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‘The Carman Family Deaths’: Everything to Know About Netflix’s New True Crime Documentary
The mysterious death of a mother during a camping trip with her son will be looked into in Netflix’s upcoming documentary The Carman Family Deaths.
Life & Style breaks down everything to know about the true crime story, the documentary and more.
What Happened to the Carman Family?
Linda Carman and her 22-year-old son, Nathan Carman, went on an overnight fishing trip in Rhode Island in September 2016, per Netflix’s Tudum. The two were reported missing when Linda failed to contact a friend the following day, and the Coast Guard set out on a search that spanned nearly 62,000 nautical square miles.
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Eight days after their disappearance, Nathan was spotted by a passing freighter as he drifted alone in a life raft about 100 miles south of Martha’s Vineyard. While Nathan was rescued, Linda was never found.
Shortly after he was discovered, Nathan detailed his difficult time at sea and seemed shocked that his mother didn’t survive.
However, investigators and relatives quickly began to question gaps in his recollection of the experience that included skipped safety steps and a risky route offshore. Additionally, authorities were suspicious of the way Nathan – who was diagnosed with autism as a child – carried himself throughout his interviews.
Another reason authorities grew suspicious of Nathan was that the family experienced another death in recent years. Linda’s millionaire father, John Chakalos, was found murdered in his bed three years earlier. According to Tudum, Nathan was the last known person to see his grandfather alive.
Nathan was eventually arrested and charged in connection with the death of his mother in 2022, according to a press release from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Vermont.
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The case was covered in an April 2025 episode of 20/20, which revealed Nathan died by suicide in jail on June 15, 2023. Nathan’s death prompted the dismissal of his criminal charges in Linda’s passing. However, the Windsor Police Department told the news program that the investigation into Chakalos’ murder case is still active.
What Is ‘The Carman Family Deaths’ About?
According to the The Carman Family Deaths logline, the project documents “a young man’s dramatic rescue at sea” as it “spirals into accusations he murdered two members of his wealthy New England family in this true-crime documentary.”
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Yon Motskin directed the documentary, which was produced by Mary-Jane Mitchell and executive produced by Heidi Ewing and Rachel Grady. Additionally, the documentary was produced in partnership with Wired Studios.
When Does ‘The Carman Family Deaths’ Premiere?
The Carman Family Deaths premieres on Netflix on November 19, 2025.
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