What Happened to Nathan Carman? Update After His Family’s Deaths

Netflix’s 2025 true crime documentary The Carman Family Deaths plays out like a real-life Greek tragedy.

Director Yon Motskin’s film opens with the miraculous rescue of Nathan Carman after eight days lost at sea, but slowly unravels a troubling family feud that may have culminated with the murders of both Nathan’s mother, Linda Carman, and his grandfather, John Chakalos.

In 2013, millionaire real estate developer Chakalos was murdered in a suspected break-in at his Windsor, Connecticut, home, with his grandson Nathan named as the last known person to see him alive. Three years later, Nathan and his mother, Linda, were reported missing during a fishing trip off the coast of South Kingstown, Rhode Island, but only Nathan returned alive.

Nathan was eventually indicted for both the murder of his mother and grandfather in 2022, though a deadly turn of events meant that he never actually stood trial. (Nathan always maintained his innocence.)

Keep scrolling for more on the true story behind Netflix’s documentary The Carman Family Deaths.

What Happened to John Chakalos?

The Carman Family Deaths chronicles a long-standing family rift between John Chakalos and his daughter Linda Carman — which ultimately involved Linda’s son, Nathan Carman, as well.

The Greek-American real estate magnate amassed a significant amount of wealth throughout his life and shared much of it with his family. In the documentary, Nathan’s father, Clark Carman, alleges that Chakalos had a volatile personality and was occasionally violent with his daughters.

Clark relays one specific incident in which Chakalos allegedly tried to attack his daughter Linda during a family meeting to discuss Nathan’s mental health care. Chakalos was opposed to Nathan receiving inpatient treatment and threatened to cut off financial support unless Linda and Clark checked their son out of the hospital.

In 2013, Chakalos was murdered in his bed with a gunshot wound to the head — and his grandson Nathan was the last known person to see him alive. Nathan and his mother, Linda, denied any wrongdoing and neither were charged in the immediate aftermath of the crime.

Nathan told investigators during a deposition that the only firearm he owned was an air rifle, though it was later discovered that he’d purchased a Sig Sauer .308-caliber semi-automatic rifle for $2,099.99 one month before his grandfather’s death. His lawyers said at the time that they would not address “unsupported allegations” or engage in “litigation in the press.”

What Happened to Linda Carman?

In September 2016, Nathan and his mother, Linda, set off for a fishing trip in his boat, The Chickenpox, off the coast of Rhode Island. When they did not return as scheduled the following day, a friend reported them as missing.

A Coast Guard search took place over 62,000 nautical square miles in the Atlantic Ocean before a freighter spotted Nathan on a life raft near Martha’s Vineyard eight days later.

Nathan told investigators that The Chickenpox suddenly started taking on water during his trip and then sank. He claimed to have not seen or heard his mother as he fought for his own life during the sinking of his boat.

Linda’s body was never found, and she was declared legally dead in 2023, according to The Carman Family Deaths.

What Happened to Nathan Carman?

The Carman Family Deaths sheds new light on Nathan’s background, including his autism diagnosis and mental health struggles. Family members reveal in the documentary that, as a teenager, Nathan lived in a camper outside his family’s home and refused to enter the house.

Shortly before her death, Linda recorded a living will on video where she left her home to another family member specifically because Nathan refused to enter the residence.

Family members allege in The Carman Family Deaths that Nathan and his mother had a troubled relationship dating back to childhood. Nathan allegedly once confided in his priest that his mother resented him for living a functional life despite his autism diagnosis.

Nathan’s father, Clark, confirms in The Carman Family Deaths that his son was hospitalized for a mental health crisis as a teenager — which only deepened the feud between his mother, Linda, and grandfather, John.

In September 2016, Nathan and his mother were reported missing when they didn’t return as planned from a fishing trip off the coast of Rhode Island. Nathan’s rescue after eight days at sea was initially reported as a miraculous and inspiring story of survival, though police quickly discovered potential flaws in his retelling of events.

During the investigation, Nathan was asked by authorities why he did not radio for help or set off the boat’s emergency locator once he realized The Chickenpox was taking on water. Nathan insisted that he did not realize how serious the leak was until it was too late.

Investigators also raised questions about whether Nathan was really lost at sea for eight days, as the location of his rescue off the coast of Martha’s Vineyard did not match up with the projected path his raft should have taken.

Other suspicious elements of the case were uncovered throughout the investigation, including the discovery of a bucket of eels — a common fishing bait — in Nathan’s car. However, Nathan did bring along a handheld water maker, which can turn salt water into fresh water.

Nathan was indicted for the murder of his mother and his grandfather in 2022, though he publicly maintained his innocence. In a 2018 statement, Nathan said that he “did not kill [his] grandfather or [his] mother.”

He died by suicide at age 29 in prison while awaiting trial in June 2023, and all charges against him were subsequently dropped.

Chakalos’s 2013 murder is still technically an open case as of November 2025. Police closed the investigation into Linda’s disappearance and declared her legally dead in 2023.

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