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

[nao]

Moo. Squirrels are edible, and considered game...moo

 

[RedHaus]

Moo. Squirrels are edible, and considered game...moo

Well, let's see here...

I understood from the MSM article ^^ with quotes from DY's childhood friends, that DY reported to one in June that he had been trapping squirrels. By Maine hunting regulations that is illegal.

"The bounty of food, including acorns, in the last few years has helped the gray squirrel population increase to a point that the department felt the hunting season could be expanded, especially in southern and central Maine. It will be held from the last Saturday in September through the end of January."

""The one-month season extension would maintain healthy gray squirrel populations, avoid the time of year when females are rearing their young, and allow additional time to hunt outside of the popular big game seasons,” the [Maine] department [of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife] said"

"There is no open trapping season for gray squirrels."

Maine extends gray squirrel hunting season

By Julie Harris, Bangor Daily News Staff The Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife expanded the hunting season for gray squirrels by a month and shifted youth waterfowl hunting dates in the north zone to start and end a week later than last year. The bounty of food, including...

observer-me.com

 

[nao]

Moo....well if he was hunting squirrels out of season on that little island, that could be cause for dispute between Sunny and him.....moo

 

[marble]

Moo. Squirrels are edible, and considered game...moo

Was he eating them? Hunting them legally and humanely? I think not.

 

[nao]

Was he eating them? Hunting them legally and humanely? I think not.

Moo...well as RedHaus informative narrative says squirrel hunting season does not start till September in Maine. So no, he was hunting out of season. Hunting squirrels can be done with small caliber gun (air gun or BB gun) but doubt he would use gun at family campground. But slingshots, blowguns and arrows are also used. Guess you would need to ask his family about if they have BBQ'd any squirrels recently. I know people hunt squirrels but I am surprised there is a hunting season for them, didn't realize they were that popular. I think he would probably use slingshot. ...moo

 

[RedHaus]

I know people hunt squirrels but I am surprised there is a hunting season for them, didn't realize they were that popular. I think he would probably use slingshot. ...moo

RSBM
Well, not to split hairs, but here is the quote from the article I referenced from ^^.

"Jaxon Mushero, 18, said that he met Young in third grade at the Leroy H. Smith School in Winterport. The pair became friends and would spend time together playing outside, Mushero said. The two talked on the phone in June and Young seemed a little off, but not to a concerning degree, Mushero said. Young talked about catching some squirrels."

IMO, 'catching' sounds more like 'trapping'. What DY did next with the squirrels is anyone's guess.

Also, I suspect the Maine regulations aren't only about controlling the 'harvest' of squirrels vis a vis, numbers taken. I believe these regulations are also about humane hunting. Killing animals during their breeding season is generally disallowed. Otherwise you can leave defenseless young to suffer.

 

[nao]

Moo... apparently you can set snares for squirrels and also water buckets traps, similar to those used for rats n mice. I live in a rural area but squirrels are rare. I realize he is poi in murder. But that doesn't make him a sadist in regards to hunting...

Moo

 

[marble]

Someone who kills animals for entertainment rather than for food is cruel and sadistic imo, not sure what else to call that. Edited to add: lots of people hunt in Maine, and they eat what they hunt. Don't know anyone who eats squirrels unless they are desperately poor.

 

[nao]

Someone who kills animals for entertainment rather than for food is cruel and sadistic imo, not sure what else to call that. Edited to add: lots of people hunt in Maine, and they eat what they hunt. Don't know anyone who eats squirrels unless they are desperately poor.

Moo..na people definitely hunt squirrels for food...tastes like chicken but gamey. People that hunt are not more likely to be human killers.
But if he was setting snares, I can imagine Sunny may have followed him and questioned him. That would put them both on island.....moo

 

[Austin023]

What is the actual physical evidence the supports Young as being the killer? I see a lot of maybes and character flaws being tossed around freely, but nothing in the way of hard or even compelling evidence.....this near presumption of guilt so early in an investigation by the public is alarming.

 

[AngTxGal]

Moo..na people definitely hunt squirrels for food...tastes like chicken but gamey. People that hunt are not more likely to be human killers.
But if he was setting snares, I can imagine Sunny may have followed him and questioned him. That would put them both on island.....moo

Agree, there are people who hunt and eat squirrels here in Texas, I have with my Dad when I was a kid. My grandmother made them into what people call a chowder with dumplings. I probably ate them 50 times before I knew it was squirrels. My family is typical rural Texan- Dad grew up poor.
It isn’t cruel in my view to humanely hunt animals for food, and it is a learning experience for everyone to face the reality of the meats they eat. That they were alive without styrofoam tray and plastic wrap.
I do not think there are any indigenous people who are strict vegetarians- so we came from carnivores, and in some parts of the world their protein is plants and insects.
What is sickening is to kill animals for sport- or to use the wrong ammo and just torture or maim them out of ignorance. A snare would likely be illegal in a reserve, and cruel.

