Latest news with #CrawfordPond
Daily Mail
3 days ago
- Daily Mail
BREAKING NEWS Boy, 17, suspected of killing paddleboarder is pictured after murder that's filled sleepy town with terror
A teenager arrested in connection with the death of a paddleboarder found fatally strangled and beaten at a Maine nature reserve has been identified by officials after pleading not guilty to her murder. Deven Young, 17, was taken into custody on Wednesday night and later charged with the murder of Sunshine Stewart, 48, who was found dead in Union, Maine, on July 3, hours after setting off on a solo paddleboarding excursion on Crawford Pond. Young appeared in a Knox County courtroom on Friday morning via Zoom, where he denied responsibility for Stewart's death. He spoke only to acknowledge that he understood the charges against him and that he'd conferred with his court-appointed attorney. Judge Eric Walker ordered Young to remain in custody on a charge that he caused Stewart's death either intentionally, knowingly, or with depraved indifference, the Midcoast Villager reported. Police affidavits and additional information regarding the evidence against Young will remain under seal until a status conference is held on August 22, Walker ruled. The state has requested Young's case be moved to adult court, but the motion has not yet been ruled on. For now, Young remains in custody at the Long Creek Youth Development Center in South Portland. Young is from Frankfort, Maine, but regularly spends summer vacations with his family on Crawford Pond, a source previously told the Daily Mail. His Facebook page states that he had attended Hampden Academy but left in 2023. Young's profile picture on Facebook shows him posing with a shotgun in a chair, staring slack-jawed at the camera, with a cartoon American flag superimposed at his feet. His last post on the platform, dated July 12, included an image of a boat moored in a lake at sunset. It's not clear where the image was taken. Asked by a friend in a comment beneath the post how he was, Young responded: 'I'm doing good how are you doing.' At the time the message was posted, state police were frantically scouring Union to find Stewart's killer. Any connections the teen had with Stewart are not yet known. Stewart had arrived at the nearby Mic Mac Campground only days before her death, where she had planned to spend the remainder of the summer living out of a camper. News of her murder left residents of the small, tight-knit community of Union terrified. Among them was Meredith Smith, a childhood friend of Stewart's, who the Daily Mail she was stunned by the news of Young's arrest. 'Part of me is relieved that someone has been arrested, but the other part says this is far from over because I feel like there's still so much more to this story that we don't know,' said Smith. 'Sunshine was strong and feisty; she would've put up a would've given this person Hell.' The Maine Attorney General's office confirmed to the Daily Mail that Young is the only suspect in Stewart's death. Stewart was last seen leaving her camper at the Mic Mac Campground to go paddleboarding on the pond at around 6pm on July 2. When she had still not returned by the early hours of July 3, someone raised the alarm. Before dawn broke, a search and rescue drone spotted Stewart's paddleboard drifting alone. Her body was later discovered along the southeast shore of 100 Acre Island, a nature preserve in the middle of the pond. Police have not confirmed any details of how Stewart's body was found, or in what condition, sharing only that the circumstances were 'unusual.' An autopsy determined that Stewart's death was a homicide, but law enforcement shared few updates over the following two weeks. Smith told the Daily Mail on Monday that she was struggling to understand why anyone would harm her dear friend. 'Everyone who knew her loved her,' she said. 'Who would do something like this to her? She didn't have any enemies… there's nothing she could've done to make anybody mad enough to harm her. 'We're all on edge, it's just so scary… if it can happen to her, it can happen to anyone.' Local police urged residents of Union to remain calm but be 'aware of their surroundings'. On Wednesday, it was revealed that Maine State Police were collecting DNA samples from men who were near Crawford Pond on the night Stewart vanished, as first reported by the Midcoast Villager. It's unclear whether the arrest of the teen came as a result of DNA. Smith told the Daily Mail that the news of the DNA collection has made her fear what it may indicate about Stewart's final moments of life. 