A federal judge on Tuesday set an October trial for the man accused of killing his mother at sea during a 2016 fishing trip off the New England coast in what prosecutors say was a scheme to inherit millions of dollars. Dollars.
Nathan Carman, 29, of Vernon, Vermont, pleaded not guilty last year to fraud and first-degree murder in the death of his mother, Linda Carman of Middletown, Connecticut. The eight-count indictment also says Carman shot and killed his wealthy grandfather John Chakalos at his home in Windsor, Connecticut, in 2013, but does not charge him with murder in his death.
US District Court Judge Geoffrey Crawford set trial Tuesday for Oct. 2 in Rutland. A federal prosecutor said the government planned to include several different types of expert testimony, including testimony on marine survival and analysis of drafts. Prosecutors plan to make those disclosures to the court by May 1.
Crawford also heard from lawyers about the defense’s motion for partial release of the proceedings of the grand jury proceedings that led to Carman’s indictment, seeking to learn what was revealed about his grandfather’s death.
VERMONT HOMELESS SHELTER ‘COMMUNITY’ TO OPEN THIS WEEK
Nathan Carman leaves federal court, August 21, 2019, in Providence, RI (AP Photo/Steven Senne, File)
CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP
Carman’s attorney, David Sullivan of Connecticut, told the judge that Carman was never charged in Chakalos’s death, but the indictment includes “direct statements that are very troubling to the defense.” He said the investigation into Chakalos’ death is ongoing and has not been closed.
Assistant US Attorney Paul Van de Graaf said the “murder” of Chakalos is part of the fraud charge.
In September 2016, Carman organized a fishing trip with his mother, during which prosecutors say he planned to kill her, and report his boat sank and his mother missing in the accident.
He was found floating in an inflatable raft eight days after leaving a Rhode Island marina with his mother, who has never been found. Prosecutors allege that he tampered with the ship to make it more likely that she would sink. Carman has denied that allegation.
