Sunshine Stewart dies in fatal St. George homicide

Sunshine Stewart dies in fatal St. George homicide

Fatal St. George homicide death of Sunshine Stewart

The community of St. George, Maine, is preparing a maritime ceremony to remember Sunshine Stewart, whose death while paddleboarding on a local pond sent ripples of grief through the area. Stewart, a 48-year resident of St. George, was reported missing in July while enjoying the waterways of Crawford Pond, a well-known recreational spot in Union. Her body was discovered, and law enforcement has formally accused a 17-year-old resident of Frankfort, Maine, of her murder.

Those closest to Stewart are organizing a “maritime celebration of life” for the upcoming Sunday. This commemorative gathering is scheduled for 10:30 a.m. in the Tenants Harbor section, her place of residence. The event will feature boats assembling in the area near Tenants Harbor, as planned by the organizers.

Event organizers expressed their intentions via a social media announcement: “On August 10, 2025, family, friends, and community members will come together on the water to honor and remember the bright life of Sunshine ‘Sunny’ Stewart — a person whose presence illuminated the lives of everyone she encountered.”

The legal proceedings aim to treat the 17-year-old suspect as an adult. The Maine Attorney General’s office is pursuing that option, pending a judge’s approval. The next court date for the accused is set for August 22nd for a status update.

Deven Young appeared briefly in court earlier last month and did not admit to the murder accusation. His legal representative, Jeremy Pratt, has stated they will not provide additional information at this time.

Few specifics regarding the killing have been shared with the public, and no possible reason for the crime has been officially suggested by authorities. The ongoing state police investigation, led by spokesperson Shannon Moss, is described as complex and requiring a significant amount of time to complete.

Stewart resided approximately 20 miles from Crawford Pond, a favored location for boating and fishing activities, which also hosts a campsite. The official determination by the medical examiner concluded that Stewart’s death resulted from strangulation and blows to the body.

In the time since her passing, acquaintances and colleagues have shared stories portraying Stewart as a self-reliant person, a steadfast companion, and an admirer of the ocean and natural environments. Her professional journey included stints as a biologist, a fisherman, a carpenter, and many other occupations, as her friends shared.

A long-time companion, Bethany Leach Parmley, characterized Stewart by saying she was “an exceptionally loyal, remarkable individual.”