IMO

 

[waldojabba]

What is the actual physical evidence the supports Young as being the killer? I see a lot of maybes and character flaws being tossed around freely, but nothing in the way of hard or even compelling evidence.....this near presumption of guilt so early in an investigation by the public is alarming.

To my knowledge no forensic or dna evidence has been released by MSP to the public.

She died from blunt force/strangulation.

As far as compelling evidence...that's subjective, so what you find not compelling others may find compelling.

The most compelling info for me - assuming that Katherine Lunt's ( camp owner) info is reliable :
-the defendant was out on the lake at the same time as Sunshine - it was 6pm at night
-Deven offered to help the police and said he might have some info - he went out on the pond in a boat with LE and took them to the opposite side of the island from where Sunshine was found
- My assumption is that he was chatty on the boat with the police and may have caused suspicion with things he said -perhaps things only the killer would know
- Police then returned to the camp that same evening and spoke with Deven for iirc an additional two hours and he was then arrested
-the arrest came approx 2 weeks after Sunshine's death. The authories were all over the neighborhood and campground etc investigating during that two week period following leads/ interviewing neighbors etc - so no rush to judgement
-I suspect they already have or will have dna evidence that ties him to the murder
We will know more when he appears in court -

As far as presumption of guilt by the public I can only speculate that it is fueled by online comments and info that are out there on non MSM sources and platforms so you won't see that info here.

JMO

 

[tlcya]

LE requesting DNA from male campers strongly suggests there was DNA to test those samples against. The most likely place for LE to have obtained that DNA to test against is the victim. While LE hasn't told us they found DNA on the victim, it can be assumed.

Whether a DNA match is what led to DYs arrest or whether other investigative leads/evidence led to his arrest is unknown at this time. But those speculating DNA was part of DYs arrest are playing the odds. JMO

 

[AngTxGal]

What is the actual physical evidence the supports Young as being the killer? I see a lot of maybes and character flaws being tossed around freely, but nothing in the way of hard or even compelling evidence.....this near presumption of guilt so early in an investigation by the public is alarming.

We won’t know the actual evidence used for the arrest until the arrest affidavit is released.
What we do know is there was an arrest affidavit, put together by LE/ investigators, and presented to a judge, and that judge thought LE presented enough evidence for probable cause.
So LE was given an arrest warrant- and he was arrested.

I think since they collected DNA, they have a match to his.

He should have counsel now
Appears before a judge, gives a plea
Grand jury is convening to investigate and see if there is enough evidence for charges or not
Will he get to post bond and get out pending the investigation, or stay in custody?
He isn’t a flight risk, but he is dangerous

I think this is correct process, correct me if I’m wrong

IMO

 

[RedHaus]

A few new tidbits in this morning's article.

1. "According to the campground owner, the teen took police in the opposite direction to where Stewart was found and led them on a “wild goose chase.”"

2. "Young, who was arraigned last week, has been held at a youth detention facility in the Portland area “to prevent the juvenile from inflicting bodily harm on others,” Judge Eric Walker ruled Friday."

3. "That evening [7/2/2025], Lunt said she spotted Stewart’s friend searching the waterfront by flashlight, prompting the campground owner to check the area out."

4. ""Maybe she had been hit by a boat,” Lunt speculated. “We had no idea why she hadn’t returned.”"

‘Polite’ teen joined search for slain paddleboarder. Now police say he’s the killer

Deven Young, 17, sent police on a ‘wild goose chase’ in the search for Sunshine Stewart’s killer, James Liddell writes. Then, he was charged with her murder

www.independent.co.uk

ETA: quotation marks.

 

[Austin023]

We won’t know the actual evidence used for the arrest until the arrest affidavit is released.
What we do know is there was an arrest affidavit, put together by LE/ investigators, and presented to a judge, and that judge thought LE presented enough evidence for probable cause.
So LE was given an arrest warrant- and he was arrested.

I think since they collected DNA, they have a match to his.

He should have counsel now
Appears before a judge, gives a plea
Grand jury is convening to investigate and see if there is enough evidence for charges or not
Will he get to post bond and get out pending the investigation, or stay in custody?
He isn’t a flight risk, but he is dangerous

I think this is correct process, correct me if I’m wrong

IMO

Yes, I read that DNA samples were taken, largely volunteered, by males in the campground relevant to the timeframe.
It's unclear if Young's DNA sample was given before or after his arrest, though a positive DNA match doesn't, in itself, necessarily prove guilt.
So far, authorities haven't said what the DNA in question was found in, though since men were the focus of DNA collection by police, I'm thinking there was a sexual component to this murder. That is, the sample at crime scene was from something implicating a male killer.
Though that's just my own suspicion!

