The disquieting case is the subject of a new Netflix documentary.

What happened to Nathan Carman? Unpacking his alleged role in *The Carman Family Deaths *— and his tragic fate

The disquieting case is the subject of a new Netflix documentary.

By Allison DeGrushe

Allison DeGrushe

Allison DeGrushe is a timely SEO writer at **. She has been working at * *since 2025. Her work has previously appeared on Distractify.

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November 19, 2025 9:00 a.m. ET

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Nathan Carman arrives to the Coast Guard base in Boston on Sept. 27, 2016. Credit:

Suzanne Kreiter/The Boston Globe via Getty

- Vermont man Nathan Carman was accused of murdering his grandfather and mother in an alleged plot to inherit the family fortune.

- He was arrested in 2022 but died before he could stand trial.

- His family's story is explored in a new Netflix documentary, *The Carman Family Deaths*.

In September 2016, Nathan Carman and his mother, Linda Carman, set off from South Kingstown, R.I., for what was supposed to be an ordinary fishing trip. Eight days later, after a search conducted by the Coast Guard, Nathan was rescued, but Linda was never found.

Nathan was hailed as a survivor, but suspicions surfaced after some details of the trip didn't add up and his behavior raised red flags. Things got even more complicated when it was revealed that Nathan's wealthy grandfather, John Chakalos, had been murdered three years earlier — and Nathan was the last person to see him alive.

Now, the case is being revisited in Netflix's *The Carman Family Deaths.* Directed by Yon Motskin, the documentary includes archival footage and exclusive interviews from family, friends, and experts. Below, we look back at what happened to Nathan Carman, from his family life to his arrest and death.

Who was Nathan Carman?

Nathan Carman arrives at U.S. District Court for his federal civil trial on Aug. 21, 2019, in Providence, R.I.

Nic Antaya for The Boston Globe via Getty

Nathan was born in Connecticut in 1994 to Linda and Clark Carman. He was the firstborn grandson of a "Greek dynasty," per *The Carman Family Deaths*.

From birth, Nathan was the favorite of his grandfather, John. John provided generously for him throughout his life. As detailed in the documentary, John paid for Nathan's car, rent, and school in addition to giving him around $100,000 per year.

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He was diagnosed with autism as a child, and struggled to make friends. His father, Clark, claimed that Nathan's mental health suffered after the death of his horse, Cruise. In the documentary, Clark shares that Nathan refused to see or speak to anyone, and even lived in a camper outside the family home.

Nathan was eventually hospitalized for psychiatric care, but upon his return continued to live in the camper and refused to speak with his parents. By then, Linda changed her will, and archival footage shows her deciding to leave the family's house to someone else. In the video, Linda assures Nathan that he will be "just fine," as he would inherit her trust and receive substantial funds from his grandfather.

What happened to John Chakalos?

Nathan Carman and John Chakalos, as seen in 'The Carman Family Deaths'.

Courtesy of Netflix

On Dec. 20, 2013, Nathan's grandfather and Linda's father, John Chakalos, was found dead in his home from a gunshot wound to the head. Nathan, being the last person to see John alive, became a suspect in the eyes of his family.

But Nathan, who denied any involvement with his grandfather's death, had an alibi. A neighbor reported hearing gunshots around 2 a.m., when surveillance footage showed Nathan to be at his apartment.

But Nathan's suspicious behavior prior to (and on the night of) the murder raised suspicion among investigators.

Christopher McKee, a former Windsor Police Department lieutenant, told ABC News' *20/20* that there was "at least one hour during the timeframe when Chakalos was shot that Nathan couldn't account for his whereabouts." Nathan said he left his apartment around 3 a.m. to meet his mother for one of their fishing trips, but got lost on the way and didn't resurface until 4:01 a.m.

Also, police found a receipt for a SIG Sauer rifle that Nathan purchased weeks before the murder. According to McKee, the rifle was bought out of state with an out-of-state license. When they first asked Nathan if he owned any guns, he claimed to only have an air gun. When later asked about the receipt, Nathan told detectives he "lost" the rifle he purchased and "didn't know where" it was. It was never recovered.

