Did Carman Plan Boat Ride The Night His Grandfather Died?

PROVIDENCE, RI — The two companies that insured Nathan Carman's sunken boat, Chicken Pox, have filed court papers asking the judge to compel Carman "to answer brief deposition questions related to his grandfather’s homicide and the specific firearm that has been associated with it as well as Defendant’s possible inheritance from his grandfather and mother." The Chicken Pox went down with Carman's mother Linda in September 2016 on a fishing trip from Point Judith.

She is presumed dead. Carman was rescued at sea. His grandfather was shot to death in 2013. The weapon was never recovered, but police say it is the same caliber as the gun Carman bought in New Hampshire. His family says he stands to inherit millions from his grandfather and mother's deaths and was the last person to see both his mother and his grandfather alive. They have filed a separate lawsuit to prevent him from inheriting. According to the motion by National Liability & Fire Insurance Co. and Boat Owners Association of the United States, Carman dodged their questions about his grandfather's murder during a deposition last week in Salem, Mass. They still want these questions answered.

"Where, when, and why, did Defendant purchase the Sig Sauer 716 Patrol .308 caliber rifle?

"How much did it cost? Are there any purchase and sale documents and/or permits related to the Sig Sauer 716 Patrol .308 caliber rifle?

"Is the Sig Sauer 716 Patrol .308 caliber rifle now in Defendant’s possession and if not, where is it or what happened to it? When did he last have possession of it?

"Regarding the Coast Guard reference to a boat ride on the night Defendant’s grandfather was murdered, who planned to go and/or went for a boat ride that night and what is Defendant’s understanding of his possible inheritance?

"As with his mother, was Defendant the last person to see his grandfather alive?

"Did Defendant murder his grandfather? Does Defendant know who did?

The plaintiffs said Carman's lawyer advised him not to answer questions about a gun he bought in New Hampshire and about a boat ride he planned to take the night Chakalos was murdered. According to the motion, Carman "tried to run out the 7 hour deposition clock" with long answers to the attorney's questions.

"Many of his answers can only be described as long-winded," the plaintiffs said. "Without going into them in
this motion because the transcript is filed under seal, as one example,' Carman brought up his "kindergarten days" in one answer.

Carman's attorney also appeared to be coaching him, the plaintiffs complained, and took up time with objections.

"There were repeated speaking objections, also long-winded, and sometimes yelled," the plaintiffs said. Ultimately, Carman did not answer any questions about the gun, the boat ride, the murder, and how much money Carman may inherit from his grandfather's estate.

Most of the case records are sealed, but not the Middletown police arrest warrant for Carman, who had been a person of interest in his grandfather's murder. According to the police, John Chakalos was found dead in his Windsor, Conn., home on Dec. 20, 2013. He and Carman had eaten dinner at the house the night before. Carman was "the last person known to have seen Chakalos alive around" 8:30 p.m. Carman was supposed to meet his mother early the next morning to go to Rhode Island but did not show up or answer his cell phone, police said.

The court records also indicate Carman suffers from Asperger's syndrome.

Dan Small, a lawyer for the Chakalos family, said they are "shocked that Nathan has repeatedly refused to answer questions about his $3,000 assault rifle with the same caliber as the murder weapon used to kill his grandfather. Covering up such a dangerous weapon is outrageous and devastatingly incriminating, especially during litigation and court ordered inquiries.”

AP Photo/ Michael Dwyer