Carman ‘incapable’ of producing records
CONCORD, N.H. — The Vermont man suspected in the murder of his wealthy grandfather and the disappearance of his mother told a New Hampshire judge yesterday that he doesn’t have key documents that lawyers for his aunts are seeking. The prime document sought is about a $3,000 assault rifle he allegedly bought in this state — the same caliber of gun they say was used to kill his grandfather.
At a hearing in the 6th Circuit Court Probate Division here, Nathan Carman, representing himself, said he was “incapable” of producing his cellphone records and credit card statements because they are in the name of his grandfather, real estate developer John Chakalos, who was shot to death in 2013.
Daniel I. Small, the attorney for the three sisters of Linda Carman, who vanished at sea in 2016 during a fishing trip with her son, said the case has been “badly delayed … and the family has been frustrated” by her son’s “pattern” of refusing to turn over documents and to answer questions by pleading the Fifth Amendment, the right against self-incrimination.
“It’s inconceivable that the respondent does not have the documents we have requested,” he said.
Carman’s aunts want to prevent him from collecting millions of dollars from his grandfather’s $44 million estate.
Judge David D. King said he would consider their request that he compel Carman to produce the documents.
King said that Carman is the beneficiary of at least one trust, but the 24-year-old claimed he was never told that.
“Nathan Carman continues to conceal and evade,” Small said in a statement. “John Chakalos’ daughters fully cooperated with the investigation, including passing lie detector tests. By contrast, Nathan has repeatedly refused to cooperate with the police and refused to take a lie detector test and now claims that even answering the most basic questions about his ‘missing’ assault weapon would incriminate him. Nathan is obsessed with money. All the family wants is justice. From day one, the family has pledged that if they receive money as a result of winning this case, it will go to a charity in Linda Carman’s honor. Nathan wants blood money — the family wants no part of it.”
Carman has not been charged in connection with his grandfather’s murder or his mother’s presumed death.
But National Liability & Fire Insurance Co. and the Boat Owners Association of the United States claim in court papers they don’t have to pay the $85,000 policy he had on his boat because he damaged it “with the intention of sinking” it.
“This is a serious case,” King said. “Even though you can’t go to jail as a result of what happens here, the stakes are high for you financially.”
Carman, who fired his lawyers in February, said he plans to hire another attorney with proceeds from the sale of his house, which he put on the market two weeks ago.
“It’s not so much about the money,” he said of his aunts’ lawsuit. “It’s about my reputation. I’m very concerned about protecting my future. … It’s just a challenge for me every day with the emotions I’m going through.”
The case is due back in court on May 21.