'I feel like it's insinuating something that they're only taking DNA from men and not women,' she said. 'You wonder, could this have been done by someone that was obsessed with her? Or maybe it was completely random and she was in the wrong place at the wrong time.' 'I just know she would've fought like hell. She was a strong person and would have given them a tough fight because she was feisty.' With police offering little in the way of updates until Thursday, the radio silence caused rumors, conspiracies, and fear to prosper in the small town of Union. News of Stewart's death renewed fears that a serial killer could be preying on victims across New England undetected, following a string of unexplained deaths. At least 13 bodies have been discovered throughout Rhode Island, Connecticut, Massachusetts and Maine since March 2025, with the majority of them found in wooded or secluded areas and some submerged in water. Most of the deaths are unexplained, with many of the victims showing no visible signs of trauma. Law enforcement in multiple states has repeatedly denied any confirmed link between the cases and urged the public to refrain from jumping to conclusions and peddling baseless speculation. Various experts have also claimed there are no consistent patterns between the crimes, with victim profiles, locations of the deaths, and suspected causes too varying to be the work of one person. Still, some residents in Union feared the worst. 'People are definitely having that conversation, but for me it feels a little farfetched,' Smith said on Monday. 'When you look at where Sunny was killed, it's secluded and unless you're really familiar with the area, you're unlikely to know how to get to Crawford Pond.' Union is a sleepy hamlet where most residents know each other - the kind of place where people rarely lock their doors. But since Stewart's murder, Smith said she keeps her door firmly bolted and also often catches herself glancing over her shoulder or eyeing unfamiliar faces with suspicion. In the meantime, Smith continues to grieve the loss of her friend, who was a carpenter, marine biologist, lobsterman, bartender, and boat captain. Smith said: 'She was a force of nature who was strong-willed, independent, outgoing, and adventurous. She had a smile and a laugh that was so contagious. 'Sunny was a free-bird spirit who loved what she did and was just living day-to-day enjoying her life… It's devastating.' Investigators are asking anyone who saw Stewart paddling on the evening of July 2 to reach out to the Maine State Police at 207-624-7076.
Daily Mail
4 days ago
- Daily Mail
Horrifying twist in case of woman found dead after paddle boarding on Maine pond
A teenager was arrested for the killing of a paddleboarder in Maine as it was revealed the woman's body was discovered on an island in the middle of a pond where she died of strangulation and blunt force trauma. Sunshine 'Sunny' Stewart, 48, went paddle boarding on the quiet pond in Maine earlier this month. After she disappeared, her body was found on the island after a search by authorities. Maine State Police announced the arrest Thursday and said that Stewart, 48, died from strangulation and blunt force trauma. The 17-year-old male was taken into custody Wednesday night in Union without incident and transported to Long Creek Youth Development Center in South Portland, a juvenile detention facility. Under Maine law, the names of juvenile suspects are not typically released. Stewart had gone out alone on the evening of July 2 to paddleboard on Crawford Pond, a wooded 600-acre body of water surrounded by private land in the town of Union. She was last seen leaving a campground on the pond's north shore around 6 pm. When she failed to return, someone reported her missing. Her body was discovered near an island in the pond just after 1am on July 3. 'I am floored with elation and grief,' her close friend Rachael Blumenberg told WMTW following the arrest. Blumenberg, who had been staying with Stewart at the time, said she knew something was wrong when she came home that night and found the house dark and Stewart's dog left alone. Stewart was found dead near an island in Crawford Pond hours after going paddle boarding alone on July 2 'The house was completely dark, and her dog was there, and she's very devoted to her dog,' she said. Stewart, a boat captain and outdoor enthusiast who lived in Tenants Harbor, had been planning to host family for the Fourth of July weekend, friends said. Her death shocked the small Midcoast community, where residents said violent crime was rare. 'Like, ever,' Gus Williams told WMTW. 