Crime House Daily: Night Watch – Murder, Inheritance, and the Carman Family Mystery

Host: Katie Ring
Date: December 8, 2025

Episode Overview

Tonight's Night Watch episode, hosted by Katie Ring, investigates the enigmatic Carman family deaths—a saga of murder, inheritance, and generational conflict spanning over a decade. It centers on the unsolved killings of John Chakalos (family patriarch and millionaire) and his daughter Linda, with suspicion circling her son, Nathan Carman. The case has returned to public scrutiny with the recent release of Casey Sherman's book Blood in the Water and a new Netflix documentary.

Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. The Carman-Chakalos Family Background

• John Chakalos, a WWII veteran and self-made real estate millionaire, prized family but harbored complicated relationships with his daughters and grandson, Nathan.
• Linda Carman (John's daughter) and her son Nathan shared a turbulent dynamic, affected by Nathan's mental health struggles and John’s interventionist role.

2. Nathan Carman’s Early Life and Mental Health

• Nathan diagnosed with Asperger's; felt isolated and disliked being labeled as different.
• After the death of his beloved horse, Cruz (2010), Nathan’s mental health worsened—he began acting out, was hospitalized, and experienced severe family tensions, including physical altercations between Linda and John over his care.
• Quote:
  "He'd started calling people he didn't like 'agents of the devil.'" (Katie Ring, 06:40)

3. The Murder of John Chakalos (2013)

• John was found dead by his eldest daughter, Elaine, shot three times in his bedroom, the scene staged to look like a break-in (blood on the walls, shattered glass from the inside, cash left untouched).
• Suspicion fell on Linda and Nathan:
  • Both had flimsy alibis (“they didn’t know what time they went fishing or if they went fishing at all” – Katie Ring, 12:39).
  • New evidence (from Blood in the Water): Nathan had purchased a Sig Sauer rifle (matching the murder weapon) a month prior; initially lied, then claimed he’d lost it.
  • Police searched Nathan’s apartment—found missing electronics, discarded GPS, but not the murder weapon.
  • Arrest warrant denied due to lack of physical evidence.

4. Inheritance and Changing Family Fortunes

• John’s daughters inherited most of his $44 million estate; Nathan received $550,000, which he used to buy real estate and a boat.
• Tensions over inheritance money were central:
  "They don’t want it, but they don’t want Carman to have it either." (Katie Ring, 00:53)

5. Linda Carman’s Disappearance at Sea (2016)

• Nathan and Linda set off on a fishing trip from Rhode Island—Linda filed a meticulous “float plan,” but the two never returned.
• The Coast Guard launched a massive search; both presumed dead after no trace was found for a week.
• Family suspicion was immediate:
  • Quote: "Valerie told them that Nathan was the, quote, 'town freak,' that he’d killed his grandfather, and that he had a reason to kill Linda." (Katie Ring, 14:39)
• Investigation revealed questionable boat repairs by Nathan—critical parts removed and poorly patched.

6. Nathan’s Miraculous Rescue and Questionable Account

• Nathan was discovered a week later, afloat on a life raft 100 miles off Martha’s Vineyard.
• Rescue footage (widely available) sparked skepticism: Nathan appeared unscathed, not displaying expected physical symptoms from a week at sea.
• Nathan’s version:
  • Did not alert Linda to boat problems, attempted repairs himself.
  • Did not call for help, claimed Linda simply vanished (“must have gotten tangled or hit her head”).
  • Coast Guard unconvinced but lacked proof of foul play.

7. Civil and Criminal Proceedings

• Insurance company denied Nathan’s $85,000 claim for the lost boat—civil trial concluded the sinking was his fault.
• Nathan’s aunts filed to block him from inheriting Linda’s life insurance and estate.
• In May 2022, Nathan indicted for his mother’s murder (and suspected for grandfather’s), with the suspicion he acted for inheritance.
• Before standing trial, Nathan was found dead by suicide in his jail cell in June 2023, closing the door on a criminal verdict.

8. Enduring Mysteries and Public Fascination

• Linda was declared legally dead seven years after her disappearance.
• Renewed interest has followed the Netflix documentary (The Carman Family Deaths) and ongoing questions about what evidence authorities had against Nathan.
• Quote:
  "Many people still wonder if authorities will reveal the full extent of their investigation into Nathan and what led them to finally arrest him." (Katie Ring, 23:43)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On family legacy and conflict:
  "John’s motto was: 'Without family, you’ve got nothing. Family is everything.'" (Katie Ring, 04:03)

• On Nathan’s perception by family and community:
  "Valerie told them that Nathan was the, quote, 'town freak,' that he’d killed his grandfather, and that he had a reason to kill Linda." (Katie Ring, 14:39)

• On Nathan's claims about the boat's final moments: "He apparently didn't radio for help because he didn't want to trigger an emergency response if it wasn't actually that serious." (Katie Ring, 19:32)

• On public fascination and unresolved justice:
  "But that didn’t put an end to the web of theories and speculation surrounding the case." (Katie Ring, 23:25)

Timestamps for Important Segments

• [00:44–02:41]: Introduction to the Carman family and the scope of the mystery
• [04:00–09:50]: Family dynamics, Nathan’s mental health struggles, and the lead-up to John Chakalos’s murder
• [11:58–15:41]: Crime scene details, investigation into Nathan, missing rifle, and the fizzling out of the case
• [16:20–18:52]: Linda’s disappearance at sea, suspicions about Nathan, investigation of the boat
• [18:52–21:35]: Nathan’s rescue, questionable story, and the sequence of the investigation
• [21:36–23:25]: Civil & criminal action against Nathan, his jail suicide, documentary release, and unanswered questions

Conclusion

Crime House Daily’s deep dive into the Carman family murders weaves together true crime storytelling, family drama, and unsolved mystery. With high stakes, tragic outcomes, and the absence of a legal conclusion, this case lingers in the public imagination—especially as new books and documentaries reignite debate and hope for closure.

Endnote:
"Rest assured, we'll be bringing you any and all major updates as they come in."
— Katie Ring, [23:50]