 

[Inthedetails]

Yes, I read that DNA samples were taken, largely volunteered, by males in the campground relevant to the timeframe.
It's unclear if Young's DNA sample was given before or after his arrest, though a positive DNA match doesn't, in itself, necessarily prove guilt.
So far, authorities haven't said what the DNA in question was found in, though since men were the focus of DNA collection by police, I'm thinking there was a sexual component to this murder. That is, the sample at crime scene was from something implicating a male killer.
Though that's just my own suspicion!

Just a reminder that any source of DNA indicates male or female. It doesn't need to be semen.

Because LE asked for DNA from males in the area does indicate they have DNA and it's from a male. But it doesn't for sure indicate it's semen (though it could be).

jmopinion

 

[waldojabba]

A few new tidbits in this morning's article.

1. "According to the campground owner, the teen took police in the opposite direction to where Stewart was found and led them on a “wild goose chase.”"

2. "Young, who was arraigned last week, has been held at a youth detention facility in the Portland area “to prevent the juvenile from inflicting bodily harm on others,” Judge Eric Walker ruled Friday."

3. "That evening [7/2/2025], Lunt said she spotted Stewart’s friend searching the waterfront by flashlight, prompting the campground owner to check the area out."

4. ""Maybe she had been hit by a boat,” Lunt speculated. “We had no idea why she hadn’t returned.”"

‘Polite’ teen joined search for slain paddleboarder. Now police say he’s the killer

Deven Young, 17, sent police on a ‘wild goose chase’ in the search for Sunshine Stewart’s killer, James Liddell writes. Then, he was charged with her murder

www.independent.co.uk

ETA: quotation marks.

Thanks for posting @RedHaus -


"That evening, Lunt said she spotted Stewart's friend searching the waterfront by flashlight, prompting the campground owner to check the area out.
IIRC Stewarts friend was supposedly the one who called her in missing in the early info I saw/heard then we heard nothing about a friend being there at the campground except at the intital registration at camp . Interesting that indeed her friend was there. We don't have a name for that particular friend afaik.
Murder on Crawford Pond: The chilling timeline of Sunny Stewart’s final days

"In the early hours of July 3, two local residents found a paddleboard, which led responders to Stewart’s body."
Hopefully LE know the names of the locals and grabbed their dna etc so no confusion - I had not read this before that locals found her board

"Police combed through evidence for almost two weeks at the campground. Lunt said she became “obsessed” with finding the murder suspect and scoured through hours of surveillance tapes and rallied campers to offer up footage and provide their DNA."

Lunt also mentions in the article that Devon was back on shore before dark so if we are taking Lunt's info as true - Sunny was murdered between 6pm and approx 9pm ish.


For me, it's important to remember what is MSP/Court doc info vs what is Katherine Lunt the campground info - most of what we know and most of what this article quotes in Per Lunt- who has an obvious vested interest/bias in this case -.
Either way it will all become clear and we will have more info from court and the authorities soon.
JMO

 

[RedHaus]

Thanks for posting @RedHaus -


"That evening, Lunt said she spotted Stewart's friend searching the waterfront by flashlight, prompting the campground owner to check the area out.
IIRC Stewarts friend was supposedly the one who called her in missing in the early info I saw/heard then we heard nothing about a friend being there at the campground except at the intital registration at camp . Interesting that indeed her friend was there. We don't have a name for that particular friend afaik.
Murder on Crawford Pond: The chilling timeline of Sunny Stewart’s final days

"In the early hours of July 3, two local residents found a paddleboard, which led responders to Stewart’s body."
Hopefully LE know the names of the locals and grabbed their dna etc so no confusion - I had not read this before that locals found her board

"Police combed through evidence for almost two weeks at the campground. Lunt said she became “obsessed” with finding the murder suspect and scoured through hours of surveillance tapes and rallied campers to offer up footage and provide their DNA."

Lunt also mentions in the article that Devon was back on shore before dark so if we are taking Lunt's info as true - Sunny was murdered between 6pm and approx 9pm ish.


For me, it's important to remember what is MSP/Court doc info vs what is Katherine Lunt the campground info - most of what we know and most of what this article quotes in Per Lunt- who has an obvious vested interest/bias in this case -.
Either way it will all become clear and we will have more info from court and the authorities soon.
JMO

Yes, indeed.

And good catch on new nugget #5, IMO.

"In the early hours of July 3, two local residents found a paddleboard, which led responders to Stewart’s body."

Until now, I'd understood LE found it and SS. I can't wait to see all the true facts!

 

[nao]

Moo.. in regards to collecting only male DNA. There are financial and budget considerations. Sunny was strangled, so it's physical.....so the probability is that is was a male...moo