Murphy Jr. said. “And I’m sure that they’re very relieved that an arrest has been made.”
The investigation is ongoing. Maine State Police say no additional information is being released at this time.
Anyone with information related to this case is encouraged to contact the Maine State Police at (207) 624-7076 or by texting MESPTIP to 847411.