Photo: Moment RF
RUTLAND, Vt. (WBZ NewsRadio) — Nathan Carman made an initial appearance in a Vermont courtroom Wednesday, a day after he was arrested and charged in his mother's 2016 death.
Carmen pleaded not guilty to charges including murder on the high seas and fraud, as prosecutors allege he killed his mother Linda Carman to obtain inheritance funds.
A judge ordered Carmen held at least until Monday, when a detention hearing is scheduled
If convicted, Carmen would face life in prison.
Prosecutors say Nathan Carman caused his ship to sink "during a supposed fishing trip" with his mother off the coast of Rhode Island. He was discovered eight days later, floating on a raft off Martha's Vineyard. His mother was never found.
Newly unsealed court documents have revealed Carmen is accused of shooting and killing his grandfather John Chakalos at his home in Connecticut in 2013, though he has not been charged in that death.
Prosecutors allege Carmen killed his grandfather in his sleep, and took steps to cover up the evidence. After his grandfather's death, Carmen received $550,000.
Three years later in September 2016, he's accused of sabotaging the boat and killing his mother at sea. Prosecutors say, as his mother's only heir, he would be in line to get about $7 million dollars from his grandfather's $29 million dollar estate.
The money from the estate is the subject of a pending case in Connecticut, after Chakalos' three surviving daughters sued to block Carman from receiving funds. A New Hampshire judge previously dismissed the case.
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