Latest news with #GusWilliams
Yahoo
12-07-2025
- Yahoo
A paddleboarder was found dead at a Maine pond. Police believe someone killed her
(CNN) — On a warm summer evening earlier this month, Sunshine Stewart went paddleboarding on Crawford Pond, a peaceful, wooded expanse of water in Union, near coastal Maine. When she didn't return hours later, someone reported her missing. Early the next morning, authorities said they found her body near 100 Acre Island, a nature preserve in the middle of the pond. An autopsy later that day determined the 48-year-old woman's death was a homicide. Nine days later, there have been no arrests. Maine State Police are warning the community to stay vigilant but have not divulged the cause of death or any details about the crime scene, leaving Stewart's family with questions and nearby residents with fears that a killer may be among them. 'I think it's just confusing because we don't know what happened, like, if this was an isolated incident or … a personal thing, like a grudge,' resident Gus Williams told CNN affiliate WMTW. Williams, who lives near Crawford Pond, added, 'In a place where most people don't lock their doors, like, ever, it definitely feels … just intrusive and, I don't know, terrifying.' Police say Stewart, known as 'Sunny,' left a campground on the north shore of the pond alone at about 6 p.m. on July 2 to go paddling. The 600-acre pond is surrounded by private property and is home to loons, smallmouth bass and other aquatic life. Sheriff's deputies, firefighters and other law enforcement officials found her body sometime after 1 a.m. on July 3. They alerted the Maine State Police Major Crimes Unit because of the 'circumstances' of the discovery, police said without going into further detail. 'The Maine State Police recognizes the fear and discomfort that this incident has brought to the town of Union and the Crawford Pond community,' police said in a statement. 'We understand the community's concerns and ask that residents continue to remain vigilant, be aware of their surroundings, and report any suspicious activity to law enforcement.' Detectives are reviewing forensic leads and information submitted through a tip line, police said. Stewart was a resident of Tenants Harbor, a neighborhood in the town of St. George, on the Maine coast some 20 miles south of Crawford Pond. Her sister, Kim Ware, described Stewart as an active woman and a boat captain who once sailed all the way to the Caribbean. 'Sunny loved the outdoors, hiking, boating, paddleboarding and yoga,' she told WMTW. 'To know Sunny is an amazing blessing. My sister and my best friend. The aunt that stepped up to help me raise her nephews,' Ware added. 'Anyone blessed to be in her presence was in awe of her, her strength, courage, character, her energy and light.' Stewart had been through a lot but kept pushing forward, one of her friends, Sarah Vokey, told WMTW. '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 said. '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.'' Meanwhile, law enforcement remains tight-lipped about the evidence they have collected since Stewart's death. 'Additional information will be released when it becomes appropriate to do so based on the progress of the investigation,' state police said. Investigators are asking anyone who saw Stewart paddling on the evening of July 2 near 100 Acre Island to reach out to the Maine State Police at 207-624-7076. Nearby residents with security cameras that may have captured relevant footage that night are also being urged to contact police.
CNN
12-07-2025
- CNN
A paddleboarder was found dead at a Maine pond. Police believe someone killed her
FacebookTweetLink (CNN) — On a warm summer evening earlier this month, Sunshine Stewart went paddleboarding on Crawford Pond, a peaceful, wooded expanse of water in Union, near coastal Maine. When she didn't return hours later, someone reported her missing. Early the next morning, authorities said they found her body near 100 Acre Island, a nature preserve in the middle of the pond. An autopsy later that day determined the 48-year-old woman's death was a homicide. Nine days later, there have been no arrests. Maine State Police are warning the community to stay vigilant but have not divulged the cause of death or any details about the crime scene, leaving Stewart's family with questions and nearby residents with fears that a killer may be among them. 'I think it's just confusing because we don't know what happened, like, if this was an isolated incident or … a personal thing, like a grudge,' resident Gus Williams told CNN affiliate WMTW. Williams, who lives near Crawford Pond, added, 'In a place where most people don't lock their doors, like, ever, it definitely feels … just intrusive and, I don't know, terrifying.' Police say Stewart, known as 'Sunny,' left a campground on the north shore of the pond alone at about 6 p.m. on July 2 to go paddling. The 600-acre pond is surrounded by private property and is home to loons, smallmouth bass and other aquatic life. Sheriff's deputies, firefighters and other law enforcement officials found her body sometime after 1 a.m. on July 3. They alerted the Maine State Police Major Crimes Unit because of the 'circumstances' of the discovery, police said without going into further detail. 'The Maine State Police recognizes the fear and discomfort that this incident has brought to the town of Union and the Crawford Pond community,' police said in a statement. 'We understand the community's concerns and ask that residents continue to remain vigilant, be aware of their surroundings, and report any suspicious activity to law enforcement.' Detectives are reviewing forensic leads and information submitted through a tip line, police said. Stewart was a resident of Tenants Harbor, a neighborhood in the town of St. George, on the Maine coast some 20 miles south of Crawford Pond. Her sister, Kim Ware, described Stewart as an active woman and a boat captain who once sailed all the way to the Caribbean. 'Sunny loved the outdoors, hiking, boating, paddleboarding and yoga,' she told WMTW. 'To know Sunny is an amazing blessing. My sister and my best friend. The aunt that stepped up to help me raise her nephews,' Ware added. 'Anyone blessed to be in her presence was in awe of her, her strength, courage, character, her energy and light.' Stewart had been through a lot but kept pushing forward, one of her friends, Sarah Vokey, told WMTW. '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 said. '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.'' Meanwhile, law enforcement remains tight-lipped about the evidence they have collected since Stewart's death. 'Additional information will be released when it becomes appropriate to do so based on the progress of the investigation,' state police said. Investigators are asking anyone who saw Stewart paddling on the evening of July 2 near 100 Acre Island to reach out to the Maine State Police at 207-624-7076. Nearby residents with security cameras that may have captured relevant footage that night are also being urged to contact police.
