Sunshine “Sunny” Stewart, 48, PaddleBoarder Was Found Dead During A Aearch Of Crawford Pond on July 3, Police Confirmed.
KEY FACTS:
- Teen Arrested in Shocking Maine Murder
- A 17-year-old boy in Maine is under arrest after authorities say he killed Sunshine Sunny Stewart, whose body was recovered after she went paddleboarding on Crawford Pond.
- Cause of Death Confirmed
- Investigators said an autopsy showed Stewart died from both strangulation and blunt-force injuries, pushing the inquiry firmly into homicide territory.
- Victim Remembered as Local Hero
- Friends and family mourn Stewart as a tough marine biologist, bartender, and boat captain, a mix of grit and warmth that made her a favorite in her close-knit Maine community.
- Community in Mourning
- A GoFundMe set up to keep her memory alive has rushed past 33,000, with neighbors, coworkers, and long-time pals leaving kind notes and donations almost daily.
- Investigation Still Ongoing
- Maine State Police commended detectives for their tireless hours yet remind the public the case is still open, promising fresh updates as forensic data and witness interviews arrive.
A teenage boy is now in custody following the death of a woman who went paddleboarding in Maine, and investigators say they have determined how she died.
Sunshine Stewart, 48, from Tenants Harbor, was found in Crawford Pond during a search Thursday, July 3, 2025, state police announced in a Facebook update dated Thursday, July 17, where they also mentioned that the arrest had taken place the day before.
On Wednesday, July 16, 2025, at about 10:30 p.m. local time, detectives detained a 17-year-old from Maine in Union as part of the murder inquiry, the post explained.
According to Maine State Police The juvenile was arrested without fuss in Union, police said, and afterward he was taken to Long Creek Youth Development Center in South Portland. State officers credited the “relentless” effort of detectives for the arrest, and they reminded the public that the case is still unfolding and more work remains.
Autopsy results released later showed the victim died from strangulation and blunt-force injuries, according to the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner in Augusta. Earlier bulletins confirmed that 51-year-old Christine Stewart had been paddleboarding on Crawford Pond in Union just before she was killed.
Friends knew her as “Sunny,” and she left home on July 6, went onto the water alone, and never came back, the Midcoast Villager reported. Under what police called “unusual circumstances,” rescuers later found her body and began a homicide inquiry that drew attention statewide.
Stewart lived roughly twenty-one road miles from the pond, the Associated Press noted, and many neighbors were shocked to hear what had happened so close to home. In the days that followed, friends launched a GoFundMe campaign to help cover funeral costs and, as they put it, “send her off the right way.” Losing Sunny, the message read, felt like losing the light in their lives.
In a heartfelt Facebook post, her friend Rob Wood remembered Sunny Stewart as one of the toughest people he’d ever met. Rob said she faced every problem with a polite smile and then, without fuss, tore it to pieces. He added that just being around her was a living reminder of how precious life really is.
Stewart’s sister Kim Ware told ABC News that her sibling was more than a marine biologist; she was the best bartender, lobsterman, and boat captain anyone could hope for. Kim called her the strongest person she knew, the kind who would literally give you the shirt off her back if you needed it.
As of Friday, July 18, a GoFundMe page aimed at celebrating Suns life had passed $33,000.
