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‘Pursuing every avenue’: What we know about the paddleboarder killed in Maine

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‘Pursuing every avenue’: What we know about the paddleboarder killed in Maine


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“Detectives continue to follow up on all leads, and tips are still coming in,” Maine State Police said nearly two weeks after Sunshine Stewart’s death.

Authorities continue to investigate the death of Sunshine Stewart, 48, of Tenants Harbor, Maine. GoFundMe

Nearly two weeks after a paddleboarder in Maine was killed, police have released few details about the homicide that has rocked a close-knit fishing community.

Sunshine Stewart, 48, went missing the evening of July 2 after she took her paddleboard out on Crawford Pond in Union, Maine. Stewart, a resident of Tenants Harbor, was found dead after officials responded to help search for her at 1 a.m. on Thursday, July 3.

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Police announced that Stewart’s death was ruled a homicide, but have not released her exact cause of death. Anyone who may have seen her or anything near 100 Acre Island, the landmass in the middle of the pond, are asked to contact police.

After Maine State Police found the woman’s body, the agency established a tipline and warned residents to stay vigilant.

Almost two weeks later, there have been no arrests. 

“Detectives continue to follow up on all leads, and tips are still coming in,” Shannon Moss, a spokesperson for the Maine State Police, said Monday. “Detectives are actively pursuing every avenue, and we will provide updates when it’s appropriate and responsible to do so.”

Moss noted that releasing Stewart’s cause of death “could compromise the integrity of the investigation.” 

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Victim’s sister, small, Maine communities react

Kim Ware, Stewart’s sister who organized an online fundraiser for funeral expenses, called Stewart “the strongest person I know.”

Ware, who could not be reached for comment, told ABC News Stewart was a marine biologist, the “world’s best bartender, sternman, lobsterman and boat captain” and was working as a contractor.

“Anyone blessed to be in her presence was in awe of her, her strength, courage, character, her energy and light,” Ware said. “Truly an amazing woman. Now we have to rally and give her justice!”

Stewart grew up in the Union area and attended Medomak Valley High School and Bradford College in Haverhill, according to the Midcoast Villager. A longtime friend told the local outlet that Stewart had rented a camper and was spending the summer at Mic Mac Campground in Union. 

Residents in midcoast Maine, including Union, the area around Crawford Pond, and Tenants Harbor, are unnerved by the killing and the lack of information from officials. 

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“The whole thing is just really hard to wrap your head around,” an employee at the Tenants Harbor General Store told the Bangor Daily News, where Stewart was a familiar face.  “A lot of people knew her, and you know, it’s devastating when something like that happens.”

Steve Betts, a longtime reporter for the Villager covering Stewart’s death, spoke to News Center Maine about the case, which he described as “the biggest mystery I’ve been involved in since I’ve been here.”

“There’s no question people are on edge,” Betts told the newscenter. “People are saying it. People are saying on social media. People I’ve talked with, they’re concerned for their daughters, they’re concerned for their granddaughters, their wives. And they’re [law enforcement] telling people lock your doors.”

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Molly Farrar is a general assignment reporter for Boston.com, focusing on education, politics, crime, and more.





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Maine

Immigrant rights coalition reports uptick in ICE detentions across Maine

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Immigrant rights coalition reports uptick in ICE detentions across Maine


The Maine Immigrants’ Rights Coalition says over the past two weeks its immigrant defense hotline has seen an uptick in reported ICE detentions.

They say this corresponds with a national shift in ICE activity, including bids for local businesses to cooperate with ICE.

In Maine, the arrests follow a broader trend of targeting Black and brown immigrants, including people navigating immigration proceedings.

The coalition, which represents more than 100 organizations, says it’s ready to protect civil and human rights and is urging immigrants to prepare themselves and their families.

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They suggest having the defense hotline ready in case you witness ICE activity, making sure you have important personal documents in case of detention, and reviewing rights around judicial warrants in private spaces, like your home or workplace.



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How a data center derailed $240,000 for affordable housing in Wiscasset

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How a data center derailed 0,000 for affordable housing in Wiscasset


On a crisp afternoon in early April 2026, Richard Davis walked to the end of a boat launch on the Back River, a tidal channel that cuts through Midcoast Maine’s rocky coastline. As the tide swept in, Davis, co-founder of a local group called Protect Wiscasset and an area resident, fixed his attention on the […]



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Mother’s Day brings boom in flower sales across Maine

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Mother’s Day brings boom in flower sales across Maine


It wouldn’t be Mother’s Day without a stop at the florist.

According to Fox Business, about 154 million flowers are sold during the week of Mother’s Day. So it’s safe to say it was a busy day for stores like Estabrook’s Maine Garden Center and Nursery.

Plenty of families stopped by to pick out flowers on Sunday, looking to choose the perfect bouquet for their moms.

“I think Mother’s Day is tradition, you know, and so it’s great to see families here. We have a lot of new families that have come today for the first time with their young children and their mother. Watching the young kids and seeing how excited they are—their eyes light up at all the beautiful flowers,” Tom Estabrook, president of Estabrook’s, said.

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Estabrook says Mother’s Day tends to be a great kickoff to the spring season.



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