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Daily Mail
31 minutes ago
- Daily Mail
EXCLUSIVE Paddleboarder's 'terrifying' final moments with boy, 17, who 'toyed with cops' after 'strangling' her to death
The childhood friend of a paddleboarder murdered in Maine says she is struggling to fathom the terror she must've experienced in her final moments. Sunshine Stewart, 48, was found beaten and strangled to death in Union, on July 3. She had been staying at the Mic Mac Campground and was paddleboarding on the nearby Crawford Pond when she was killed. For two weeks, the small, tight-knit community was gripped with fear as police hunted Stewart's killer. A breakthrough finally came on August 16, when 17-year-old Deven Young - who'd been staying at the same campsite as Stewart with his parents - told State Police he had some information about her death. Young then accompanied investigators on an excursion to 100 Acre Island in the middle of the pond, near where Stewart's body was found. What the teen told police is not clear, but within hours he was arrested and charged with her murder. On Friday, Young appeared in a Knox County courtroom where he denied killing Stewart. Authorities have not disclosed a motive for the crime, sharing only that the scene was 'unusual' while accusing Young of acting with 'depraved indifference.' While several unknowns still hang over the case, Stewart's lifelong friend Meredith Smith told the Daily Mail she is haunted by the thought of what she must've experienced in her final throes of life. 'I can't even explain it in words, but I feel horrific thinking about what she must have seen and felt, looking at this person… she must've been so scared,' said Smith. 'The more I read and see of him… those last moments of her life were probably just horrifying.' Smith, who remembered Stewart as fierce and strong, believes she would've 'fought like hell' to fend off her killer - if she was even given the chance. 'I have a feeling she was snuck up on…someone would've had to have taken her by surprise,' she added. In the days after Stewart's death, Young continued posting on his Facebook page, seemingly unfazed by the commotion stirring within the local community. In his final post before his arrest, on July 12, Young shared an image of a boat anchored at sunset. In a conversation beneath the post, he told a friend, 'I'm doing good,' when asked how he was. The owner of Mic Mac Campground, Katherine Lunt, has also shared that there was nothing about Young's behavior that gave her any cause for suspicion. He continued to act like he always had, Lunt said: offering to assist other campers with their pets, yard work, and making wood crafts by hand, which he'd give out to other campers. Young reportedly displayed the same willingness to be helpful when Maine State Police returned to the campground on July 16, seeking leads in the Stewart case. Meredith Smith, who had known Stewart for four decades, told the Daily Mail she's haunted by what Stewart must've experienced in her final moments (Smith and Stewart are seen together, right, as children) The teenager approached the officers and said he had some information to share. Young then accompanied police to Crawford Pond, and reportedly led them to the opposite end of 100 Acre Island from where Stewart's body was found. He was interviewed after the excursion. Police left the camp and returned later the same night, heading straight to the Young family's camper where they remained inside for roughly two hours before taking him into custody at 10:30pm. Smith, like many others who knew and loved Stewart, is curious to know what Young said to investigators that led to his arrest. Evidence in the case was ordered to remain sealed by a judge last week, until at least Young's next court appearance on August 22. As Smith waits for answers, she blasted Young as a 'sick individual' whom she believes was trying to taunt the police. 'What kind of game was he playing?' asked Smith. 'I really think he was trying to toy with the cops… I don't think he feels guilty or remorseful, judging by his actions and his social media posts. Maybe he's incapable of remorse?' Addressing Young directly, she alleged: 'You're a very sick individual and I hope that you get the help that you need and I also hope that they throw away the key and lock you away forever because I don't think you'll ever be okay to be in society again.' Requests for comment from Young's attorney and his parents have gone unanswered. The owner of Mic Mac Campground, Katherine Lunt, has also shared that there was nothing untoward in Young's behavior that gave her any cause for suspicion Young, who is from Frankfort, Maine, has spent the last two summers vacationing with his family on Crawford Pond. Stewart was also a seasonal guest at the campsite. She'd arrived in Union from Tenants Harbor only days before her death. Any connections Young had to Stewart are not yet known. Rumors have circulated on social media that Young was a known troublemaker at the site and his behavior had long raised concern - but campground owner Katherine Lunt denied any truth to the claims. 'They were never kicked out of the campground,' she told the Midcoast Villager. 'Quite honestly, if any of this were true, the day this investigation started, he would have obviously been the first suspect in this case, and it would not have taken two weeks to solve.' Young appeared in a Knox County courtroom on Friday morning via Zoom, where he denied responsibility for Stewart's death. He is currently being held in a youth detention center in South Portland. Young's Facebook page was deleted within hours of his arrest. His profile picture had shown him posing with a shotgun in a chair, glaring at the camera, with a cartoon American flag superimposed at his feet. A video he posted to his now-deleted TikTok in January 2024 showed a slideshow of black and white images of Young sitting in a vehicle, with the voice of a man playing over the top, which said: 'It's not your fault, mom. You raised a really good kid. The world just f**ked me up.' Young's parents, Tara and Jessie Young, have also deleted their Facebook pages. According to Tara Young's page, which was viewed by the Daily Mail last week, she works at a residential care facility in Searsport, Maine. Friends and loved ones of Stewart's have voiced their collective heartache over her passing, remembering her as kind, talented, and a free spirit. 'Everyone who knew her loved her,' said Smith. 'Every time I think of her, I think of home and a childhood filled with happy memories. She was always smiling and she had a laugh that was so infectious… She'll be missed terribly.' Lunt shared Smith's heartbreak, adding that she was horrified such a terrible crime could take place on her doorstep. 'It is heart-wrenching and terrifying that we had no idea the murderer was amongst us as we were looking for a stranger,' said Lunt. Stewart would have turned 49 next month. Young will turn 18 this September.
