Death of beloved paddleboarder ruled a homicide
(July 10, 2025) Law enforcement officials in Maine announced that a female paddleboarder who was found dead near a campground in a rural section of Maine are investigating that death as a homicide. Police are asking for the public’s assistance in helping to identify the woman’s killer.
The body of Sunshine Stewart, 48, of Tenants Harbor, Maine, was found Thursday on Crawford Pond in Union. The manner of death was determined to be a homicide, though the cause of death is not being released to the public yet. ~ The Associated Press
On Thursday, July 3, at approximately 1:05 a.m., Maine Game Wardens were called to assist the Union Fire Department and the Knox County Sheriff’s Office to help in the search for the missing paddleboarder on Crawford Pond in Union. During the course of their search, searchers discovered Stewart’s lifeless remains.
Currently, fear and emotional distress are gripping residents in the town of Union and the Crawford Pond community. Maine State Police say that they remain steadfast in their efforts to investigate the death of Sunshine Stewart who was a resident of the town of Tenants Harbor, located about a half-hour away from where she was found dead. Stewart’s death was ruled a homicide on July 3, the day she was found deceased.
Detectives from Major Crimes Unit Central have been reviewing all of the leads pushed through the Maine State Police tip line and are following every investigative and forensic avenue at their disposal. Police are also working with the owners of the nearby campground, who have been cooperative and willing to assist and help with the ongoing investigation.
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Police ask that if anyone out there witnessed a woman paddleboarding between 6 PM – 9 PM on July 2 near 100 Acre Island at Crawford Pond in Union, to please contact them at (207) 624-7076.
We appreciate the tips that have already come in and ask that anyone with information continue to reach out. We understand the community’s concerns and ask that residents continue to remain vigilant, be aware of their surroundings, and report any suspicious activity to law enforcement. Anyone with information related to this case is encouraged to contact the Maine State Police at 207-624-7076 or by texting MESPTIP to 847411.
Sunshine “Sunny” Stewart’s loved ones have launched a GoFundMe page in her honor. For more on this tragic story, see the video below.
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(Source: Maine State Police)
Posted by Richard Webster, Ace News Today
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