The Netflix documentary The Carman Family Deaths has audience members unsure of what to believe.
The film — released in November 2025 — follows the story of a then-22-year-old man, Nathan Carman, who went on an overnight fishing trip with his mom, Linda Carman, in 2016. The pair set off from South Kingstown, Rhode Island, but their wealthy family alerted the United States Coast Guard of their disappearance when they failed to return home.
Police eventually found Nathan eight days later floating on a life raft, while Linda’s body was never found. Although Nathan was rescued, police found the situation suspicious because he appeared healthy and later found that he had filed an insurance claim for his lost boat. He also allegedly made faulty repairs to the boat.
After the FBI believed that Nathan also shot his grandfather John Chakalos to death in 2013, he was later arrested and charged with his mother’s murder. Although his trial was set for October 2023, Nathan was found unresponsive in his cell in June 2023 and appeared to die by suicide.
Keep scrolling to learn more about the story behind The Carman Family Deaths documentary:
Who Are the Members of the Carman Family?
Linda Carman and Clark Carman © Netflix / Courtesy Everett Collection
According to Netflix’s Tudum website, John Chakalos was a wealthy real estate developer who had a rocky relationship with his daughters, including Linda Carman. Chakalos’ estate was worth more than $42 million and was expected to be divided among his daughters after his death.
Linda and her husband, Clark Carman, welcomed their son, Nathan Carman, in 1994. Nathan was diagnosed on the autism spectrum and allegedly suffered from mental health issues following the death of his horse, Cruise, per the documentary. He lived in a camper outside of his parents’ home and refused to speak with them after his horse’s passing.
What Was the Relationship Like Between Nathan Carman, His Mom and Grandfather?
Although John Chakalos had a dysfunctional relationship with his daughters, Nathan Carman was very close to his grandfather — and even wanted to become a real estate developer himself. In the documentary, Nathan’s cousin, Chuck Lapenna, revealed that he believed Nathan was receiving $100,000 a year from his grandfather prior to his death.
Meanwhile, Nathan’s relationship with his mom, Linda, was “intense but complicated,” per Netflix’s Tudum website.
Netflix is one of the best streamers for watching true crime stories. With twisted tales ranging from murder and abduction to theft or fraud, the platform has enough docs to keep you hooked for a long time. Thank You! You have successfully subscribed. Subscribe to newsletters Please enter a valid email. Subscribe By signing up, […]
“She sought various interventions to manage Nathan’s autism while trying to give him the independence and privacy he wanted,” the website explained. “At times, he felt she was overprotective and smothering; she felt he was self-isolating and resistant to medication and therapy. Linda thought it was important to nurture their bond through fishing trips, which was an area of interest for Nathan.”
Allegedly, Nathan’s grandfather believed that Linda’s interventions with Nathan’s autism were unnecessary.
What Happened to John Chakalos?
Things went awry in the Carman family in 2013 when John Chakalos was found murdered in his bed with a gunshot wound to the head. He was 87 at the time.
Nathan became a suspect in his grandfather’s murder after it was discovered he was the last person to have seen Chakalos alive. Although Nathan denied any wrongdoing, investigators later found a receipt for a rifle purchased before the murder and that Nathan allegedly sent a memo to Chakalos’ trust and estate attorney asking specific questions related to his grandfather’s money prior to his death.
According to court documents obtained by People in 2022, prosecutors claimed that Nathan shot his grandfather and “sought to defraud the estate of his grandfather… its executor, the Chakalos Family Dynasty Trust and its trustees.”
Nathan was ultimately not charged with Chakalos’ murder.
What Happened to Linda Carman?
Following John Chakalos’ death, Nathan Carman’s relationship with his family became even more strained — however, Linda Carman still attempted to connect with Nathan on fishing trips.
In September 2016, Linda and Nathan planned to go to Block Island off the coast of Rhode Island, but Nathan later told police that they traveled an extra 60 to 70 miles to Block Canyon.
If you’re a fan of true crime, there really isn’t much to complain about when it comes to options. Streaming platforms are currently stocked with the best true crime documentary content that film and television have to offer. Thank You! You have successfully subscribed. Subscribe to newsletters Please enter a valid email. Subscribe By signing […]
According to Nathan’s story he told police, he and Linda noticed the engine of the boat acting up and saw water in the bilge. The boat ended up sinking. Eight days later, Nathan was found in a life raft off the coast of Martha’s Vineyard and his mother was never found.
“The whole time from when I saw water in the boat to when the boat sank was probably three to five minutes. I did not see or hear my mom,” Nathan shared in an interview with ABC News in 2016. “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.”
When Was Nathan Carman Arrested?
In May 2022, nearly six years after Linda Carman’s death, Nathan Carman was arrested in connection with the death of his mom. He faced one charge of murder as well as three counts of mail fraud and four counts of wire fraud.
According to a press release from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Vermont, obtained by People, Nathan allegedly lured his mom out on a fishing trip off the coast of Rhode Island where prosecutors believe he murdered her and intentionally sunk his boat.
The documents claimed that Nathan created fake stories to cover up both deaths of Linda and John Chakalos in order to inherit the family estate.
“During this 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,” the prosecutors claimed.
How Did Nathan Carman Die?
While awaiting his trial that was set to take place in October 2023, Nathan Carman was found dead in his prison cell in June 2023. He reportedly had taken his own life and all charges against him were dismissed.
The investigation into Linda Carman’s death was later closed in 2023, and she was officially declared dead after Nathan’s passing.