Yahoo
a day ago
- Yahoo
Maine paddleboarder murder suspect acted 'totally normal': Campground owner
No one expected their summer on the lush, serene banks of Crawford Pond, Maine, to be upended by a heinous killing. That peace was shattered this July when camp newcomer Sunshine "Sunny" Stewart had gone paddleboarding -- and never came back. Police found the 48-year-old strangled and bludgeoned to death the next morning. A two-week hunt for a killer ensued. It was even more shocking when that search stopped -- and authorities were able to make an arrest, and the suspect turned out to be a 17-year-old staying at the camp. In her first interview since police charged Deven Young with Stewart's murder on Friday, Mic Mac Campground owner Katharine Lunt explained to ABC News the horror that engulfed her idyllic corner of rural Maine since July 2, and how fiercely driven she's been to protect it. "It's not a place where these things happen," Lunt said. "It's not a place where we're suspect of each other," she said, describing the grounds as a "haven for all of us." MORE: Teen suspected of killing Maine paddleboarder charged with murder Lunt first met Stewart at the beginning of May when she registered for a seasonal campsite with a friend. "Sunny was very excited to be on the lake and paddleboard," Lunt said. Just before America's birthday, Stewart set out on the pond for a quiet evening swim and paddle. She left her purse in her car, its windows open, Lunt said. Just before midnight, Lunt noticed on her security camera system that Stewart's friend was searching the waterfront with a flashlight -- prompting Lunt to check it out. Stewart's board and paddle were missing. She was nowhere to be found. Lunt called local police, and the search ensued. "We first thought that maybe she was hurt," Lunt said. "Maybe she had been hit by a boat. We had no idea why she hadn't returned." State and local agencies and even locals helped look for Stewart by land, water and air with the help of a drone. Dense fog sat on the banks of the 600-acre pond. Two local residents found a blue paddleboard -- which then helped direct police's attention to the area where her body would be found. As police combed through evidence day after day at the campground, Lunt was determined to help crack the case. She combed over footage from her robust surveillance apparatus around camp, with a total of 16 security cameras, that authorities say was in fact key to the investigation. "I was looking for a stranger, somebody out of the ordinary," Lunt said. "Absolutely nobody was looking for a child. We were looking for an adult." It created an atmosphere of suspicion, according to Lunt. "When we didn't know what had happened, and we felt there was a stranger amongst us, so every day I was up at dawn till dusk at the gate of the campground, making sure that we were not allowing any strangers in our community," she said. MORE: 'This stuff doesn't happen here': Murdered paddleboarder sparks concern in small town Lunt helped rally campers to offer their footage if it might have something, and even volunteer their DNA. "I was obsessed with finding out who did this -- because it was terrifying for everybody," she said. One young man staying with his parents at Mic Mac that summer seemed eager to help, too: a 17-year-old always offering to help others with their yard work or loose pets. He'd even made wood crafts to give to other campers, Lunt said. He liked to go out on his little boat. Deven Young had something to show police that might help, Lunt recalled Young said. He took an investigator and the warden out on the water. "He volunteered, he said he had some information, and he took them in the opposite direction of where Sunny was found," Lunt said. "He had said he had something to show them, and took them out on the lake on pretty much a wild goose chase." MORE: Missing Maine paddleboarder was murdered, suspect unknown: Police For two weeks, the suspect was "acting totally normal," Lunt said. "He acted like nothing ever happened." She shook her head. "It's haunting. He was not on anybody's radar." Lunt believes that perhaps Young "said something" that caught investigators' attention and made them scrutinize him more closely. After speaking with him for a couple more hours, police left, only to return that evening and head directly for the Young family's site. He was arrested the evening of July 16. Young has been charged with Stewart's murder and is currently in custody at a juvenile detention facility. State prosecutors have moved to charge him as an adult, according to a spokesperson for the Maine Attorney General's office. That request has not yet been ruled on. At his first court appearance Friday, Young entered