Arrest made after paddleboarder’s death sparks serial killer fears in sleepy coastal town

A teenager has been arrested in the suspicious death of a Maine paddleboarder that stoked fears of a serial killer looming throughout the New England region. 

A 17-year-old male was arrested for his alleged involvement in the death of 48-year-old Sunshine “Sunny” Stewart nearly two weeks after the paddleboarder was found near Union’s Crawford Pond, Maine State Police said in a press release on Thursday. 

Stewart was reported missing after she failed to return from a solo paddleboarding trip on July 2. The next morning, police discovered her body on an island only accessible by boat, and subsequently determined the circumstances surrounding her death were “suspicious.” 

Sunshine “Sunny” Stewart’s body was found after she disappeared during a paddleboarding trip near Crawford Pond in Union, Maine, on July 3, 2025. (Sunshine Stewart/Facebook)

Last month, the body of 21-year-old Adriana Suazo was found in a wooded area in Milton, Massachusetts, according to the Norfolk District Attorney’s Office. The case remains under investigation as Suazo’s body showed no signs of trauma, officials said. 

MSP previously asked “that residents continue to remain vigilant, be aware of their surroundings and report any suspicious activity to law enforcement,” while authorities looked to find Stewart’s killer. 

Details regarding any criminal charges filed against the teenager were not immediately available, and the investigation remains ongoing. 

Fox News Digital’s Sarah Rumpf-Whitten contributed to this report.