Man who 'let mum drown to get £5m inheritance' found dead ahead of murder trial
A man accused of murdering his own mum in a bid to claim $7million (£5.6m) in inheritance, has been found dead in his prison cell.
Nathan Carman was facing eight charges in relation to his mother's and grandfather's death, including federal murder and fraud.
The 29-year-old, from Vermont, US, is believed to have taken his own life on Thursday at the Cheshire County Jail in Keene, New Hampshire, according to his lawyer.
“The medical examiner is saying that he hung himself,” Connecticut attorney Martin Minnella, who was representing the murder suspect.
The US Marshals Service confirmed Carman died Thursday in their custody.
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Mr Minnella, said Carman appeared “in good spirits” when he last spoke to his defence team on the phone Wednesday.
Linda Carman disappeared after leaving with her son for a boat trip (Facebook)
Carman was also being charged over the death of his grandad John Chakalos (nypost)“We were meeting with some experts today over Zoom at 12 o’clock.
"We were prepared to start picking a jury on Oct. 10 and we were confident we were going to win,” Mr Minnella said.
“I’m just heartbroken because I wanted him to have his day in court.”
Grandad John Chakalos’ three surviving daughters — Carman’s aunts — said in a statement Thursday that they were “deeply saddened” to hear about his death and asked for privacy “while we process this shocking news and its impact on the tragic events surrounding the last several years.”
Nathan Carman shortly after his rescue (AP)Carman left a note for his lawyers, but they did not know what it said as of Thursday afternoon, said David Sullivan, Carman’s other attorney.
Federal prosecutors told them about the note.
Authorities confirmed the man's body was found by a correctional officer making the rounds at around 2.30am.
Carman's mum, Linda, vanished in 2016 while on her son's boat Chicken Pox, which he sank off Rhode Island, prosecutors say.
Nathan Carman is shown leaving federal court where he was facing civil charges over insurance issues (AP)It is believed he rigged the vessel so it would take on water and then reportedly lied to the Coast Guard and police.
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Eight days later Carman was spotted in a life raft and pulled from the sea by a freighter.
He claimed he swam to the raft as the boat sank and despite calling for his mother, never saw her.
Three years earlier, he is alleged to have shot dead his grandfather John Chakalos while he slept at his home in Windsor, Connecticut.
The previous evening they had both had dinner together.
Federal agents execute a search warrant at Nathan Carman's home (AP)Police never filed criminal charges, but issued a search warrant for his apartment saying that he was the last person to see his grandfather alive.
NBC News reports the US Attorney's Office in Vermont said in a statement when he was charged last year: "Both killings were part of a scheme to obtain money and property from the estate of John Chakalos and related family trusts."
The defendant has always denied having any involvement in his mother's disappearance or grandfather's death.
Mr Chakalos left his $42million (£34million) fortune to his four daughters, including Linda.
Nathan Carman allegedly tampered with his boat Chicken Pox (United States Coast Guard)Carman had spent "significant time" with his grandfather in 2012 and 2013, who during that time transferred $550,000 (£445,600) into his grandson's account, it is claimed.
The indictment also states the defendant persuaded his mum to name him as a beneficiary of her inheritance.
Carman, who was living in a home in New Hampshire built by Mr Chakalos, bought the rifle allegedly used in the murder in November 2013.
The following month, his grandfather was killed, aged 87.
Prosecutors say Carman covered up his involvement by discarding his computer hard drive and GPS unit from his truck.
The defendant is alleged to have already spent all of the $550,000 his grandfather transferred.
And he is understood to have unsuccessfully tried to claim $85,000 (£68,700) in insurance for his wrecked boat.
In 2016, Carman moved to Vermont and had become "low on funds", the indictment said.
On September 17 of that year, Linda arrived at her son's home around 11pm.
During a subsequent overnight boat trip she disappeared.
Carman is accused of altering the vessel by removing two forward bulkheads as well as trim tabs from the transom of the hull, according to the indictment.
The Coast Guard launched a search after the boat failed to return to port in South Kingston, Rhode Island, the following day. This continued until September 24.
Carman was then pulled from a life raft 115 nautical miles from Martha's Vineyard, Massachusetts, by Chinese freighter the Orient Lucky.
And despite searching his apartment, police did not charge Carman in his mother's disappearance until the indictment was filed on May 2 2022, and he was arrested.
However, his aunts had filed a 2017 lawsuit in which they claimed their nephew should be considered a suspect for Linda's disappearance and Mr Chakalos' death.
The US Attorney's Office describes Linda's death as "murder on the high seas."
He faced life in prison if convicted of his mum's death.
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