a denial on the charge which will be addressed at a later hearing. His attorney had no comment. As police were at the Youngs' door the night of his arrest, Lunt pored over any surveillance footage she could find that might give a clue. "Just thinking, no way, this cannot be happening," Lunt said. "Then I went back to surveillance cameras to see where he was at the time [of the killing] -- and those surveillance videos indicated he was on the lake at the time." Young returned to land before it was dark on the night of the killing, according to Lunt's surveillance footage. Though Lunt didn't know Young well, she knows one thing: she never saw him and Stewart interact. Young's family had first camped at Mic Mac during the 2024 summer season, and returned this year. His grandparents had a site previously and he had visited them sometimes, too. Stewart had only been there for a few days. "They hadn't crossed paths," she said. "I think she was at the wrong place at the wrong time." Lunt recalls Young as perhaps an "awkward boy," but polite with no particular red flags she could recall. "We have a lot of kids, and they do a lot of things -- but not anything that would make you think that any child was going to murder somebody here," she said. "I have nothing nice to say. It's disgusting." At his first court appearance on Friday, Young entered a denial -- a procedural move disputing the allegations -- and arguments will be heard at a later hearing. The next hearing has been set for Aug. 22 in the Rockland District Court. In the meantime, Young will be kept in custody at a juvenile facility to ensure he'll appear at future court appearances and "to prevent the juvenile from inflicting bodily harm on others," Judge Eric Walker ruled Friday. Moving forward, Lunt wants to help the healing process by remembering Stewart as a "true ray of sunshine." "She was a force to be reckoned with," Lunt said, noting that her radiant energy will live on, but a difficult healing process has just begun. "A beautiful individual was just going out for a paddle and never came back. It's not fair." The Mic Mac family and entire Midcoast Maine community plan to hold a celebration of life on Sunday, Aug. 10. Lobster boats from the surrounding area are invited to take part in a "captain's salute" to honor Stewart.
Daily Mail
4 days ago
- Daily Mail
BREAKING NEWS Boy, 17, suspected of killing paddleboarder is pictured after murder that's filled sleepy town with terror
A teenager arrested in connection with the death of a paddleboarder found fatally strangled and beaten at a Maine nature reserve has been identified by officials after pleading not guilty to her murder. Deven Young, 17, was taken into custody on Wednesday night and later charged with the murder of Sunshine Stewart, 48, who was found dead in Union, Maine, on July 3, hours after setting off on a solo paddleboarding excursion on Crawford Pond. Young appeared in a Knox County courtroom on Friday morning via Zoom, where he denied responsibility for Stewart's death. He spoke only to acknowledge that he understood the charges against him and that he'd conferred with his court-appointed attorney. Judge Eric Walker ordered Young to remain in custody on a charge that he caused Stewart's death either intentionally, knowingly, or with depraved indifference, the Midcoast Villager reported. Police affidavits and additional information regarding the evidence against Young will remain under seal until a status conference is held on August 22, Walker ruled. The state has requested Young's case be moved to adult court, but the motion has not yet been ruled on. For now, Young remains in custody at the Long Creek Youth Development Center in South Portland. Young is from Frankfort, Maine, but regularly spends summer vacations with his family on Crawford Pond, a source previously told the Daily Mail. His Facebook page states that he had attended Hampden Academy but left in 2023. Young's profile picture on Facebook shows him posing with a shotgun in a chair, staring slack-jawed at the camera, with a cartoon American flag superimposed at his feet. His last post on the platform, dated July 12, included an image of a boat moored in a lake at sunset. It's not clear where the image was taken. Asked by a friend in a comment beneath the post how he was, Young responded: 'I'm doing good how are you doing.' At the time the message was posted, state police were frantically scouring Union to find Stewart's killer. Any connections the teen had with Stewart are not yet known. Stewart had arrived at the nearby Mic Mac Campground only days before her death, where she had planned to spend the remainder of the summer living out of a camper. News of her murder left residents of the small, tight-knit community of Union terrified. Among them was Meredith Smith, a childhood friend of Stewart's, who the Daily Mail she was stunned by the news of Young's arrest. 