On September 17th, 2016, Nathan Carman went on a fishing trip with his mother, Linda Carman, 54. He was found eight days later out at sea in an inflatable raft. Linda has never been found.
Now, six years later, the 28-year-old has been charged for his involvement in his mother’s death. Prosecutors claim he tampered with their boat, called Chicken Pox so that it would take on water and sink. It was all in an apparent elaborate attempt to get his mother’s $7 million share of the family estate.
At the time of the incident, Carman said he did everything he could to find his mother. He claimed that after hearing a “funny noise” in the engine compartment, water started pouring in. He went to get life jackets, flares and bags of food, but when he turned back he could no longer see his mother.
Linda Carman was not his first victim according to investigators. Back in December 2013, Carman allegedly shot his grandfather, John Chakalos, twice while he slept. Chakalos died, leaving his four daughters, including Linda, a substantial sum of money.
Although Carman has not been formally charged with any involvement in his grandfather’s death, he did purchase a rifle, consistent with that used in the murder, a month prior. He also threw away his computer hard drive and GPS unit from his truck after the shooting. Carman received $400,000 and another $150,000 from different accounts set up for him by his grandfather after his death. He spent the majority of this money between 2014 and 2016, which is when he set up the fishing trip with his mother.
A month after his mother’s death, Carman put in an insurance claim for the loss of the boat, totalling around $85,000 but this was denied, and when he challenged the denial of the claim in federal court, it was upheld.
Now in custody, it remains to be seen if Nathan Carman will be convicted of his crimes, which completely revolved around money. If convicted, he will face a mandatory sentence of life in prison.
Update:
On June 15, 2023, Nathan Carman, 29, died whilst in federal custody, awaiting trial in connection with his mother’s death. Carman was the sole occupier of the cell where he was found dead. His lawyer said he was “in good spirits” when they last spoke. Carman apparently left a note for his lawyers before his death.
An autopsy has since determined that Carman’s death was not suspicious. The U.S. Marshals Service in Vermont said it will not be releasing the cause of death at the request of the family.
Sources:
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-10802825/Man-charged-killing-mother-sea-inherit-estate.html
https://www.cbsnews.com/news/nathan-carman-charged-killing-mother-linda-2016/
https://www.oxygen.com/crime-news/nathan-carman-allegedly-killed-linda-carman-7m-inheritance
https://apnews.com/article/nathan-carman-dies-murder-at-sea-f5bb21fc2815e32dbf2f32532b21e121