'It definitely feels… just intrusive and, I don't know, terrifying.' Because of the 'circumstances' surrounding the discovery of Stewart's body, local authorities contacted the Maine State Police Major Crimes Unit, which led the investigation. Her sister, Kim Ware, described Stewart as a vibrant, strong woman who had once sailed to the Caribbean and loved being outdoors. 'Sunny loved the outdoors, hiking, boating, paddle boarding and yoga,' Ware said. 'To know Sunny is an amazing blessing. My sister and my best friend. The aunt that stepped up to help me raise her nephews.' Sarah Vokey, another close friend, said Stewart had endured many hardships and never lost her light. 'Her life was not an easy one, but she strode through it with her head held high with that beaming all-encompassing smile on her face,' Vokey told WMTW. 'One of the many reasons I admired, loved, and appreciated her. One of the hardest things I have ever written was the text I sent to my son: 'Sunshine was murdered.' Police did not reveal any details about how the teen suspect may have been connected to Stewart. A spokesperson for the Maine State Police declined to comment further and said no additional information would be released at this time. Friends of Stewart launched a GoFundMe for her funeral services, writing in the description, 'Today is a somber day for our family and friends. We've unexpectedly lost the light in our lives that was Sunny.' One of Stewart's friends, Stacey Yandell, told the Midcoast Villager, 'She rebuilt her own house including the slate roof and siding. She was her own HGTV. She was a strong, self-made woman.' 'She had such a strong personality. She radiated positivity and love. She was like a magnet. People were attracted to her.' Friends told the publication that Stewart never married or had children, but was survived by her sister, her brother, her nephews, and many friends. Kim Ware, Stewart's sister, told WMTW-TV, 'To know Sunny is an amazing blessing! My sister and my best friend. 'The aunt that stepped up to help me raise her nephews. She has so many that call her family. Truly an amazing woman. Now we have to rally and give her justice!' /
Daily Mail
4 days ago
- Daily Mail
BREAKING NEWS Teen arrested after paddleboarder's body washed up in small New England town and sparked serial killer fears
A teenager has been arrested in connection with the murder of a paddleboarder who washed up dead on the shore of a Maine nature reserve earlier this month, horrifying locals and quietly stoking fears of a lurking serial killer. Sunshine Stewart, 48, was found dead in the early hours of July 3 after she set off for a solo paddleboarding excursion in Crawford Pond hours earlier but never returned home. For two weeks, Stewart's cause of death remained undisclosed as police safeguarded crucial details in their investigation as they hunted for her killer. On Thursday, authorities confirmed that Stewart died from strangulation and blunt force trauma. A 17-year-old male was taken into custody on Wednesday night without incident and is currently being held at the Long Creek Youth Development Center. In keeping with state law, the suspect has not been publicly identified because he's a minor. However, the teen is from Maine and came to Crawford Pond with his family, where they often spend the summer vacationing, a source familiar with the investigation revealed to the Daily Mail. Stewart, from Tenants Harbor, had been planning to spend her summer the same way. At the time of her death, she was staying at the nearby Mic Mac Campground in Union, having arrived just days earlier. The tragedy left residents of the small, tight-knit community of Union terrified. Among them was Meredith Smith, a childhood friend of Stewart's, who told the Daily Mail the news of the teen's arrest has left her both stunned and concerned. 'Part of me is relieved that someone has been arrested, but the other part says this is far from over because I feel like there's still so much more to this story that we don't know,' said Smith. 'Sunshine was strong and feisty; she would've put up a fight. I have a gut feeling more than one person was involved in this, and that's why police have said this individual has been arrested 'in connection' with her murder, rather than outright charged.' Maine State Police have not yet returned a Daily Mail request for comment about the status of their investigation and whether additional suspects are being sought. Stewart was last seen leaving her camper at the Mic Mac Campground to go paddleboarding on the pond at around 6pm on July 2. When she had still not returned by the early hours of July 3, someone raised the alarm. Before dawn broke, a search and rescue drone spotted Stewart's paddleboard drifting alone. Her body was later discovered along the southeast shore of 100 Acre Island, a nature preserve in the middle of the pond. Police have not confirmed any details of how Stewart's body was found, or in what condition, sharing only that the circumstances were 'unusual.' An autopsy determined that Stewart's death was a homicide, but law enforcement shared few updates over the following two weeks. Smith told the Daily Mail on Monday that she was struggling to understand why anyone would harm her. 