'Part of me is relieved that someone has been arrested, but the other part says this is far from over because I feel like there's still so much more to this story that we don't know,' said Smith. 'Sunshine was strong and feisty; she would've put up a would've given this person Hell.' The Maine Attorney General's office confirmed to the Daily Mail that Young is the only suspect in Stewart's death. Stewart was last seen leaving her camper at the Mic Mac Campground to go paddleboarding on the pond at around 6pm on July 2. When she had still not returned by the early hours of July 3, someone raised the alarm. Before dawn broke, a search and rescue drone spotted Stewart's paddleboard drifting alone. Her body was later discovered along the southeast shore of 100 Acre Island, a nature preserve in the middle of the pond. Police have not confirmed any details of how Stewart's body was found, or in what condition, sharing only that the circumstances were 'unusual.' An autopsy determined that Stewart's death was a homicide, but law enforcement shared few updates over the following two weeks. Smith told the Daily Mail on Monday that she was struggling to understand why anyone would harm her dear friend. 'Everyone who knew her loved her,' she said. 'Who would do something like this to her? She didn't have any enemies… there's nothing she could've done to make anybody mad enough to harm her. 'We're all on edge, it's just so scary… if it can happen to her, it can happen to anyone.' Local police urged residents of Union to remain calm but be 'aware of their surroundings'. On Wednesday, it was revealed that Maine State Police were collecting DNA samples from men who were near Crawford Pond on the night Stewart vanished, as first reported by the Midcoast Villager. It's unclear whether the arrest of the teen came as a result of DNA. Smith told the Daily Mail that the news of the DNA collection has made her fear what it may indicate about Stewart's final moments of life. 'I feel like it's insinuating something that they're only taking DNA from men and not women,' she said. 'You wonder, could this have been done by someone that was obsessed with her? Or maybe it was completely random and she was in the wrong place at the wrong time.' 'I just know she would've fought like hell. She was a strong person and would have given them a tough fight because she was feisty.' With police offering little in the way of updates until Thursday, the radio silence caused rumors, conspiracies, and fear to prosper in the small town of Union. News of Stewart's death renewed fears that a serial killer could be preying on victims across New England undetected, following a string of unexplained deaths. At least 13 bodies have been discovered throughout Rhode Island, Connecticut, Massachusetts and Maine since March 2025, with the majority of them found in wooded or secluded areas and some submerged in water. Most of the deaths are unexplained, with many of the victims showing no visible signs of trauma. Law enforcement in multiple states has repeatedly denied any confirmed link between the cases and urged the public to refrain from jumping to conclusions and peddling baseless speculation. Various experts have also claimed there are no consistent patterns between the crimes, with victim profiles, locations of the deaths, and suspected causes too varying to be the work of one person. Still, some residents in Union feared the worst. 'People are definitely having that conversation, but for me it feels a little farfetched,' Smith said on Monday. 'When you look at where Sunny was killed, it's secluded and unless you're really familiar with the area, you're unlikely to know how to get to Crawford Pond.' Union is a sleepy hamlet where most residents know each other - the kind of place where people rarely lock their doors. But since Stewart's murder, Smith said she keeps her door firmly bolted and also often catches herself glancing over her shoulder or eyeing unfamiliar faces with suspicion. In the meantime, Smith continues to grieve the loss of her friend, who was a carpenter, marine biologist, lobsterman, bartender, and boat captain. Smith said: 'She was a force of nature who was strong-willed, independent, outgoing, and adventurous. She had a smile and a laugh that was so contagious. 'Sunny was a free-bird spirit who loved what she did and was just living day-to-day enjoying her life… It's devastating.' Investigators are asking anyone who saw Stewart paddling on the evening of July 2 to reach out to the Maine State Police at 207-624-7076.
