What do you do when the one you trust to help is the one you fear? That’s the dilemma bedeviling the tight-knit community of Crawford Pond after the shocking arrest of 17-year-old Deven Young a “polite but awkward” teenager whom police claim was a buddy of Sunshine “Sunny” Stewart, a beloved paddleboarder. The unsettling realities of this case, from the volunteer’s manipulative volunteering to the public’s search for answers, have left some anxious, bereaved, and shaken in their sense of security. But as the investigation unfolds, so do stories of resilience, vigilance, and the strength of unity.
1. The Deceptive Volunteer: When Help Isn’t What It Seems
It’s the kind of turn that makes even the most experienced true crime aficionados shudder: Young, who was a regular at the Mic Mac Cove Campground, didn’t just blend in he actively participated in hunting down Stewart’s killer. Campground owner Katherine Lunt recalled, “He helped other campers with their yards and pets, and made wooden crafts for the people in his neighborhood.” When Stewart disappeared, Young volunteered to assist police, even insisting “he had something to show them.” But instead of leading investigators to evidence, he led them on a wild goose chase in the other direction, Lunt said.
This is a typical example of what deception specialists call “overdoing it” liars overtry too much to appear to be helpful or credible, and even attempt to insert themselves into investigations in order to control the story or deflect responsibility. As experts would say, “The need to sound credible makes people go overboard. They might use too much of the ‘To be honest,’ state their religious affiliation, over-praise the person they are talking to, or repeatedly refer to their credentials or friends in an effort to boost their status and credibility.”
2. The Victim: Sunshine Stewart’s Legacy and Community Grief
Sunshine “Sunny” Stewart was not just a victim she was a dynamic presence in her community. Respected as a fiercely independent explorer, Stewart’s life had a lot of impact: she was a marine biologist, bartender, sternman, lobsterman, and boat captain. Her sister Kim Ware said, “She was a great aunt, the world’s best bartender, sternman, lobsterman, and boat captain.” Stewart’s passing stunned Tenants Harbor and the world beyond, with townspeople declaring she was “just full of spirit and just seemed very kind to everybody.” Following the tragedy, the community rallied together raising over $34,000 toward funeral costs and holding two “Celebration of Life” gatherings, one in Tenants Harbor and a second in the Virgin Islands. These memorials are rites, but they’re not just that; they’re essential steps toward healing the community, a forum to honor Stewart and hold one another in grief.
3. The Investigation: Timeline and Turning Points
The investigation into Stewart’s killing began in a state of doubt and terror. Stewart, an experienced paddleboarder, left the Mic Mac campground for Crawford Pond between 6 p.m. and 9 p.m. on July 2. When she did not return, friends and campground owner searched under flashlight. A call was made to police six hours later, which started a multi-agency search. Local residents discovered her paddleboard, which led to the fateful discovery of her body under “unusual circumstances” on 100 Acre Island. Authorities immediately ruled out drowning or suicide; an autopsy showed homicide by strangulation and blunt force trauma. Police combed the campground for nearly two weeks seeking clues. Lunt, determined to do her share, reviewed surveillance footage and begged campers to submit videos and DNA. The breakthrough occurred when Young was arrested on July 16 two days after he wrote on Facebook that he was “doing well.” Lunt discovered that Young had been on the lake when Stewart vanished. “It’s haunting,” she said. “He was not on anybody’s radar.”
4. Trying a Juvenile as an Adult: The Legal Crossroads
Young’s arrest turned attention to the legal system. Prosecutors in Maine petitioned to try Young as a grown-up a choice that has momentous consequences. In Maine, such “bind-over” proceedings are reserved for the most horrible crimes, including murder. The judge will weigh factors such as the defendant’s history of violence, danger to the public, and the offense. Tried in juvenile court, Young may be held until he is 21; if tried as an adult, he faces 25 years to life. Fewer than a dozen Maine children have been tried and convicted as adults for murder since 2005, demonstrating the intensity of this process.
5. Community Trauma: Why Violence Hits So Hard and What Helps
Trauma from violent crime radiates far beyond direct victims. Exposure to community violence, even indirect, has been shown to result in acute stress, anxiety, and PTSD symptoms among adults and adolescents (one SD increase in local homicide is associated with increases of 0.17 SD in the index of mental health disorder). People may feel fear, anger, helplessness, or even guilt. In rural or small town settings, where there is a high level of familiarity and trust, such incidents can shatter the sense of security. Experts recommend limiting excessive consumption of the media, socializing with supportive family and friends, and participating in support groups to process grief and anxiety. Care of the community coming together to share stories, to remember the victim, and to look out for one another is what facilitates healing. One site puts it this way: “Community care is an important part of the healing process after a tragic event.” When neighbors come together to care for each other and work out how to move on, they support the mental wellbeing of everyone.
6. Deception Detection: Personal and Community Safety Lessons
The Young case reminds us that potential harm can be hidden in plain sight. Most everyone, even experts, are barely more than average at picking up lies accuracy is about 53 percent. However, there are some ways to get better at being watchful. Experts recommend setting a baseline of a person’s typical behavior, asking open-ended questions, and observing excessive efforts to seem believable. Sudden changes of habit, overzealousness to help, or attempting to steer an inquiry are all red flags. According to psychologist Paul Ekman, “You have to use lying as a last interpretation and rule out everything else that’s possible.” Neighbourhood citizens can also assist each other by observing and trusting their intuition without lapsing into paranoia.
7. Building Resilience: Moving Forward Together
Though the pain of loss and fear can be long-lasting, communities possess strong resources for healing. Planning memorials, helping the victim’s family, and promoting safer environments are all methods of regaining agency and hope. Participating in creative endeavors, volunteering, or just getting outside and spending time in nature can all assist with the processing of trauma.
And when the load gets too heavy, taking the bricks to the pros or visiting a support group can be just what the doctor prescribed. As Sunshine’s sister wrote, “We’ll all get to celebrate her! I know she was loved deeply and by so many! At the end of the day, the story of Sunshine Stewart and the Crawford Pond community is as much one of tragedy, as it is one of courage, connection, and continued work towards healing and trust.”