'Everyone who knew her loved her,' she said. 'Who would do something like this to her? She didn't have any enemies… there's nothing she could've done to make anybody mad enough to harm her. 'We're all on edge, it's just so scary… if it can happen to her, it can happen to anyone.' Local police urged residents of Union to remain calm but be 'aware of their surroundings'. On Wednesday, it was revealed that Maine State Police were collecting DNA samples from men who were near Crawford Pond on the night Stewart vanished, as first reported by the Midcoast Villager. It's unclear whether the arrest of the teen came as a result of DNA. Smith told the Daily Mail that the news of the DNA collection has made her fear what it may indicate about Stewart's final moments of life. 'I feel like it's insinuating something that they're only taking DNA from men and not women,' she said. 'It makes you wonder whether there may be a sexual motive to the crime or if they found something very specific at the crime scene.' Smith added: 'You wonder, could this have been done by someone that was obsessed with her? Or maybe it was completely random and she was in the wrong place at the wrong time.' 'I just know she would've fought like hell. She was a strong person and would have given them a tough fight because she was feisty.' With police offering little in the way of updates until Thursday, the radio silence caused rumors, conspiracies, and fear to prosper in the small town of Union. News of Stewart's death renewed fears that a serial killer could be preying on victims across New England undetected, following a string of unexplained deaths. At least 13 bodies have been discovered throughout Rhode Island, Connecticut, Massachusetts and Maine since March 2025, with the majority of them found in wooded or secluded areas and some submerged in water. Most of the deaths are unexplained, with many of the victims showing no visible signs of trauma. Law enforcement in multiple states has repeatedly denied any confirmed link between the cases and urged the public to refrain from jumping to conclusions and peddling baseless speculation. Various experts have also claimed there are no consistent patterns between the crimes, with victim profiles, locations of the deaths, and suspected causes too varying to be the work of one person. Still, some residents in Union feared the worst. 'People are definitely having that conversation, but for me it feels a little farfetched,' Smith said on Monday. 'When you look at where Sunny was killed, it's secluded and unless you're really familiar with the area, you're unlikely to know how to get to Crawford Pond.' 'I highly doubt it was a serial killer, but it was clearly somebody that wasn't right in the head… and the idea that this person may still be nearby makes me feel very uneasy.' Union is a sleepy hamlet where most residents know each other - the kind of place where people rarely lock their doors. But since Stewart's murder, Smith said she keeps her door firmly bolted and also often catches herself glancing over her shoulder or eyeing unfamiliar faces with suspicion. Smith told the Daily Mail she submitted a tip to investigators regarding two 'fisherman' who she believes were at Crawford Pond on the night Stewart set off on her paddleboarding trip. On Thursday, she urged police to follow up on that lead and fully investigate whether anyone else could be involved in Stewart's death. In the meantime, Smith continues to grieve the loss of her friend, who was a carpenter, marine biologist, lobsterman, bartender, and boat captain. Smith said: 'She was a force of nature who was strong-willed, independent, outgoing, and adventurous. She had a smile and a laugh that was so contagious. 'Sunny was a free-bird spirit who loved what she did and was just living day-to-day enjoying her life… It's devastating.' Investigators are asking anyone who saw Stewart paddling on the evening of July 2 to reach out to the Maine State Police at 207-624-7076. Nearby residents with security cameras are also being urged to contact police.