Daily Mail
5 days ago
- Daily Mail
Horrifying twist in case of woman found dead after paddle boarding on Maine pond
A teenager was arrested for the killing of a paddleboarder in Maine as it was revealed the woman's body was discovered on an island in the middle of a pond where she died of strangulation and blunt force trauma. Sunshine 'Sunny' Stewart, 48, went paddle boarding on the quiet pond in Maine earlier this month. After she disappeared, her body was found on the island after a search by authorities. Maine State Police announced the arrest Thursday and said that Stewart, 48, died from strangulation and blunt force trauma. The 17-year-old male was taken into custody Wednesday night in Union without incident and transported to Long Creek Youth Development Center in South Portland, a juvenile detention facility. Under Maine law, the names of juvenile suspects are not typically released. Stewart had gone out alone on the evening of July 2 to paddleboard on Crawford Pond, a wooded 600-acre body of water surrounded by private land in the town of Union. She was last seen leaving a campground on the pond's north shore around 6 pm. When she failed to return, someone reported her missing. Her body was discovered near an island in the pond just after 1am on July 3. 'I am floored with elation and grief,' her close friend Rachael Blumenberg told WMTW following the arrest. Blumenberg, who had been staying with Stewart at the time, said she knew something was wrong when she came home that night and found the house dark and Stewart's dog left alone. Stewart was found dead near an island in Crawford Pond hours after going paddle boarding alone on July 2 'The house was completely dark, and her dog was there, and she's very devoted to her dog,' she said. Stewart, a boat captain and outdoor enthusiast who lived in Tenants Harbor, had been planning to host family for the Fourth of July weekend, friends said. Her death shocked the small Midcoast community, where residents said violent crime was rare. 'Like, ever,' Gus Williams told WMTW. 'It definitely feels… just intrusive and, I don't know, terrifying.' Because of the 'circumstances' surrounding the discovery of Stewart's body, local authorities contacted the Maine State Police Major Crimes Unit, which led the investigation. Her sister, Kim Ware, described Stewart as a vibrant, strong woman who had once sailed to the Caribbean and loved being outdoors. 'Sunny loved the outdoors, hiking, boating, paddle boarding and yoga,' Ware said. 'To know Sunny is an amazing blessing. My sister and my best friend. The aunt that stepped up to help me raise her nephews.' Sarah Vokey, another close friend, said Stewart had endured many hardships and never lost her light. 'Her life was not an easy one, but she strode through it with her head held high with that beaming all-encompassing smile on her face,' Vokey told WMTW. 'One of the many reasons I admired, loved, and appreciated her. One of the hardest things I have ever written was the text I sent to my son: 'Sunshine was murdered.' Police did not reveal any details about how the teen suspect may have been connected to Stewart. A spokesperson for the Maine State Police declined to comment further and said no additional information would be released at this time. Friends of Stewart launched a GoFundMe for her funeral services, writing in the description, 'Today is a somber day for our family and friends. We've unexpectedly lost the light in our lives that was Sunny.' One of Stewart's friends, Stacey Yandell, told the Midcoast Villager, 'She rebuilt her own house including the slate roof and siding. She was her own HGTV. She was a strong, self-made woman.' 'She had such a strong personality. She radiated positivity and love. She was like a magnet. People were attracted to her.' Friends told the publication that Stewart never married or had children, but was survived by her sister, her brother, her nephews, and many friends. Kim Ware, Stewart's sister, told WMTW-TV, 'To know Sunny is an amazing blessing! My sister and my best friend. 'The aunt that stepped up to help me raise her nephews. She has so many that call her family. Truly an amazing woman. Now we have to rally and give her justice!' /
Daily Mail
5 days ago
- Daily Mail
BREAKING NEWS Teen arrested after paddleboarder's body washed up in small New England town and sparked serial killer fears
A teenager has been arrested in connection with the murder of a paddleboarder who washed up dead on the shore of a Maine nature reserve earlier this month, horrifying locals and quietly stoking fears of a lurking serial killer. Sunshine Stewart, 48, was found dead in the early hours of July 3 after she set off for a solo paddleboarding excursion in Crawford Pond hours earlier but never returned home. For two weeks, Stewart's cause of death remained undisclosed as police safeguarded crucial details in their investigation as they hunted for her killer. On Thursday, authorities confirmed that Stewart died from strangulation and blunt force trauma. A 17-year-old male was taken into custody on Wednesday night without incident and is currently being held at the Long Creek Youth Development Center. In keeping with state law, the suspect has not been publicly identified because he's a minor. However, the teen is from Maine and came to Crawford Pond with his family, where they often spend the summer vacationing, a source familiar with the investigation revealed to the Daily Mail. Stewart, from Tenants Harbor, had been planning to spend her summer the same way. At the time of her death, she was staying at the nearby Mic Mac Campground in Union, having arrived just days earlier. The tragedy left residents of the small, tight-knit community of Union terrified. Among them was Meredith Smith, a childhood friend of Stewart's, who told the Daily Mail the news of the teen's arrest has left her both stunned and concerned. 