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

[Spectrix]

Since Sunshine seems to have such a likeable personality, I wonder if they encountered each other on the island and she greeted him. Perhaps he mistook her friendliness in a way that made him get excited and also realize he could overpower her without anyone seeing.

idk. Just tossing ideas around.

jmopinion

Yup, they were both reportedly regulars at the capground and it's entirely possible that they were familiar with one another prior to the attack.

 

[Inthedetails]

"People who grew up with Deven Young describe the 17-year-old, who is accused of killing a paddleboarder earlier this month, in drastically different ways.

One best friend from childhood told the Bangor Daily News that he never saw Young bully people, while another said Young would bully kids since preschool. Two people who know him said he would regularly get in trouble for fighting."

Classmates share differing recollections of Maine teen accused of killing paddleboarder

One best friend from childhood told the Bangor Daily News that he never saw Young bully people, while another said Young would bully kids since preschool.

wgme.com

 

[jillolantern]

IF as has been reported, LE was focused on collecting male DNA from fellow campers, IMO, the most likely reason is because they found biological evidence that SA occurred. JMO

Its easy to imagine that if he strangled her there could be evidence such as skin under her nails, no?

 

[RedHaus]

Its easy to imagine that if he strangled her there could be evidence such as skin under her nails, no?

Unless she was unconscious or rendered helpless from the blunt force trauma.

 

[LadyL]

Do we know if he attacked her while she was in the water or on the shore?

The possible scenarios I see are 1) he catcalled or yelled something at her and she talked back, being used to working in gruff environments and not afraid to stand up for herself, and he did not like that 2) he tried to steal from her (taking paddleboard or belongings on the shore?) and she fought back 3) budding psychopath type where he killed her with no inherent motive or interaction beforehand

definitely #3 IMO

 

[RedHaus]

<modnsip - quoted post was removed>

We simply don't know what state SS was in when she was strangled. All we know from LE is that she died from blunt force trauma and strangulation.

My theory is she was struck in the head first, rendering her unable to defend herself or scream for help. Strangulation came last, IMO.

 

[New Penny]

That is exactly my thoughts- why didn’t she scream or call attention to herself and him in some way?
I don’t know the layout of that island, it seems to be some kind of preserve.
Maybe people weren’t around?
He also could have hit her in the head with something to subdue her.

I can vaguely remember a time when I did not feel vulnerable around strange men, and that ended at about 15 or 16. Women don’t talk about it much but all of us have felt like prey, and that we must have an angel on our shoulder to have not been this kind of victim. It happens all too often
Of all places in the world- this place appears to have been about as safe and tranquil as you can find- that is what is so troubling to me.


IMO

I’m wondering if Sunny knew DY (and his parents) from the campground, didn’t consider him a threat, he somehow got close enough and turned on her. So heartbreaking. Another sad end to a woman just trying to go about living her life. We’re not safe anywhere.

MOO

 

[Hexe]

The reported blunt force trauma and supposedly no screams makes me wonder if he attacked her from behind when she was having a look around the island.

I live near a lake. During the summer season people on the beach and on the water yell and scream so much I stop to notice these sounds. Only a really shrill and bloodcurdling scream straight out of a horror movie has a chance of being noticed. If she wasn't screaming her head off her scream might just not gwt registered by the people around.

 

[acutename]

I live near a lake. During the summer season people on the beach and on the water yell and scream so much I stop to notice these sounds. Only a really shrill and bloodcurdling scream straight out of a horror movie has a chance of being noticed. If she wasn't screaming her head off her scream might just not gwt registered by the people around.

he could have grabbed her neck and pressed her face/head under water... no screams and she would not have wanted to swallow/inhale water. A sad thought.

 

[AngTxGal]

he could have grabbed her neck and pressed her face/head under water... no screams and she would not have wanted to swallow/inhale water. A sad thought.

If I think on this then I wonder, why did he not drowned her? He was larger and could have held her under long enough if he was capable of strangling her.
Did the blunt force trauma to her head, and strangulation- take place in the water?
What a gruesome image

IMO

 

[Inthedetails]

<modsnip - quoted post was removed (no link/SM rumors)

Sadly, my hunch (at the moment) is that he was a teen with pent-up frustrations, and when he saw a woman alone, he took the opportunity to attack.

