Death of Vermont man, 28, found in his cell after killing his mother was ruled ‘not suspicious’

The death in prison of a man accused of murdering his mother and grandfather in an attempt to get their hands on their inheritance has been ruled ‘not suspicious’.

Nathan Carman, 29, was found dead on June 15 at a Keene County jail in New Hampshire. At the time, one of the autistic suspect’s lawyers suggested he committed suicide, claiming that the county coroner revealed that Carman “hanged himself.”

Now the New Hampshire AG has released the official ruling after analysis by the coroner. Carman’s death was ruled “not suspicious” because no one else was involved.

The AG declined to release a cause of death and the manner of the suspect’s death – citing a policy that government officials will not release such information in non-suspicious cases.

At the time of his death, Carman was awaiting trial for the murder of his mother on a boat he was accused of deliberately sinking off Rhode Island in 2016. Prosecutors further alleged that he killed his grandfather years earlier, all to inherit $7 million.

Carman was accused of killing his mother, Linda Carman (pictured left), 54, during a fishing trip off New England in 2016. Eight days after they departed from Rhode Island, he was found clinging to an inflatable life raft. by a passing freighter. Her body was never found

The Burlington, Vermont, indictment also alleges that Carman shot and killed his grandfather John Chakalos (right), 87, while sleeping at home in Windsor, Connecticut, in 2013

In addition, the US Marshals Service in Vermont added that it will not release Carman’s cause of death – at the request of family.

Carman was accused of killing his mother, Linda, 54, during a fishing trip off the New England coast in 2016.

Eight days after they departed from the Rhode Island marina, he was found clinging to an inflatable life raft by a passing freighter. His mother’s body was never found.

On June 15, while Carman was awaiting trial, he was found dead in a prison cell.

The AG’s office confirmed that authorities consider a death “not suspicious” if they have determined that no one else was involved or if no crime had been committed.

Carman pleaded not guilty to fraud and first-degree murder last year in the 2016 death of his mother, Linda Carman, and was scheduled to go on trial in October.

An eight-count indictment also said Carman shot and killed his wealthy grandfather John Chakalos in 2013 while he slept, in order to obtain money and property from his grandfather’s estate.

But the indictment did not charge Carman with his grandfather’s murder, and he had consistently denied any involvement in the two deaths.

In 2022, six years after the sinking, he was arrested for the murder of his mother. Carman’s high seas murder trial was set to take place in October. Authorities have not yet confirmed the cause of his death.

He was also charged with murdering his real estate developer grandfather at his home in Windsor, Connecticut, in 2013. Carman inherited $550,000.

Carman is seen following his 2016 “rescue” at sea. Prosecutors say he killed his mother and deliberately sank his boat as part of a plan to get a $7 million inheritance

A lawyer for Carman spoke to him the night before he died and said he “had no idea” the 29-year-old was in a state where he could commit suicide

Prosecutors alleged that Carman killed his mother on this boat called the Chicken Pox (above) that he altered to make it more likely to sink that day

Carman and his mother Linda often went on fishing trips together (above) and prosecutors say he used it as a pretext to lure her to her death in 2016

During his arraignment in a federal court in Rutland, Vermont, he told reporters he was “not guilty.”

Prosecutors at the time alleged that he modified the boat to increase the chance of sinking. Carman denied that claim.

Almost immediately, Carman’s attorneys, Martin Minnella and David Sullivan, criticized the charges – which included allegations that Carman killed his grandfather, saying he was never charged with that crime.

David Sullivan, another of Carman’s lawyers, spoke to him the night before he died and said he “had no suspicion whatsoever” that the 29-year-old was in a state where he could commit suicide.

“I’m so upset by the thought that somewhere after 7 o’clock something in his head brought him to that moment,” Sullivan said. ‘I do not understand.’

Sullivan, who doesn’t blame the Cheshire County Jail and said to his knowledge his client was treated well there, said his last words to Carman were, “Okay my friend, sleep tight.”

Minnella also said Carman had been positive leading up to his death and would defend himself at a trial in October.

Carman had Asperger’s syndrome, which Minnella said may have influenced him to be incarcerated for long periods of time.

After his death, Minnella said he would pay for the deceased suspect’s funeral.

“My only concern right now is getting him out [the morgue] and give him a proper burial so that he may rest in peace,” he said at the time. “I feel I owe him that.”