ME-Missing paddle boarder Sunshine Stewart Found Dead by Homicide, Union 02 July 2025

[MesquiteO21]

I saw a Facebook comment by a woman who was staying on the island at the time. She said the police told her that there was no reason to be afraid or to leave, and to continue enjoying her vacation. Strange.

wow...
what the HECK could be the rationale for that? surveilling someone is not the same as having them in custody obviously, and i don't care how many supposed LE eyes are on a person, i would consider them a threat until they are literally locked away

EDIT: i suppose if they were sure he was the one and they knew he wasn't anywhere in the vicinity they might tell her that, but personally, i still wouldn't trust that. If they had intel he was 100 miles away from Crawford Pond he's still a potential threat to the Crawford Pond area in my opinion i don't care.
MOO

 

[Detechtive]

Yes I imagine she would have fought hard. That's why I don't think there would be a SA, because it would have had to happen post-mortem which is very unusual. But I think SA would have been the original motive.

It only takes 5-15 seconds for unconsciousness, and death can occur from 1-5 minutes of sustained pressure with strangulation.

 

[Spectrix]

A single 17-year-old suspect is now in custody; no further arrests announced.

It's an early start to murder isn't it.

 

[Agordifobia]

Arrest made in connection

17-year-old arrested in murder of Maine paddleboarder reported missing earlier this month​

 

[Agordifobia]

Cause of death
“Stewart's cause of death was strangulation and blunt force trauma, Maine State Police revealed Thursday. “

From -

17-year-old arrested in murder of Maine paddleboarder reported missing earlier this month

An arrest has been made in the murder of Sunshine Stewart, a paddleboarder who went missing in Maine earlier this month.

abcnews.go.com

Wonder if they will release his name considering hes under age?! I have no idea how Maine handles things like that or if it’s based on the crime??

17 years old. I wonder if he acted alone that is so insane.??

Bonus at least I can now share what i knew about a friends home that was connected

 

[Herat]

Cause of death
“Stewart's cause of death was strangulation and blunt force trauma, Maine State Police revealed Thursday. “

From -

17-year-old arrested in murder of Maine paddleboarder reported missing earlier this month

An arrest has been made in the murder of Sunshine Stewart, a paddleboarder who went missing in Maine earlier this month.

abcnews.go.com

Wonder if they will release his name considering hes under age?! I have no idea how Maine handles things like that or if it’s based on the crime??

17 years old. I wonder if he acted alone that is so insane.??

Bonus at least I can now share what i knew about a friends home that was connected

Please do share your information, @Agordifobia

As the perp is underage at 17, it's likely there won't be much information released.

 

[Chimera]

Cause of death
“Stewart's cause of death was strangulation and blunt force trauma, Maine State Police revealed Thursday. “

From -

17-year-old arrested in murder of Maine paddleboarder reported missing earlier this month

An arrest has been made in the murder of Sunshine Stewart, a paddleboarder who went missing in Maine earlier this month.

abcnews.go.com

Wonder if they will release his name considering hes under age?! I have no idea how Maine handles things like that or if it’s based on the crime??

17 years old. I wonder if he acted alone that is so insane.??

Bonus at least I can now share what i knew about a friends home that was connected

Thanks for the link, @Agordifobia !
A pic from that site :

Looks more like a large lake than a pond.
Beautiful area and remote .... yet it seems safe.
I'm wondering how this teen was able to subdue her while she was paddle boarding ?
So it sounds like no weapon was used ?
Scary and so sickening.
Imo.

Rest in peace, Sunshine !!!

 

[RedHaus]

I have nothing to add to this fantastic news.

I am just so happy this evil man will never SA and kill another woman.

I am so sad for the loss of Sunshine Stewart's life. May her soul continue to shine bright and find peace from this traumatic death.

She was very loved.

 

[Chimera]

Union is a small farming town dotted with ponds to which locals and other camp owners are drown in the hot summer months. Crawford Pond has no public access, and is surrounded entirely by private property. Stewart was reportedly spending the summer at the Mic Mac Cove Campground, but management there is tight lipped.
Answers Elusive in Killing of Tenants Harbor Woman

Bbm.
One can understand why that would be ... but other people there need to know that it's safe and that this will not happen again.

I'd imagine there are cameras at the campground ?
Was the perp staying there as well ?

All it took was one person with evil intent.
Seems like nowhere is safe these days.
Omo.

 

[swanniee11]

Very sad situation. She seems well liked and a strong woman. I would think his name will come out soon enough. Waiting to see if he's charged as an adult. Did I read that he and his family were camping at the same campground?

