SOMEONE WE SPOKE WITH SAID THE MOOD OF THE TOWN HAS BEEN SHOCK....BUT ALSO CONCERN... BUT NOW....THAT NEWS FROM STATE POLICE THAT A 17-YEAR-OLD HAS BEEN ARRESTED. WE HAVE TEAM COVERAGE TONIGHT IN UNION.....OUR OWN JACKIE MUNDRY IS HERE...TALKING TO FOLKS IN THE AREA AND FRIENDS OF SUNNY STEWARTS... JACKIE WHAT HAVE THEY TOLD YOU ABOUT THIS ARREST TODAY? SCOTT... THERE'S A SENSE OF RELIEF TONIGHT IN UNION... TWO WEEKS AFTER THE DEATH OF SUNSHINE STEWART... AND THE SUSPECT IS NOW IN CUSTODY. "PEOPLE ARE VERY RELIEVED TODAY." 00;00;44;23 IN THE TOWN OF UNION... WITH JUST MORE THAN 23-HUNDRED PEOPLE... THE DEATH OF 48-YEAR-OLD SUNSHINE STEWART GAINING NATIONAL HEADLINES. "IT WAS INITIALLY HOW COULD IT EVER HAPPEN IN MAINE?" 00;00;29;20 NOW TWO WEEKS AFTER STEWART'S BODY WAS FOUND ON CRAWFORD POND... AN ARREST OF A TEENAGE BOY. "EVERYONE WAS CONCERNED... THEY STILL HADN'T FOUND ANYONE WHO DID IT." 00;00;55;02 AND WHILE THERE'S A SENSE OF RELIEF IN TOWN TONIGHT... MANY ARE STILL GRIEVING. "IT'S A TRAGEDY OVERALL THAT THIS IS APPARENTLY A YOUNG MAN. THAT WAS THE ASSAILANT HERE. AND THAT'S GOING TO STING AS WELL. THAT'S GOING TO SEND SOME RIPPLES THROUGH THE COMMUNITY. IT'S SAD ON EVERY SIDE. 00;01;41;22 REPRESENTATIVE KATRINA SMITH GREW UP IN THIS AREA AND SAYS AS MAINE STATE POLICE CONTINUED TO TELL PEOPLE IN THE AREA TO REMAIN VIGILANT WHILE THEY LOOKED FOR THE PERSON THEY BELIEVE IS RESPONSIBLE FOR STEWART'S DEATH... PEOPLE HAVE BEEN WORRIED. "PEOPLE IN THE COMMUNITY HAVE BEEN CONCERNED BECAUSE IT DOESN'T HAPPEN OFTEN." 00;00;31;23 STEWART'S FAMILY AND FRIENDS WEREN'T READY TO SPEAK ON CAMERA TODAY... BUT IN A STATEMENT A FRIEND WHO WAS STAYING WI
'People are very relieved today' | Union community responding to arrest of teenage boy
People in Union on Thursday say they are relieved after a 17-year-old boy was arrested for the death of 48-year-old Sunshine Stewart.
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Updated: 11:08 PM EDT Jul 17, 2025
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There's a sense of relief in Union two weeks after the death of Sunshine Stewart, as the 17-year-old suspect is now in custody."People are very relieved today," Rep. Katrina Smith, R-Palmero, who grew up in the Union area, said.A 17-year-old boy has been arrested in connection with the killing of Sunshine "Sunny" Stewart, the Maine woman who was found dead two weeks ago after she went paddleboarding on a pond in Union.Maine State Police officials announced Thursday morning that the suspect, who is also from Maine, was taken into custody without incident at about 10:30 p.m. Wednesday in Union. Police also said the suspect has been transported to the Long Creek Youth Development Center in South Portland."It was initially, how could it ever happen in Maine?" Robert Myers who lives in nearby Appleton said. "Everyone was concerned, they still hadn't found anyone who did it." While there's now a sense of relief, many are still grieving."It's a tragedy overall that this is apparently a young man. That was the assailant here. And that's going to sting as well. That's going to send some ripples through the community. It's sad on every side," Smith said.She said that as Maine State Police continued to tell people in the area to remain vigilant while they looked for the person they believe is responsible for Stewart's death, people have been worried. "People in the community have been concerned because it doesn't happen often," she said.
UNION, Maine — There's a sense of relief in Union two weeks after the death of Sunshine Stewart, as the 17-year-old suspect is now in custody.
"People are very relieved today," Rep. Katrina Smith, R-Palmero, who grew up in the Union area, said.
A 17-year-old boy has been arrested in connection with the killing of Sunshine "Sunny" Stewart, the Maine woman who was found dead two weeks ago after she went paddleboarding on a pond in Union.
Maine State Police officials announced Thursday morning that the suspect, who is also from Maine, was taken into custody without incident at about 10:30 p.m. Wednesday in Union. Police also said the suspect has been transported to the Long Creek Youth Development Center in South Portland.
"It was initially, how could it ever happen in Maine?" Robert Myers who lives in nearby Appleton said. "Everyone was concerned, they still hadn't found anyone who did it."
While there's now a sense of relief, many are still grieving.
"It's a tragedy overall that this is apparently a young man. That was the assailant here. And that's going to sting as well. That's going to send some ripples through the community. It's sad on every side," Smith said.
She said that as Maine State Police continued to tell people in the area to remain vigilant while they looked for the person they believe is responsible for Stewart's death, people have been worried.
"People in the community have been concerned because it doesn't happen often," she said.
