Teen Charged in Paddleboarder Murder in Maine

A 17-year-old boy, who was eager to help authorities, has been charged with the murder of a missing paddleboarder at a campsite in Maine.

Sunshine “Sunny” Stewart, 48, disappeared on July 2 while paddleboarding at Mike Mac Cove Campground, a 600-acre spot. Her body was discovered the next day under strange circumstances. Investigators revealed she had been bludgeoned and strangled.

A lengthy two-week manhunt followed, unsettling the typically calm summer camping area.

Among those who joined the search was Deven Young, who was vacationing with his parents for the second consecutive year.

Young reportedly volunteered to share information, leading officials in the opposite direction from where Stewart was later found. He even attempted to guide them to the lake while “chasing a wild goose,” which seemed odd, to say the least.

Ultimately, investigators didn’t have to look far. Young, who had been a suspect for some time, was charged last Friday.

Throughout the manhunt, authorities noted Young appeared completely normal, acting as if nothing was amiss. Even after the discovery of Stewart’s body, he maintained an active social media presence, posting that he was “doing well,” on his now-deleted Facebook page.

Young hadn’t raised any red flags initially until he decided to intervene in the investigation, prompting authorities to take a closer look.

The campground owner expressed that once authorities spoke with him for a few hours, they began to see through his facade.

After Young was apprehended, investigators reviewed surveillance footage that placed him at the scene at the time of the murder.

The campground owner mentioned not knowing much about Young or his family but confirmed she never saw him interacting with Stewart during their time at the site.

The state prosecutors are set to try Young as an adult, just before his 18th birthday, though no specific requests have been filed yet.

In his initial court appearance, Young pleaded not guilty to the charges, which will be addressed in a later hearing.

For now, he has been partially confined in juvenile facilities to prevent any potential harm to others.

His next hearing is scheduled for August 22 in Rockland District Court.