17-year-old charged with murder in paddleboarder’s killing at a pond in rural Maine

Sunshine Stewart, right, and Bethany Leach Parmley are shown in Union, Maine, in 2012. (Cassidy Parmley / Bethany Leach Parmley via AP)

PORTLAND, Maine — Authorities in Maine said Friday they have charged a 17-year-old with murder in the death of a paddleboarder who went missing on a rural pond that is a popular summer destination.

The body of Sunshine Stewart, 48, of St. George, was found this month on Crawford Pond in Union, about 80 miles (130 kilometres) north of Portland and about 15 miles (24 kilometres) from some of the state’s scenic coastal areas. The killing shocked and scared the community, where trips to the pond and nearby campground are a summer staple.

Maine State Police said a 17-year-old boy was taken into custody in Union on Wednesday night in connection with the homicide investigation but initially did not elaborate and declined to release additional information about him. On Friday, the state attorney general’s office said the teen was charged with one count of murder.

Court documents identified the teen as Deven Young, of Frankfort, Maine. He made a brief initial court appearance on Friday in which he entered a denial to the charge. His attorney, Jeremy Pratt, declined to comment to The Associated Press via email.

A medical examiner determined Stewart’s cause of death was strangulation and blunt force trauma, police said.

Authorities have not revealed a motive. Court documents contain little detail other than stating that Young is a juvenile and “did intentionally or knowingly cause the death of another human being, namely Sunshine Stewart.”

Police said in a statement Friday that they were not releasing any additional information and that the case was “still a very active investigation.” They have said they are seeking information from anyone who may have seen Stewart paddleboarding on July 2 on Crawford Pond.

Stewart lived about 21 miles (34 kilometres) from the pond in the Tenants Harbor neighborhood in St. George. A person reached by phone who identified herself as Stewart’s sister on Thursday declined to comment.

Friends of Stewart have posted online testimonials remembering her as fiercely independent and always up for a challenge, including outdoor adventures and building projects. Over the years, she worked in many roles, including as a fisherman, boat captain, carpenter and bartender, friends said.

A lifelong friend, Bethany Leach Parmley of Washington, Maine, described Stewart as “dauntless,” and the glue of a group of friends who stayed close even as life took them in different directions. Parmley said Stewart was a longtime paddleboarder who previously taught lessons in the activity.

“She was just a wonderful friend, a really loyal, wonderful friend,” Parmley said. “She was just so fun and funny and you couldn’t help but have a good time around here.”

She renovated her home in Tenants Harbor, a neighbourhood in St. George, said Bruce Twyon, a friend who knew Stewart from her time living in the Virgin Islands. That spoke to her self-motivation and spirit of “getting things done and enjoying life every day,” he said.

“She was such a sweet person and very strong and independent, and took care of a lot of people,” Twyon said.

The pond, in the 2,400-resident town of Union, is about 600 acres (243 hectares) and does not have public access. It is available for a variety of uses, including boating and fishing. The 100 Acre Island preserve in the center of the pond is a wooded island reachable by canoe, kayak or paddleboard from a nearby campground.

The pond has numerous nooks and narrow areas, so it’s possible there were other boaters on the water at the time of the killing who were unaware someone was in danger.

Police said the defendant was taken to Long Creek Youth Development Center in South Portland. Young is due back in court on Aug. 22, according to court documents. His hometown of Frankfort is about 41 miles (66 km) from Union.

Stewart -- known as “Sunny by her friends -- would have turned 49 next month. Loved ones launched a GoFundMe page to help celebrate her life. The page said memorial service dates were being determined.

Patrick Whittle, The Associated Press