But, any theory is subject to change as we learn more.

jmopinion

 

[AngTxGal]

To be fair, the logistics involved with blunt force trauma and strangulation don't exactly lend themselves to a water based attack.
Also, strangulation in itself suggests that the motive was of a sexual nature.

Locals reported that Sunny's body had been found on land by the waters edge, on the South East part of the island near the causeway, I think it's likely the attack was carried out pretty much where she lay.

I'm interested whether she happened to be exploring the island on her own accord or she was lured to the shore under false pretences ("Ma'am, do you know anything about outboard motors, I can't seem to get it started...").

.

Does strangulation lend itself to a sexually motivated attack? Really? I didn’t know that.

I was thinking to quiet her voice, or push her under the water OR- even sicker…
I have read that some murderers prefer the intimacy of strangulation- face to face
Enjoy giving the required sustained pressure to cause death,
Controlling a person’s life breath- to give breath and then take it away,
Watching a person’s face as their life drains out.

All of these thoughts are chilling, and sick enough without the added sexual connection, that did not come to mind.

Does someone know if there are stats that link strangulation and sexual motivation?

Sick and horrific to imagine
IMO

 

[Motherofvoids16]

I believe they had an altercation of some sort on land - a small "trigger" which in his sick mind would be motivation. I do not think he killed her in the water or COD would indicate drowning. IMO he tried to strangle her but she appears quite strong - perhaps he then started beating her with his oars, then went back to strangling her. I pray he is tried as an adult.

 

[Motherofvoids16]

Sadly, my hunch (at the moment) is that he was a teen with pent-up frustrations, and when he saw a woman alone, he took the opportunity to attack.

But, any theory is subject to change as we learn more.

jmopinion

I think unless there was some sort of altercation, this makes the most sense.

 

[Motherofvoids16]

<modnsip - quoted post was removed>

We simply don't know what state SS was in when she was strangled. All we know from LE is that she died from blunt force trauma and strangulation.

My theory is she was struck in the head first, rendering her unable to defend herself or scream for help. Strangulation came last, IMO.

I support this theory. Rendering her helpless with a blow or blows to the head prior to strangulation makes sense.

 

[Inthedetails]

Does strangulation lend itself to a sexually motivated attack? Really? I didn’t know that.

I was thinking to quiet her voice, or push her under the water OR- even sicker…
I have read that some murderers prefer the intimacy of strangulation- face to face
Enjoy giving the required sustained pressure to cause death,
Controlling a person’s life breath- to give breath and then take it away,
Watching a person’s face as their life drains out.

All of these thoughts are chilling, and sick enough without the added sexual connection, that did not come to mind.

Does someone know if there are stats that link strangulation and sexual motivation?

Sick and horrific to imagine
IMO

I don't have stats, but the act of strangulation requires close contact. Hitting someone, even with a fist, has some "distance" and disconnect (especially if a guy has been in fights in his life, imo). And punching or hitting with an object isn't a sustained action that the perp needs to hold.

To strangle takes close, extended connected contact....like SA does, even if it happens fast.

jmopinion

 

[tlcya]

DBM (no response is a response)

 

[nao]

I don't have stats, but the act of strangulation requires close contact. Hitting someone, even with a fist, has some "distance" and disconnect (especially if a guy has been in fights in his life, imo). And punching or hitting with an object isn't a sustained action that the perp needs to hold.

To strangle takes close, extended connected contact....like SA does, even if it happens fast.

jmop

Moo.....there are 2 (possibly more) ways to strangle. With the hands or the arm...aka a choke hold. If she came along side his boat, he could possibly use a choke hold.?...imoo

 

[Inthedetails]

Moo.....there are 2 (possibly more) ways to strangle. With the hands or the arm...aka a choke hold. If she came along side his boat, he could possibly use a choke hold.?...imoo

Sure, but I think a choke hold takes knowing how to administer one? I'm not an expert, though!

I'm thinking strangulation can also be done through ligature or even pressing something like an oar over her neck? Ugly thoughts to think about, ugh.

jmo

 

[marble]

Some classmates said Deven was known to be a bully who got in trouble for it, although one of his oldest friends says he wasn't, and that Deven had recently talked to him on the phone and was "excited about some squirrels he caught" which unless he was making them special nut treats and then letting them go doesn't sound all that good.