Nathan Carman: Monster or Martyr?

A lone man adrift at sea is the stuff of survival tales. But when 22-year-old Nathan Carman was rescued after eight days in a life raft, the story didn’t end with cheers. His mother, Linda Carman, who had set out fishing with him, was missing - and presumed dead. What followed was a years-long investigation that raised more questions than answers.

Was this a calculated plot to inherit a fortune… or a misunderstood tragedy?

Murder Stalks the Family

In 2013, Nathan’s grandfather, John Chakalos - a wealthy real estate developer - was shot to death in his home. The crime scene showed no signs of robbery and police believed the killer knew him.

Nathan admitted to buying a rifle similar to the murder weapon but claimed he lost it. Investigators couldn’t find the gun, and no charges were filed. But suspicions lingered, especially among his own family.

Three years later, Nathan took his mother fishing off the Rhode Island coast. He returned alone, rescued from a raft. The boat had sunk, and Linda’s body was never recovered. Investigators believed he had sabotaged the vessel.

The Inheritance at the Center

At the heart of both cases was money - roughly $50 million in family trust funds. Prosecutors claimed Nathan killed his grandfather and mother to inherit his share, estimated to be about $7 million. After Linda’s disappearance, he tried to collect an $85,000 insurance payout for the sunken boat, which raised even more eyebrows.

Court documents revealed he’d made odd modifications to the boat, including installing an inappropriate anchor and removing key flotation equipment. But Nathan insisted it was all an accident.

In 2022, federal prosecutors indicted him for fraud and murder related to his mother’s death. He pleaded not guilty.

Unanswered Questions

One of the most compelling revelations surrounding the tragic family saga came from “Blood in the Water,” the book by journalist Casey Sherman. Sherman, who initially approached the case with no stake in the outcome, says he walked away with more questions than answers. According to PEOPLE, Sherman said, “If I were on the jury, I would vote to acquit.”

A major turning point in Sherman’s reporting came from a little-known witness named Joy Washburn, the longtime caretaker of John Chakalos’ 88-acre estate. According to Sherman, Washburn told the FBI she had once been approached by an associate of the family - not Nathan - who allegedly asked if she would kill Chakalos in the woods and make it look like a hunting accident. According to PEOPLE, the FBI found her story credible enough to include in an official “302 report,” a designation used for witness interviews that could be used in federal court.

Then there was the alleged text message discovered by Nathan’s legal team, in which Linda - Nathan’s mother - reportedly threatened to “blow her father’s f—ing head off,” PEOPLE reports.

While there’s no indication she was ever investigated for that threat, its existence complicated the theory that only Nathan had motive or intent.

Also notable was the tension within the Carman family. According to PEOPLE, after John Chakalos’ death, Nathan’s aunts told investigators that he was the favored grandchild - the “golden child,” - who received more attention and support than anyone else.

According to Sherman, that perceived favoritism created long-standing resentment. One of the last things Chakalos reportedly did before his death was ask his daughters to sign promissory notes for millions they had withdrawn from the family trust, something that may have strained relationships even further.

Despite these revelations, Nathan was the only person ever charged in connection to the family’s tragedies.

A Final Ending Without a Verdict

Nathan died by suicide in jail in 2023, just months before his trial was set to begin. He was 29.

He maintained his innocence until the end, and no court ever convicted him of murder. With his death, the charges were dropped, and the mysteries surrounding his family remain unresolved.

Did Nathan Carman kill for money - or was he a troubled young man who simply couldn’t escape the shadow of suspicion?

That’s something a jury never got to decide.

References: A Wealthy Woman Vanished at Sea, Her Son Miraculously Survived | Why Nathan Carman Remains ‘Both a Victim and a Villain’ | Vermont Man Charged With Killing Mother at Sea Dies Awaiting Trial