Sunshine Stewart, 48, went missing earlier this month after going paddleboarding in Crawford Pond, approximately 80 miles from Portland.
Her body was discovered shortly afterwards.
When word got out that a murder had happened near the campground, one particular individual was keen to help – Deven Young.
The 17-year-old had been staying at the camp with his parents in Union, Maine, when police discovered the victim, who had been bludgeoned and strangled to death.
According to Katherine Lunt, the owner of Mic Mac Cove Campground, the teen was polite but “awkward” and spent most of his time in the pond on his boat. He also helped other campers with their pets and yards.
She added that Young had volunteered to help police with their investigation.
He ended up leading authorities on a “wild goose chase”, taking them to the opposite side of where the victim was found.
On July 16, officials spoke with Young for several hours at the camp, before returning in the evening to arrest him. He was found guilty of murder for his role in Stewart’s death.
Since his arrest, he has been held at a youth detention facility in Portland, to prevent him from inflicting harm on others.
The 17-year-old is scheduled to make an appearance in Rockland District Court on August 22, just a few weeks shy of his 18th birthday. Prosecutors have confirmed that he will be tried as an adult.
Discovery of the Body
According to Maine State Police, Stewart was found under “unusual circumstances” at 1 a.m. near 100 Acre Island on July 3rd.
They later confirmed that the area where she was discovered can only be accessed by boat.
Stewart, an avid paddleboarder and outdoorswoman from Tenants Harbor, had left the campground for the pond between 6 p.m. and 9 p.m. on July 2.
When Stewart didn’t return from paddleboarding, her friend went searching for her near the waterfront. Lunt later joined the search, however, they found neither Stewart nor her paddleboard.
They had no idea why she had disappeared.
Six hours after Stewart had left for the pond, they called police, which launched a multi-agency search.
On the morning of July 3, two local residents discovered a paddleboard, which eventually led the search team to her body.
Given the unusual circumstances, the Maine State Police Major Crimes Unit was called in. They did not believe Stewart had taken her own life or died by drowning.
A subsequent autopsy confirmed that Stewart was a homicide victim.
Over the next two weeks, authorities combed through evidence at the campground. Lunt also assisted, scouring through hours of surveillance footage and rallying campers to provide their DNA.
She later discovered that Young had been on the lake at the time of Stewart’s disappearance.
If convicted of murder as an adult, he faces 25 years behind bars.
