'20/20' Segment Featuring Nathan Carman’s Rescue, Mother’s Disappearance Postponed

UPDATE: The “20/20” segment featuring the rescue of Nathan Carman after a week lost at sea and the death of his mother has been postponed. The “Lost at Sea” episode had been scheduled to air on Friday, Jan. 27, but “20/20” will instead have a special about actress Mary Tyler Moore at 10 p.m.

Moore died at Greenwich Hospital Wednesday at the age of 80 after a number of health complications, including a long fight with Type 1 diabetes.

"Mary Tyler Moore: After All" will explore her childhood in Brooklyn, career and personal struggles.

The special is anchored by David Muir and Elizabeth Vargas and will feature classic interviews of Moore conducted by Barbara Walters.

ABC did not immediately announce when the "Lost at Sea" episode will air. We will update when it's announced.

Original post

MIDDLETOWN, CT — The rescue of Nathan Carman after a week lost at sea and the death of his mother, Linda Carman, of Middletown, will be featured on ABC’s “20/20” this week.

The “Lost at Sea” episode airs on “20/20” on Friday, Jan. 27 from 10 p.m. to 11 p.m. on ABC.

Nathan Carman, 22, was rescued by the Orient Lucky freighter while on a life raft last September after being lost at sea for more than a week. Until Nathan was found by the Orient Lucky about 100 miles south of Martha’s Vineyard, Linda and Nathan hadn’t been seen since they left Ram's Point Marina in Point Judith on Sept. 18 for a fishing trip on a 31-foot aluminum center console boat, the Chicken Pox.

Linda, 54, was never found and is presumed dead.

Related:

• Details Emerge in Freighter’s Rescue of Nathan Carman
• Federal Authorities Join Investigation into Linda Carman’s Disappearance
• Nathan Carman Denies Any Involvement with Grandfather’s Death, Blasts Media
• Authorities Execute Search Warrant at Rescued Man’s Vermont Home

Nathan Carman speaks with ABC News Correspondent Linzie Janis in the exclusive 20/20 interview.

Janis’ report also includes interviews with Captain Zhao Hengdong, captain of the freighter that rescued Nathan; psychologist Dr. Rebecca Sachs; Captain Dave McCormick, who is familiar with the Rhode Island marina; Mike Iozzi, a regular visitor to the area and more.

Authorities are still investigating the circumstances of Linda Carman’s disappearance.

Nathan Carman was also the last person to see his grandfather, John Chakalos, alive before he was shot and killed and authorities were suspicious of Nathan at the time, but no charges were ever filed. The murder case remains unsolved.

Nathan told 20/20 that he is innocent and was not responsible for the death of his mother or grandfather. He believes that because he has Asperger's syndrome, which is on the autism spectrum, he is being misunderstood and targeted.

Read the full press release from ABC News on Friday night’s 20/20 “Lost at Sea” episode:

A tragic accident or foul play? It was a story that made national headlines, and Friday night ABC News Correspondent Linzie Janis speaks exclusively to Nathan Carman about his rescue from the ill-fated fishing trip that claimed his mother Linda’s life.

Nathan claims it was an accident that sunk his fishing boat, but authorities are still investigating the circumstances of her disappearance.

On September 17, 2016, Nathan and Linda left a Rhode Island marina sailing far out to sea to fish for tuna. When they did not return the Coast Guard sent out a search team. Seven days later a freighter rescued Nathan from a small life raft, but Linda was nowhere to be found. Nathan claims that after the boat made a “funny” noise, began to take on water and started to sink, he was not able to find his mother and he never saw her again.

Janis' report also includes interviews with Captain Zhao Hengdong, captain of the freighter that rescued Nathan; psychologist Dr. Rebecca Sachs; Captain Dave McCormick, who is familiar with the Rhode Island marina; Mike Iozzi, a regular visitor to the area and more. “Lost at Sea” airs on “20/20” Friday, January 27 (10:00-11:00p.m., ET) on ABC.

Nathan told “20/20” that conditions were good the day they set out to sea, but McCormick, who says he was out on the same waters hours before, disagrees. This is not the first time Nathan was the last person to see a family member before their questionable death. Three years earlier Nathan was the last person to see his grandfather John Chakalos before he was shot and killed.

Authorities were suspicious of Nathan at the time, but no charges were ever filed. Nathan claims that he is innocent and that he was not responsible for the death of his mother or grandfather. He believes that because he has Asperger's syndrome, which is on the autism spectrum, he is being misunderstood and targeted.

“20/20” is anchored by Elizabeth Vargas and David Muir. David Sloan is senior executive producer.

File photo via U.S. Coast Guard