In the documentary, a maritime investigator alleges that Nathan sent a memo to John's trust and estate attorney before the murder, asking some "unbelievably" specific questions related to his grandfather's money.

Despite these allegations, Nathan was never charged with his grandfather's murder.

What happened to Linda Carman?

Linda and Clark Carman on their wedding day, as seen in 'The Carman Family Deaths'.

Courtesy of Netflix

After John's murder, Nathan's relationship with his extended family was strained. He used some of the money he received from his grandfather to purchase and renovate a home in Vermont. He also bought a fishing boat.

According to the documentary, Linda often went fishing with Nathan in an effort to reconnect with him. She wasn't a big fan of fishing, but did it to try and strengthen their relationship.

On Sept. 17, 2016, the two embarked one of these trips. They'd planned to go to Block Island off the coast of Rhode Island. but Nathan later told police that they instead traveled an extra 60 to 70 miles to Block Canyon.

As Nathan put it to Alfred Bucco, deputy chief for the South Kingstown Police Department, he and Linda noticed the engine acting up and saw water in the bilge. The boat sank, and Nathan was found in a life raft off the coast of Martha's Vineyard, Mass, on Sept. 25. His mother was never found.

Speaking with ABC News, Nathan claimed his mother was in the cockpit when the boat sank. "The whole time from when I saw water in the boat to when the boat sank was probably three to five minutes," he said. "I did not see or hear my mom."

He added, "I know I wasn't responsible for the boat sinking. I know that I wasn't responsible for anything that resulted from the boat sinking. I know I wasn't responsible for my mom's death."**

Clark believes his son, saying in the documentary that it was "a severe accident." He added, "I know if Nathan had the ability, he would have saved his mother."

Linda's family, on the other hand, suspect Nathan of murdering her. "He killed our sister… his own mother," Linda's younger sister Charlene says in the documentary. "So, yeah, we didn't want anything to do with him."

Was Nathan Carman ever arrested?

Nathan Carman arrives to the Coast Guard base in Boston on Sept. 27, 2016.

Suzanne Kreiter/The Boston Globe via Getty

After a six-year FBI investigation, Nathan was arrested in May 2022 and indicted on eight charges, including one count of murder, three counts of mail fraud, and four counts of wire fraud.

According to a release from the U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Vermont, the indictment states that Nathan killed both John and Linda as part of a "scheme to obtain money and property from the estate of John Chakalos and related family trusts."**

As reported by PEOPLE, federal prosecutors alleged that Nathan had lured Linda out to fish, killed her at sea, and deliberately sank the boat as part of a long and carefully planned scheme to inherit the family estate.

They also claim that Nathan created false stories to cover up his involvement with the deaths of both Linda and John. "During the cover-up, Carman misrepresented his involvement in and responsibility for those deaths to law enforcement, to his family, to those who made inquiries about the deaths and their circumstances, and to others who challenged his cover-up or challenged his rights to his grandfather's assets."**

Nathan pleaded not guilty to all charges.

What happened to Nathan Carman?

Nathan Carman arrives at U.S. District Court for his federal civil trial on Aug. 21, 2019, in Providence, R.I.

Nic Antaya for The Boston Globe via Getty

In June 2023, four months before he was scheduled to go trial, Nathan died by suicide in his jail cell. Following his death, all charges against him were dismissed.

Nathan's legal team expressed shock and disbelief over the incident. Martin J. Minnella, one of his lawyers, told the *New York Times*, "We had no indication there was anything wrong. We had wanted to go to court and let the truth be known about this kid because the truth wasn’t out there. My mind is blown. It’s a complete surprise."

Another one of Nathan's attorneys, David X. Sullivan, said he had spoken with Nathan the night before his death and found him to be "in very good spirits." He added, "I am so deeply saddened and troubled by his loss."

According to *The Carman Family Deaths*, the aftermath of Nathan's suicide resulted in Linda officially being declared dead in October 2023,

Where can I watch The Carman Family Deaths?

*The Carman Family Deaths *is now streaming on Netflix.

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