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Yahoo
17-year-old arrested in murder of Maine paddleboarder
A 17-year-old has been arrested in the alleged murder of Sunshine Stewart, a paddleboarder who was found dead after being reported missing in Maine earlier this month. Stewart's cause of death was strangulation and blunt force trauma, Maine State Police revealed Thursday. The 48-year-old was found dead on July 3 at Crawford Pond in Union, a popular recreation spot near the campground where she was staying. The suspect, who is male, was arrested without incident Wednesday night, police said. He is from Maine and came to the pond area to spend summer vacation time with his family, according to an official familiar with the investigation. MORE: 'This stuff doesn't happen here': Murdered paddleboarder sparks concern in small town The suspect, who has not been named by police, was transported to the Long Creek Youth Development Center in South Portland, according to Maine State Police. The Office of the Chef Medical Examiner in Augusta determined the manner of death was a homicide. The condition of the body when it was found indicated the death was not a suicide or an accidental drowning, officials said. The tragedy had left the residents of small, tight knit community scared. Stewart rented a camp site at Mic Mac Family Campground for the summer season on May 1. She had only stayed on the grounds for two or three nights prior to her disappearance on the evening of July 2. The owner of the campground said she has provided hours of video to authorities in case it can prove useful. This is a developing story. Please check back for updates.
Yahoo
12-07-2025
- Yahoo
A paddleboarder was found dead at a Maine pond. Police believe someone killed her
(CNN) — On a warm summer evening earlier this month, Sunshine Stewart went paddleboarding on Crawford Pond, a peaceful, wooded expanse of water in Union, near coastal Maine. When she didn't return hours later, someone reported her missing. Early the next morning, authorities said they found her body near 100 Acre Island, a nature preserve in the middle of the pond. An autopsy later that day determined the 48-year-old woman's death was a homicide. Nine days later, there have been no arrests. Maine State Police are warning the community to stay vigilant but have not divulged the cause of death or any details about the crime scene, leaving Stewart's family with questions and nearby residents with fears that a killer may be among them. 'I think it's just confusing because we don't know what happened, like, if this was an isolated incident or … a personal thing, like a grudge,' resident Gus Williams told CNN affiliate WMTW. Williams, who lives near Crawford Pond, added, 'In a place where most people don't lock their doors, like, ever, it definitely feels … just intrusive and, I don't know, terrifying.' Police say Stewart, known as 'Sunny,' left a campground on the north shore of the pond alone at about 6 p.m. on July 2 to go paddling. The 600-acre pond is surrounded by private property and is home to loons, smallmouth bass and other aquatic life. Sheriff's deputies, firefighters and other law enforcement officials found her body sometime after 1 a.m. on July 3. They alerted the Maine State Police Major Crimes Unit because of the 'circumstances' of the discovery, police said without going into further detail. 'The Maine State Police recognizes the fear and discomfort that this incident has brought to the town of Union and the Crawford Pond community,' police said in a statement. 'We understand the community's concerns and ask that residents continue to remain vigilant, be aware of their surroundings, and report any suspicious activity to law enforcement.' Detectives are reviewing forensic leads and information submitted through a tip line, police said. Stewart was a resident of Tenants Harbor, a neighborhood in the town of St. George, on the Maine coast some 20 miles south of Crawford Pond. Her sister, Kim Ware, described Stewart as an active woman and a boat captain who once sailed all the way to the Caribbean. 'Sunny loved the outdoors, hiking, boating, paddleboarding and yoga,' she told WMTW. 'To know Sunny is an amazing blessing. My sister and my best friend. The aunt that stepped up to help me raise her nephews,' Ware added. 'Anyone blessed to be in her presence was in awe of her, her strength, courage, character, her energy and light.' Stewart had been through a lot but kept pushing forward, one of her friends, Sarah Vokey, told WMTW. 'Her life was not an easy one, but she strode through it with her head held high with that beaming all-encompassing smile on her face,' Vokey said. 'One of the many reasons I admired, loved, and appreciated her. One of the hardest things I have ever written was the text I sent to my son: 'Sunshine was murdered.'' Meanwhile, law enforcement remains tight-lipped about the evidence they have collected since Stewart's death. 'Additional information will be released when it becomes appropriate to do so based on the progress of the investigation,' state police said. Investigators are asking anyone who saw Stewart paddling on the evening of July 2 near 100 Acre Island to reach out to the Maine State Police at 207-624-7076. Nearby residents with security cameras that may have captured relevant footage that night are also being urged to contact police.