'Part of me is relieved that someone has been arrested, but the other part says this is far from over because I feel like there's still so much more to this story that we don't know,' said Smith. 'Sunshine was strong and feisty; she would've put up a fight. I have a gut feeling more than one person was involved in this, and that's why police have said this individual has been arrested 'in connection' with her murder, rather than outright charged.' Maine State Police have not yet returned a Daily Mail request for comment about the status of their investigation and whether additional suspects are being sought. Stewart was last seen leaving her camper at the Mic Mac Campground to go paddleboarding on the pond at around 6pm on July 2. When she had still not returned by the early hours of July 3, someone raised the alarm. Before dawn broke, a search and rescue drone spotted Stewart's paddleboard drifting alone. Her body was later discovered along the southeast shore of 100 Acre Island, a nature preserve in the middle of the pond. Police have not confirmed any details of how Stewart's body was found, or in what condition, sharing only that the circumstances were 'unusual.' An autopsy determined that Stewart's death was a homicide, but law enforcement shared few updates over the following two weeks. Smith told the Daily Mail on Monday that she was struggling to understand why anyone would harm her. 'Everyone who knew her loved her,' she said. 'Who would do something like this to her? She didn't have any enemies… there's nothing she could've done to make anybody mad enough to harm her. 'We're all on edge, it's just so scary… if it can happen to her, it can happen to anyone.' Local police urged residents of Union to remain calm but be 'aware of their surroundings'. On Wednesday, it was revealed that Maine State Police were collecting DNA samples from men who were near Crawford Pond on the night Stewart vanished, as first reported by the Midcoast Villager. It's unclear whether the arrest of the teen came as a result of DNA. Smith told the Daily Mail that the news of the DNA collection has made her fear what it may indicate about Stewart's final moments of life. 'I feel like it's insinuating something that they're only taking DNA from men and not women,' she said. 'It makes you wonder whether there may be a sexual motive to the crime or if they found something very specific at the crime scene.' Smith added: 'You wonder, could this have been done by someone that was obsessed with her? Or maybe it was completely random and she was in the wrong place at the wrong time.' 'I just know she would've fought like hell. She was a strong person and would have given them a tough fight because she was feisty.' With police offering little in the way of updates until Thursday, the radio silence caused rumors, conspiracies, and fear to prosper in the small town of Union. News of Stewart's death renewed fears that a serial killer could be preying on victims across New England undetected, following a string of unexplained deaths. At least 13 bodies have been discovered throughout Rhode Island, Connecticut, Massachusetts and Maine since March 2025, with the majority of them found in wooded or secluded areas and some submerged in water. Most of the deaths are unexplained, with many of the victims showing no visible signs of trauma. Law enforcement in multiple states has repeatedly denied any confirmed link between the cases and urged the public to refrain from jumping to conclusions and peddling baseless speculation. Various experts have also claimed there are no consistent patterns between the crimes, with victim profiles, locations of the deaths, and suspected causes too varying to be the work of one person. Still, some residents in Union feared the worst. 'People are definitely having that conversation, but for me it feels a little farfetched,' Smith said on Monday. 'When you look at where Sunny was killed, it's secluded and unless you're really familiar with the area, you're unlikely to know how to get to Crawford Pond.' 'I highly doubt it was a serial killer, but it was clearly somebody that wasn't right in the head… and the idea that this person may still be nearby makes me feel very uneasy.' Union is a sleepy hamlet where most residents know each other - the kind of place where people rarely lock their doors. But since Stewart's murder, Smith said she keeps her door firmly bolted and also often catches herself glancing over her shoulder or eyeing unfamiliar faces with suspicion. Smith told the Daily Mail she submitted a tip to investigators regarding two 'fisherman' who she believes were at Crawford Pond on the night Stewart set off on her paddleboarding trip. On Thursday, she urged police to follow up on that lead and fully investigate whether anyone else could be involved in Stewart's death. In the meantime, Smith continues to grieve the loss of her friend, who was a carpenter, marine biologist, lobsterman, bartender, and boat captain. Smith said: 'She was a force of nature who was strong-willed, independent, outgoing, and adventurous. She had a smile and a laugh that was so contagious. 'Sunny was a free-bird spirit who loved what she did and was just living day-to-day enjoying her life… It's devastating.' Investigators are asking anyone who saw Stewart paddling on the evening of July 2 to reach out to the Maine State Police at 207-624-7076. Nearby residents with security cameras are also being urged to contact police.
