(July 18 update)

UNION – The Maine Attorney General’s Office has stated that Deven Young, 17, of Frankfort, has been charged with one count of intentional or knowing or depraved indifference murder. Young was arrested July 16, 2025, during an investigation into the homicide of Sunshine Stewart, of Tenants Harbor, July 2, 2025, in Union.

Young made his initial court appearance via zoom Friday morning, July 18, from the Long Creek Youth Development Center in South Portland. The hearing was held in Knox County Court before Judge Eric Walker.

He entered a denial of the charge during the hearing.

Young was ordered by the state to remain in custody on the charge of intentional or knowing or depraved indifference murder.

The affidavit remains sealed until a status conference is held on Aug. 22.

According to the court document, the court finds probable cause to believe the juvenile has committed an act that would be murder or a Class A, B, or C Crime if committed by an adult.

Further, the court finds that continued detention is necessary in order to ensure the presence of the juvenile at subsequent court proceedings and to prevent the juvenile from inflicting bodily harm on others.

Young is represented by Defense Attorney Jeremy Pratt of Camden. 

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On Wednesday, July 16, 2025, at approximately 10:30 p.m., Maine State Police arrested a 17-year-old male from Maine in connection with the homicide investigation in Union. The juvenile was taken into custody without incident in Union, according to State Police. He was transported to the Long Creek Youth Development Center in South Portland.

The arrest is the result of relentless investigative work by detectives and investigators with the Maine State Police. The victim, previously identified as Sunshine Stewart, 48, of Tenants Harbor, was located during a search of Crawford Pond in Union on Thursday, July 3, 2025. The Office of Chief Medical Examiner in Augusta confirmed her cause of death as strangulation and blunt force trauma.

Anyone with pertinent information related to this case is encouraged to contact the Maine State Police at 207.624.7076 or by texting MESPTIP to 847411. This remains an active and ongoing investigation. No additional information is being released at this time.