Nathan Carman: From Rescue at Sea to Murder Charges — Unanswered Questions After His 2023 Death

Overview: Nathan Carman first drew national attention when he was rescued alive after his boat sank in September 2016 and his mother, Linda Carman, disappeared. Nearly six years later, federal prosecutors charged him with murder on the high seas in connection with Linda’s disappearance and with fraud related to the 2013 killing of his grandfather, real estate developer John Chakalos. Nathan maintained his innocence, but while jailed and awaiting trial he died by suicide on June 15, 2023. The case remains clouded by unresolved evidence and competing theories.

Background

Nathan Carman was raised in Middletown, Connecticut, and later lived in Vermont. He was diagnosed with Asperger’s syndrome around age four. Family members say his mental health declined in his teens after the death of a beloved horse; he often lived in a family camper and was at times placed on psychiatric hold. According to relatives, Nathan received financial support from his grandfather for years but resisted medication and ongoing mental-health care.

The 2016 Sinking

On September 17, 2016, Nathan and his mother left on a fishing trip aboard a vessel called Chicken Pox. Nathan later told investigators they stopped at a grocery store, loaded bait and a cooler, and launched from Ram Point Marina intending to go well offshore. He said the engine began to sound odd, he discovered water in the bilge and the boat eventually sank. Nathan survived more than a week at sea in a life raft and was rescued; Linda’s body was never recovered.

Authorities raised questions about parts of Nathan’s account. Investigators reported that bait he purchased was found left in his truck, and a witness at the marina said someone had drilled holes and removed trim tabs on the boat before it departed. Police also noted Nathan’s calm, detail-oriented manner during interviews and said his affect seemed "not right," a comment that later drew pushback from autism specialists and defense counsel who warned that autistic communication styles can be misread during interrogation.

Investigation into John Chakalos’s Death

John Chakalos, Nathan’s grandfather, was found shot to death in his bed on December 20, 2013. Investigators determined the fatal wound was consistent with a SIG Sauer rifle; Nathan had purchased a SIG Sauer weeks before the slaying and later said he had lost the firearm, which has never been recovered. Nathan at times was a person of interest in the investigation but was not criminally charged for John’s murder.

Following John’s death, Nathan inherited approximately $550,000 from accounts tied to his grandfather. John’s estate overall was sizable, and Linda—one of John’s heirs—stood to receive a multimillion-dollar share; that potential inheritance and estate litigation later became part of the dispute surrounding Nathan.

Charges, Trial Preparation and Death

In May 2022, federal prosecutors brought charges against Nathan: murder on the high seas in connection with Linda’s disappearance, plus counts of mail and wire fraud they said were tied to schemes involving John’s estate and related trusts. Prosecutors alleged years of planning and deception; Nathan and his attorneys pleaded not guilty and denied the allegations.

Nathan was scheduled to go to trial in October 2023. On June 15, 2023, while jailed and awaiting that trial, he died by suicide. He was 29. After his death the criminal charges were dismissed. Family members remain divided—some insist his innocence, while others and outside reporting continue to examine alternate theories and unanswered evidence.

Lingering Questions and Competing Narratives

The two deaths have produced conflicting accounts and unresolved leads. A 2025 book, Blood in the Water, recounts a caretaker’s statement that several people expressed animosity toward John and even an offer to stage his death; other family members have suggested different motives, including organized crime-style violence. Nathan’s defense highlighted texts and comments from others in the family to argue that multiple people had possible motives. Key pieces of physical evidence remain missing—most notably Linda’s remains and the SIG Sauer rifle tied to John’s killing—which continues to complicate efforts to reach definitive conclusions.

Why it matters: The case raises important questions about how mental-health diagnoses and neurodivergent behavior can affect police interviews and public perception, about financial and family disputes that can intersect with criminal investigations, and about the challenges of building a case when crucial evidence is missing.

Support resources: If you or someone you know is struggling with mental health challenges, emotional distress or thoughts of self-harm, contact 988 for support in the United States or visit 988lifeline.org for chat resources available 24/7.