Teen Charged with Murder After Paddleboard Incident at Maine Campground

A 17-year-old has been charged with the murder of 48-year-old Sunshine “Sunny” Stewart, following a chaotic search for her at a Maine campsite. Deven Young, who was at the Mic Mac Campground, was arrested on Friday. Stewart reportedly went missing while paddleboarding shortly before Independence Day, and was found later, strangled.

The campground owner, Katharine Lunt, spoke to ABC News about the incident, expressing disbelief that something like this could happen in such a community. “It’s not where these things happen,” she remarked, emphasizing that the campsite is supposed to be a safe haven.

Lunt described Young as someone who often volunteered to help with gardening and created crafts for other campers. Surprisingly, he also wanted to assist the police in the investigation into Stewart’s murder. “He volunteered and said he had some information,” Lunt said, adding that he misled authorities during their search.

She noted that Young was acting “totally normal” throughout the investigation. “He acted like nothing happened,” she said, recalling how he wasn’t initially seen as a suspect.

Authorities detained Young at the Long Creek Youth Development Center in South Portland, Maine. With his birthday coming up in September, the Maine Attorney General’s office is considering trying him as an adult.

There are mixed opinions about Young, with some people recalling that he was often in trouble and had bullied others. A neighbor mentioned that his past behavior raised concerns among parents in the area.