A Maine teenager accused of killing a paddleboarder on a quiet pond and allegedly trying to mislead investigators after the crime has been ruled mentally competent to stand trial, bringing the high-profile murder case one step closer to court.
The accused, Deven Young, was 17 years old when he was arrested in the summer of 2025 in connection with the death of Sunshine Stewart, a 48-year-old woman whose body was found on a remote island in a Maine pond.
Now 18, Young has officially been declared competent to stand trial by District Court Judge Eric Walker.
Judge Rules Teen Is Competent for Trial
According to court records, Judge Walker determined that Young understands the legal process and can work with his attorneys during court proceedings.
The ruling stated that the defense failed to prove Young was mentally unfit to stand trial.
However, the judge has not yet decided whether Young will face trial as a juvenile or as an adult — a decision that could dramatically affect his future.
The Maine Attorney General’s Office is pushing to prosecute Young as an adult.
If convicted of murder as an adult under Maine law, Young could face 25 years to life in prison.
Paddleboarding Trip Ends in Tragedy
The case began on July 2, 2025, near Crawford Pond in the small town of Union.
Stewart, who was staying at Mic Mac Cove Campground, went paddleboarding that evening but never returned.
After she was reported missing, authorities launched a search and eventually found her body on a small island in the middle of the pond.
The Maine State Police later confirmed that Stewart died from strangulation and blunt force trauma, officially ruling her death a homicide.
Teen Was Staying at Same Campground
Investigators say Young was vacationing with family at the same campground where Stewart was staying.
Authorities believe Young took a small fishing boat onto Crawford Pond less than an hour before Stewart went paddleboarding.
Because the area around the pond is private, rural, and isolated, investigators believed the killer was likely someone nearby.
Suspect Allegedly Tried to Mislead Investigators
As the investigation continued, police say Young allegedly inserted himself into the search effort.
According to campground owner Katharine Lunt, Young volunteered to help investigators and claimed he had useful information.
Lunt later alleged that Young directed searchers away from the location where Stewart’s body was eventually discovered.
For nearly two weeks after the killing, Young reportedly remained at the campground, helping other campers and acting as though nothing had happened.
Authorities eventually arrested him on July 16, 2025.
Newly Released Records Reveal Troubled Past
Earlier this year, court records connected to previous police calls involving Young’s home in Frankfort were unsealed.
According to local reports, authorities had responded to concerns involving alleged violence, behavioral outbursts, and family disturbances dating back to 2023.
Documents reportedly mention prior concerns involving anger issues, medication-related behavioral episodes, and earlier allegations of assault.
The records also noted reported diagnoses including ADHD and oppositional defiant disorder, along with prior treatment at a psychiatric facility in Bangor.
Next Court Hearing Scheduled
Young is expected back in court on May 7 as prosecutors continue seeking adult certification in the case.
The decision on whether he will be tried as an adult or juvenile could significantly shape the outcome of one of Maine’s most closely watched criminal cases.
