True Crime Obsessed – Episode 479: The Carman Family Deaths (Netflix Recap)

Release Date: January 6, 2026
Hosts: Patrick Hines, Julian Bethevoli

Overview

In this gripping and darkly humorous episode, Patrick and Julian unpack the Netflix documentary “The Carman Family Deaths”—a tangled saga of family dysfunction, generational wealth, unsolved murders, and suspicious disappearances shrouded by the unknowable depths of the sea. Through their trademark sassy banter, they explore how the death and disappearance of Linda Carman and her son Nathan’s survival at sea spawned a whirlwind of investigation, family finger-pointing, and questions about neurodiversity, mental illness, and justice.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Carman Family Tragedy: Setting the Scene

• Location: Begins with a 2016 fishing trip off Block Island, Rhode Island, where Linda and her 22-year-old son Nathan go missing.
• Discovery: After an 8-day search, Nathan is found alive in a life raft; Linda remains missing, presumed dead.
• Family Drama: The wealthy Carman dynasty’s legacy is introduced, centering on an iron-fisted patriarch and a fractured group of heirs.

Quote:

• "The ocean is terrifying. I've been saying!" — Julian (02:34)

2. Search and Rescue: Nathan’s Survival Story

• The Search: 62,000 square nautical miles searched—unsuccessful for six days, then Nathan found alive on day eight, 100 nautical miles off Martha's Vineyard.
• Skepticism: Coast Guard and cargo ship captain note Nathan’s healthy appearance despite supposedly being adrift for eight days—no severe dehydration or weakness.
• Autism and Perception: Nathan, who is autistic, is matter-of-fact and logical, which police, media, and family often misread as suspicious.

Quote:

• "His autism—the very thing that saved him those eight days is what’s going to be weaponized against him now." — Patrick (12:30)

3. Early Suspicions and Police Actions

• Strange Behaviors: Nathan leaves bait in his truck, claims a spontaneous 70-mile course change, and oddly fails to radio for help when the boat starts sinking.
• Police Response: Even before Nathan is rescued, his home and car are searched. A damning note is found detailing why he distrusts the police—not specifically tied to the case, but raising investigators’ suspicions.
• Host Commentary: Patrick and Julian find this circular—police interpret standard skepticism as proof of guilt.

Memorable Moment:

• “Generally, the police are corrupt and often criminal.” — Document cited by police (13:45)

4. Family Dysfunction & Motive: Money is Everything

• The Grandfather: John Chakalos, a real estate tycoon, is described as charismatic, controlling, and abusive. Upon his murder, the sisters inherit $10.5M each, on top of huge monthly allowances.
• Suspicion Within: The Carman sisters immediately blame Nathan for their mother’s disappearance and their father’s murder, cutting ties with him and his father.
• Pattern of Toxic Control: The hosts comment on generational trauma, with abuse and money tied together, making for deep resentment and manipulation all around.

Quote:

• "Charlene, why are you already lying to me, girl? Bad vibes up and down with this one." — Julian (25:36)
• “It was all about getting the money—the whole family’s dysfunction stems from money.” — Patrick (23:35)

5. Investigations: Grandfather’s Murder & Nathan as Suspect

• The Crime: John Chakalos found executed in bed; no signs of theft, suggesting someone close.
• Nathan’s Alibi: He claims to have left after dinner to meet his mom, but cannot explain a one-hour gap; fails to call his waiting mother.
• Weapon Purchase: Nathan bought a gun with an out-of-state license, lied to police about it, and the gun has never been recovered. Ballistics only partially implicate him.