Fox News
11-07-2025
- Fox News
New England serial killer fears grip coastal town after paddleboarder's ‘terrifying' murder
One week after a Maine paddleboarder was found murdered in a local neighborhood pond, members of the community are left searching for answers as fears of a potential serial killer grips the sleepy coastal town. The body of 48-year-old Sunshine "Sunny" Stewart was discovered in the early morning of July 3, just six hours after she had left for a solo paddleboarding trip around Crawford Pond, according to the Maine State Police. Stewart's remains were reportedly found near 100 Acre Island, a wooded area accessible only by boat, according to WMTW 8. Officials have remained tight-lipped about the investigation into the "suspicious" circumstances surrounding Stewart's death, which has been ruled a homicide. "I think it's just confusing because we don't know what happened, like, if this was an isolated incident or a personal thing, like a grudge," Gus Williams, who lives near Crawford Pond, told WMTW 8. Despite the growing unease within the local community, authorities are asking the public to remain calm. In a statement released by MSP on Wednesday, officials acknowledged the "fear and discomfort that this incident has brought to the town of Union and the Crawford Pond community," while vowing to continue investigating Stewart's death. However, authorities have not revealed whether they have named a suspect in Stewart's death or the circumstances of how she was killed. MSP did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital's request for comment. But the words of comfort from authorities have done little to calm the fears of Williams, who told the local outlet he walks his dog near the pond every day. "The first time I was walking down here yesterday, I got to the path and was like, 'No, I'm not going to go,'" Williams said. Stewart's apparent murder comes as fears of a serial killer lurking within the New England region are gripping the public. At least 13 bodies – with the majority found in wooded or remote areas – have been discovered throughout Maine, Massachusetts, Rhode Island and Connecticut, according to authorities. Last month, the remains of 21-year-old Adriana Suazo were found in a wooded area in Milton, Massachusetts, according to the Norfolk District Attorney's Office. Suazo's body showed no signs of trauma, with her cause of death remaining undetermined pending an investigation by the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner. Given the recent string of victims found within the region, MSP has asked "that residents continue to remain vigilant, be aware of their surroundings and report any suspicious activity to law enforcement." But for locals within the community, the words of warning are not enough to ease their fears of a killer lurking within their midst. "In a place where most people don't lock their doors, like, ever, it definitely feels a little intrusive," Williams said, adding, "I don't know, [it's] terrifying."
Business News Wales
19-06-2025
- Automotive
- Business News Wales
EV Provider Wins Green Business Award at 2025 Wales Business Awards
Cardiff-based electric vehicle (EV) provider, FleetEV, has won the Green Business Award at the 2025 Wales Business Awards. Founded in 2021, FleetEV focuses on making the switch to EVs practical and efficient through comprehensive leasing, salary sacrifice, and fleet solutions tailored to diverse client needs, across public and private sectors. As the lead supplier on the Welsh Government Commercial Delivery (WGCD) framework for electric vehicle provision, FleetEV has delivered significant impact, saving the Welsh public sector over £1.2 million in the past year alone while pledging to generate £2.5 million in social value during 2024/25. The net zero business was recognised as the leading green business that adopted innovative and effective eco-friendly practices, leading to measurable reductions in their carbon output and a positive environmental and business impact. Jarrad Morris, Founder and CEO at FleetEV, said: 'We are incredibly proud to be recognised as Wales's leading green business. The Wales Business Awards highlight the best of Welsh business, and to be counted among them is an honour. 'From the outset, our mission has been to support businesses and public sector organisations in making the transition to electric vehicles as seamless and impactful as possible. We believe sustainability should never be a compromise – it should be an advantage. This award reinforces that belief and reflects the hard work of our team, the strength of our partnerships, and the trust our clients have placed in us. 'As we look ahead, we remain committed to delivering innovative, data-driven solutions that not only reduce emissions but also create measurable value, economically, environmentally, and socially. We're proud to be a green business, through and through, and this recognition is a milestone in our journey to help drive Wales toward a net zero future.' Gus Williams, Interim CEO at Chambers Wales South East, South West and Mid, said: 'Congratulations to FleetEV on winning the Green Business Award at this year's Wales Business Awards. In a highly competitive category filled with exceptional businesses, FleetEV stood out for their ambition, drive, rapid growth and success in a competitive market, but what really impressed us was their wider approach – the desire to have a positive impact with all their stakeholders, including their community work and support of local schools and sports, in particular.'