 

[Chimera]

It's summer over there.. I can't speak for this particular teen, but I just wear a pair of board shorts paddleboarding (even in winter actually). No need for a wetsuit in calm water.

I bet he's got some deep scratches after a strangulation. It takes a lot longer than they tend to make out on TV, and she would have fought hard.

Bbm.
Well .. good !
I hope she scratched the living heck out of him; poor lady.
Imo.

 

[Spectrix]

I'm wondering how this teen was able to subdue her while she was paddle boarding ?
So it sounds like no weapon was used ?

Given that she was found on the island, perhaps she was attacked after she stopped by to explore the island on foot.

Not sure about a weapon per se, blunt force trauma could be a from a rock for example.

 

[RedHaus]

Seems like nowhere is safe these days.

... especially for solo women recreating.

 

[Chimera]

Very sad situation. She seems well liked and a strong woman. I would think his name will come out soon enough. Waiting to see if he's charged as an adult. Did I read that he and his family were camping at the same campground?

17-year-old arrested in murder of Maine paddleboarder reported missing earlier this month

An arrest has been made in the murder of Sunshine Stewart, a paddleboarder who went missing in Maine earlier this month.

abcnews.go.com

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.

I'd imagine his family is devastated and ashamed now, and didn't know he was capable of such an act ?

Imo.

 

[otto]

It's summer over there.. I can't speak for this particular teen, but I just wear a pair of board shorts paddleboarding (even in winter actually). No need for a wetsuit in calm water.

I bet he's got some deep scratches after a strangulation. It takes a lot longer than they tend to make out on TV, and she would have fought hard.

Murderers, such as Ted Bundy (and presumably others), typically start with blunt force trauma - hit to the head. The final assault is strangulation. There may not be much evidence of 'fighting back'.

 

[RedHaus]

Did I read that he and his family were camping at the same campground?

RSBM
Well, I thought the reference was that the family of this psycho teen had 'a camp'.

If you're not familiar with northern New England lingo, a camp is a permanent structure, ranging from a small shack to large custom home, usually on any body of water, that is used for vacationing, recreating, partying, or respiting.

So I am presuming right now, this teen's family had a 'camp' on Crawford Pond.

IMO

 

[waldojabba]

Bbm.
One can understand why that would be ... but other people there need to know that it's safe and that this will not happen again.

I'd imagine there are cameras at the campground ?
Was the perp staying there as well ?

All it took was one person with evil intent.
Seems like nowhere is safe these days.
Omo.

lots of cameras and yes the arrested 17 yr old who was from Maine had been vacationing there over many summers

 

[keek]

17-year-old arrested in murder of Maine paddleboarder reported missing earlier this month

An arrest has been made in the murder of Sunshine Stewart, a paddleboarder who went missing in Maine earlier this month.

abcnews.go.com

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.

I'd imagine his family is devastated and ashamed now, and didn't know he was capable of such an act ?

Imo.

I bet plenty of 'signs' or issued with his mental health have been there. They don't know 'he' is capable until he does and that is when A LOT of times it is the only time a family gets the much needed assistance with their family member, too late. Just thoughts from as we know, TONS of same or multiple situations. DIsgusting to have taken this woman's life. IMO

 

[swanniee11]

17-year-old arrested in murder of Maine paddleboarder reported missing earlier this month

An arrest has been made in the murder of Sunshine Stewart, a paddleboarder who went missing in Maine earlier this month.

abcnews.go.com

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.

I'd imagine his family is devastated and ashamed now, and didn't know he was capable of such an act ?

Imo.

IDK, for a 17yr old to just do something like this he had to have been on something or has done other things and graduated to this? IMO

 

[Chimera]

I bet plenty of 'signs' or issued with his mental health have been there. They don't know 'he' is capable until he does and that is when A LOT of times it is the only time a family gets the much needed assistance with their family member, too late. Just thoughts from as we know, TONS of same or multiple situations. DIsgusting to have taken this woman's life. IMO

Bbm.
Yes, I have no argument there at all, esp. with the, "too late" !
Happens more often than we think, too.
My .02.

IDK, for a 17yr old to just do something like this he had to have been on something or has done other things and graduated to this? IMO

Certainly a possibility.
Given the victim's level of fitness and she seemed to be an 'outdoorsy' type (?); I believe she fought like a tigress.
Unless he snuck up behind her and caught her unawares ?

So senseless and tragic for Sunshine.
This is the first time I've heard that name, too.
Imo.