Vermont Man Accused Of Killing Mother On Rhode Island Seas Dies While Awaiting Trial

RUTLAND, VT — A man from Vermont, who was accused of killing his mother off the coast of Rhode Island to inherit his family's estate, has died, according to multiple reports, including NBC Providence.

Nathan Carman, 29, of Rutland, VT, was scheduled for a federal court trial in October to face eight charges — including murder on the high seas and fraud charges in what prosecutors said was a scheme to inherit millions of dollars.

Carman was arrested in May 2022 and accused of killing his mother, Linda Carman. He pleaded not guilty to all charges.

FOX 61 reported a new filing from federal prosecutors said, “The United States received information from the U.S. Marshal that Carman died on or about June 15, 2023. Dismissal of the charges against Carman is thus appropriate.”

According to court documents, in 2013, Carman shot and killed his grandfather John Chakalos at Chakalos' home in Windsor, Connecticut, and, in 2016, killed his mother Linda Carman. The accusations also led to Linda Carman's three sisters filing a lawsuit in New Hampshire in 2017, accusing Nathan Carman of killing Chakalos and possibly his mother.

Prosecutors said after Nathan Carman killed his mother, he purposely sunk his boat off the coast of Rhode Island during a supposed fishing trip. Eight days later, Nathan Carman was found in an inflatable raft, and his mother was never found. Nathan Carman denied doing anything intentionally to cause his boat to sink.

Prosecutors said both killings were part of a scheme to steal money and property from the estate of Chakalos and related family trusts. According to prosecutors, Nathan Carman also tried to defraud the company that insured his fishing boat.

Carman, who pleaded not guilty, had faced mandatory life imprisonment if he was convicted of murder on the high seas, according to officials. Officials said the fraud charges each carried a potential penalty of up to 30 years in prison.