Maine – In a case that has left residents in Maine shaken, a 17-year-old boy, identified as D. Young, is facing a murder charge for the brutal killing of a 48-year-old woman, identified as S. Stewart, at a lakeside campground. Prosecutors are pushing for him to be tried as an adult, citing both the nature of the crime and the fact that he will soon turn 18. Young was arrested on July 16 in connection with Stewart’s death. If tried as a juvenile, Young could be released by the time he is 21. But if charged as an adult, he faces the prospect of spending decades behind bars. The decision now rests with the presiding judge.
According to investigators, the killing took place on July 2, 2024, while both Young and Stewart were staying at a campground in Maine for vacation. Stewart had gone out paddleboarding on that afternoon but never returned. Concerned campers and family members raised the alarm, leading to an intense search. Her body was eventually discovered on an island in the middle of the pond. Authorities later confirmed her cause of death was strangulation combined with blunt force trauma. Police described the circumstances as highly unusual and deeply troubling.
Adding to the horror was the revelation that Young had been out on the water in a small fishing boat less than an hour before Stewart disappeared. Surveillance footage from the campground confirmed his presence on the lake during that critical window of time. What has particularly disturbed investigators and the community is Young’s behavior after the killing. Campground owner K. Lunt recalled that he approached authorities and “volunteered” to help in the search for Stewart, even claiming to have information about her whereabouts. She explained that Young intentionally threw off police, guiding them to the opposite direction of where Stewart’s body was eventually found. Reviewing security footage later, Lunt realized he had been on the water at the same time Stewart vanished.
For the two weeks that followed, Young remained at the campground, interacting with other campers, offering to help with tasks, and behaving as though nothing had happened. Lunt described the situation as haunting, noting that no one suspected a teenager: “Nobody was looking for a child. We were looking for an adult.” Law enforcement experts have said Young’s attempt to insert himself into the investigation raised immediate red flags. A retired NYPD detective that spoke to media explained that when someone unexpectedly comes forward claiming to have information before much has been released publicly, it is “alarming” and worthy of suspicion. He further stressed that this was not a spur-of-the-moment crime. He noted that Young likely planned the attack, saying, “He saw someone vulnerable and took advantage of it.”
Friends and loved ones of Stewart have spoken about the devastating loss. They described her as adventurous, hardworking, and full of life. Young remains in custody at the youth development center. His next court appearance is scheduled for August 22, where the question of whether he will be tried as an adult is expected to be addressed. As the case moves forward, Stewart’s family and community are left grappling with the shock of a crime that unfolded in a place meant for peace and relaxation. The tragedy serves as a stark reminder that even the most ordinary settings can become the backdrop for unthinkable violence.