Quote:

• “Nathan told the cops he does not own a gun, so that, like, he lied to the police about owning a gun.” — Patrick (57:59)

6. Nathan’s Mental Health: Autism, Trauma, and Isolation

• Upbringing: Nathan is autistic, deeply attached to his horse (his only friend), and becomes dangerously isolated after a series of abusive “tough love” interventions, including a notoriously abusive teen camp.
• Host Critique: The hosts rage at his parents, especially considering their financial means, for sending him to these camps.
• Aftermath: Upon his return, Nathan isolates in a camper and struggles with further mental health crises.
• Money as Control: Despite family rift, Nathan remains bankrolled by his grandfather, who also undermines Linda’s attempts at care.

Quote:

• “Let me tell you something. You have so much money…there are so many other options…But anything that starts with your kid being dragged out of your home–kicking and screaming and sobbing–that’s the beginning. That’s how it starts.” — Julian (45:13)

7. Life Insurance, Boat Alterations, and Prosecutors’ Theory

• Insurance Claims: Nathan seeks a payout for the sunken boat; insurance discovers he previously sabotaged the vessel by removing critical trim tabs, increasing the likelihood of sinking.
• Drift Analysis: Prosecutors state oceanic drift calculations show Nathan could not have ended up where he did if his story was true. Defense calls this junk science.
• Emergency Supplies: Nathan’s “ditch bag” with a water maker and food, at first pilloried by authorities, is refuted by an autistic expert as “normal” for someone methodical.

Quote:

• “Having a water maker on a boat—it’s just smart! Why aren’t those standard?” — Julian (73:14)

8. The Final Act: Arrest, Charges, and Tragedy

• Criminal Case: Nathan is arrested and charged with “murder on the high seas.” Prosecutors allege he kills his mother to secure her and his grandfather’s inheritance.
• Sinking the Raft: When rescued, the life raft sinks almost immediately—prosecutors believe it was deliberate to destroy evidence.
• Nathan’s Death: Awaiting trial, Nathan dies by suicide in jail—no note left behind, further clouding the mysteries.

Quote:

• “Nathan kills himself…that took my breath away. I did not see that coming.” — Patrick (83:03)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “Fam, the ocean is terrifying!” — Julian (02:34)
• “You can make your own money…my peace is more valuable than anything.” — Julian (35:06)
• “All of this makes sense. All of this is fine. And it makes sense when you understand later what he’s been through.” — Patrick (15:31)
• “Despite the fact that I think he did it, he should not have been questioned in the way he was.” — Patrick (84:36)
• “Linda Carmen was officially declared dead in October of 2023, and the investigation into her death has been closed.” — Onscreen update (83:55)

Timestamps for Key Segments

• [03:28] The Carman family goes missing at sea
• [05:35] The search for Linda and Nathan begins
• [09:09] Nathan’s rescue and Coast Guard suspicions
• [13:45] The infamous anti-police memo is discovered
• [22:51] Family cutoff: speculation after Linda’s death
• [23:35] Exposé on the toxic Carman family and inheritance
• [39:23] The abusive family legacy and mental health
• [45:00] Nathan sent to a "tough love" camp
• [57:59] Nathan’s gun purchase & lying to police
• [70:36] Feds allege Nathan sabotaged the boat
• [71:56] Theories: did Nathan stage his own survival?
• [83:03] Nathan’s suicide in jail before the trial

Tone & Style

The hosts keep the podcast lively with sarcasm and irreverence, but show sensitivity toward neurodiversity and mental health. Their exasperation at family dysfunction and the criminal system’s mishandling of suspects with autism is palpable. They continually call out the human cost of generational trauma and greed.

Conclusion

Although the Carman family’s tragedies remain officially unsolved, Patrick and Julian are clear: there’s a mountain of circumstantial evidence against Nathan, but a larger indictment remains—the corrosive power of wealth, the failure to support neurodiverse people, and the way police can misinterpret difference as guilt. The episode closes with both hosts agreeing the story is a “mystery,” but many questions remain—especially about justice for those who don’t fit into the system’s preconceived boxes.

Next up: “Homicide Hunter: The Man with No Face” — the hosts tease a new Discovery doc as they sign off with affection for their listeners:
"We love you. Stay safe."