Man Denies Killing Mother On RI Seas To Steal Family Estate

RUTLAND, VT — See the latest on the Nathan Carman case.

A Vermont man at his arraignment Wednesday denied killing his mother on a boat off the coast of Rhode Island to inherit his family's estate.

Nathan Carman, 28, of Vernon, Vermont, pleaded not guilty in federal court to eight charges, including murder on the high seas and fraud charges to obtain family and insurance funds, the Associated Press reported.

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.

Prosecutors said after Nathan Carman killed his mother, he purposely sunk his boat off the coast of Rhode Island during a supposed fishing trip. Nathan Carman was found in an inflatable raft eight days later, and his mother was never found. 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. Nathan Carman also tried to defraud the company that insured his fishing boat, according to prosecutors.

If convicted of murder on the high seas, Carman faces a mandatory life prison sentence. The fraud charges each carry a potential penalty of up to 30 years in prison.

Federal prosecutors said they want Nathan Carman to remain detained, saying he poses a flight risk and a danger to the community. He is scheduled to return to court for a hearing on Monday.