Vermont man denies any role in two family deaths
Nathan Carman, the Vermont man who was a suspect in his grandfather’s killing and whose mother disappeared at sea under strange circumstances, denies having a role in either of their deaths in court documents that were filed yesterday.
Carman’s aunts sued in New Hampshire Probate Court in July to keep him from claiming his mother’s share of the family fortune, which according to the filings stands at $28 million.
In the suit, attorneys for his aunts say Carman is the prime suspect in the deep sea disappearance and presumed death of his mother, Linda Carman, and the 2013 murder of his grandfather, John Chakalos.
“(Carman) lacks the ability to know what third parties may consider,” Nathan Carman’s attorneys wrote, responding to the allegation that he is “widely considered the prime suspect” in Chakalos’ death.
Linda Carman’s three sisters — Valerie Santilli, Elaine Chakalos and Charlene Gallagher — argue in their suit that “the facts uncovered to date warrant a finding that Nathan killed his grandfather.”
In response, Nathan Carman’s attorneys wrote: “Denies.”
“By murdering his grandfather, Nathan deprived John of the enjoyment of his last years, the fruits of his industry, and his family,” attorneys for Nathan Carman’s aunts wrote. “Nathan also deliberately and intentionally accelerated the flow of assets from his grandfather’s estate to his own benefit, and prevented his grandfather from changing his estate plan had he desired to do so.”
In response, Nathan Carman’s attorneys wrote: “Denies.”
Carman also denies knowing whether his mother had her cellphone when she went on an illfated fishing trip with him on Sept. 17, 2016. He also admitted he had a life jacket but “lacks sufficient information to know whether or not his mother used one of her own.”
He did, however, admit that Linda Carman was not in the fishing boat’s life raft after the boat sank. Nathan Carman was alone when he was rescued in the life raft more than 100 miles off Martha’s Vineyard several days later.