Liputan6.com, Jakarta A shocking family mystery has returned to the public spotlight with the release of the Netflix documentary "The Carman Family Deaths."
The film takes an in-depth look at a series of tragic events that befell the Carman family, particularly involving Nathan Carman.
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The documentary focuses on the 2016 disappearance of Linda Carman, Nathan's mother, at sea, and the suspected murder of his grandfather, John Chakalos, in 2013.
The case has sparked widespread speculation as to whether the incidents were a tragic accident or part of a larger murder plot.
What should have been a fun fishing trip turned into a tragedy, leading to allegations of double murder, inheritance battles, and questions that may never be fully answered.
The documentary seeks to present multiple perspectives to understand the complexities of the Nathan Carman case.
"The Carman Family Deaths": Netflix Documentary
The Netflix documentary "The Carman Family Deaths," released on November 19, 2025, is the latest attempt to unravel the tangled threads of this case.
Directed by Yon Motskin and produced by Wired Studios and Loki Films, the film presents a comprehensive look at the tragic events.
The documentary utilizes archival footage, court records, and exclusive interviews with family members, including Nathan's father, Clark Carman, and one of his sisters, Linda.
Additionally, FBI agents and Coast Guard investigators provide their perspectives, along with Wired journalist Evan Lubofsky.
The film presents conflicting narratives, presenting arguments from Nathan Carman's side, who maintains his innocence, arguing that investigators are biased due to his autism.
Meanwhile, law enforcement officials explain why Nathan's behavior was considered suspicious, and Nathan's own voice even appears in police interviews.
"The Carman Family Deaths" also explores the strong inheritance motive theory, in which Nathan is accused of trying to inherit his mother's estate after his grandfather's death.
Although police closed the case after Nathan's death, the documentary revives unanswered questions.
How the Incident Happened and Nathan Carman's Allegations
The first tragedy in the Carman family happened on December 20, 2013, when John Chakalos, a millionaire real estate developer, was found shot to death in his home in Windsor, Connecticut.
The initial investigation pointed to Nathan Carman, his grandson, who was the last person seen with his grandfather before his death.
Investigators suspect Nathan shot and killed his grandfather in his sleep, allegedly to obtain money and property from Chakalos' estate.
The weapon used in the murder is believed to have been a Sig Sauer rifle, the same model Nathan had purchased a few weeks before the incident, but which later mysteriously disappeared.
Despite strong suspicions and an arrest warrant issued by Windsor police in 2014, Nathan Carman was never formally charged with his grandfather's murder.
The state prosecutor denied the warrant, requesting more information before proceeding with legal proceedings.
Linda Carman's Disappearance at Sea and New Suspicions
Three years after his grandfather's death, on September 17, 2016, Nathan Carman and his mother, Linda Carman, set out on an overnight fishing trip from Ram Point Marina.
They were using Nathan's boat, the 'Chicken Pox,' and were supposed to return the next day.
When Linda could not be reached, an extensive search and rescue operation was launched by the Coast Guard.
Eight days later, Nathan was found alone in a life raft about 100 miles south of Martha's Vineyard by a Chinese cargo ship.
Sadly, Linda Carman was never found and is presumed dead in the incident.
Suspicions against Nathan Carman grew due to inconsistent details of his trip and his questionable behavior.
Investigators accused Nathan of deliberately modifying his boat to make it more likely to sink.
The Indictment, Nathan Carman's Death, and the Unsolved Case
After a six-year FBI investigation, Nathan Carman was finally arrested in May 2022.
He was charged with eight counts, including one count of murder on the high seas and several counts of fraud, related to the deaths of his mother and grandfather.
The indictment accused Nathan of killing both as part of a scheme to obtain an inheritance.
Nathan Carman pleaded not guilty to all charges and was scheduled to stand trial in October 2023.
However, on June 15, 2023, he was found unresponsive in his cell at the Cheshire County Jail in New Hampshire and was declared dead by suicide.
His death effectively ended the legal proceedings against him.
Following Nathan's death, all charges against him were dropped.
However, the John Chakalos murder case remained officially active according to the Windsor Police Department as of April 2025, leaving unanswered questions and unfinished justice for the victims' families.