The mysterious death of a Maine woman who disappeared last week while paddle boarding on a pond near a secluded island has been ruled a homicide, according to investigators.
The body of Sunshine Stewart, 48, was discovered by state game wardens around 1 a.m. on July 3 near 100 Acre Island, a nature preserve on Crawford Pond in Union, Maine, that is only accessible by water, Maine State Police said on Monday.
Ms. Stewart was believed to have gone out paddle boarding between 6 p.m. and 9 p.m. the night before, according to the authorities, who searched the area for several hours after she was reported missing.
She lived in Tenants Harbor, Maine, which is roughly 20 miles south of the pond, along the Atlantic coast.
The authorities did not say whether Ms. Stewart’s body had been found in the water or on land, or release other details about the killing. But officials said that the wardens had called in the Maine State Police Major Crimes Unit based on the circumstances surrounding the discovery.
An autopsy performed by the Office of Chief Medical Examiner in Maine on July 3 determined that she had been killed by someone else, the state police said. The authorities did not disclose a specific cause of death, citing the continuing investigation.
The state police asked that anyone who might have seen Ms. Stewart the night she disappeared to call them. The agency urged people to report anything suspicious and be aware of their surroundings.
In a statement on Wednesday, the agency said that it remained “steadfast” in its efforts to investigate Ms. Stewart’s killing and was reviewing every lead it had received from a State Police tip line.
“The Maine State Police recognizes the fear and discomfort that this incident has brought to the town of Union and the Crawford Pond community,” the agency said.
The state police said that it was working with the owners of a nearby campground on the investigation.
As of Wednesday, a GoFundMe page had raised more than $19,000 for the funeral expenses for Ms. Stewart, who was known as Sunny.
“Today is a somber day for our family and friends,” the page said. “We’ve unexpectedly lost the light in our lives that was Sunny.”
Kim Ware, Ms. Stewart’s sister, told ABC News in a statement that her sister had worked as a marine biologist, lobsterman and boat captain, and had once sailed to the Caribbean in a hurricane.
“Now we have to rally and give her justice,” Ms. Ware said in a statement to the outlet.
Crawford Pond is about 600 acres and is a popular spot for camping and fishing. It is about 30 miles southeast of Augusta, the state capital.
Neil Vigdor covers breaking news for The Times, with a focus on politics.
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