A judge has ruled that an 18-year-old charged with murder in the killing of a paddleboarder in Maine is competent to stand trial. Deven Young, of Frankfort, faces murder charges in the death of Sunshine “Sunny” Stewart, 48, of St. George. The incident occurred last year near Crawford Pond in rural Union, Maine, shocking the local community.
Competency Ruling
Maine District Court Judge Eric J. Walker issued the ruling on Wednesday, stating that Young has a rational and factual understanding of the proceedings and can consult with legal counsel. The decision clears the way for prosecutors to pursue charging Young as an adult. Young was 17 at the time of Stewart's death and is now 18. He had previously been treated as a juvenile in court proceedings.
Court Proceedings
Young is scheduled to appear in court again on May 7. Police have confirmed that an autopsy determined Stewart's cause of death as strangulation and blunt force trauma. Jeremy Pratt, Young's attorney, declined to comment on Thursday, as did prosecutors. Authorities have not publicly disclosed a possible motive in the case.
Case Details
Court documents briefly made public before being removed from the state's courts website stated that Young “did intentionally or knowingly cause the death of another human being, namely Sunshine Stewart.” Audio recordings from the Waldo County Sheriff's Office, obtained by news agencies earlier this year, revealed details about Young's history of violent behavior and mental health challenges prior to Stewart's death. The Portland Press Herald reported that Young had been awaiting behavioral health services from the state.
Victim Background
Stewart went missing at Crawford Pond on July 2 while paddleboarding, and her body was discovered the following day. The pond is a popular summer destination for swimming, boating, and fishing. Stewart lived about 21 miles (34 kilometers) from the pond in the Tenants Harbor neighborhood of St. George. Friends and family celebrated her life with a maritime service last August, featuring a procession of boats decorated with flowers and a sign reading “Shine On.” Stewart had worked as a fisherman, boat captain, biologist, carpenter, and bartender over the years.
