The Haunting Case of Nathan Carman and Linda Carman: Mystery, Tragedy, and Suspicion off the New England Coast
NEW ENGLAND — The open waters off the coast of New England have long been a place of beauty and peril. They’ve borne witness to countless tales of both survival and tragedy, from the whaling days of yore to the modern maritime disasters that still make headlines today. Yet few of these stories are as perplexing—or as haunting—as the case of Nathan Carman and his mother, Linda.
What began as a routine fishing trip in the fall of 2016 quickly turned into a tale that would captivate national attention for years to come, as questions surrounding the fates of both Carmans have remained unanswered. The disappearance of Linda Carman and the extraordinary survival of her son, Nathan, set off a chain of investigations, legal battles, and public scrutiny that has left the world wondering whether this was simply a tragic accident at sea or something far more sinister — a calculated act of murder driven by the lure of money.
The Tragic Event: A Mother-Son Fishing Trip Gone Wrong
On September 17, 2016, Nathan Carman, a 22-year-old man from Middletown, Rhode Island, and his mother, Linda Carman, embarked on what seemed like a normal outing. The pair set sail aboard a 31-foot boat, the Chicken Pox, with plans for a fishing trip off the coast of New England. The boat was equipped with the necessary supplies, and the weather forecast indicated calm seas—perfect conditions for a day on the water.
But by the following morning, things took a dramatic and horrifying turn. A distress signal was sent from the boat at around 8:00 a.m. on September 18, and Nathan Carman was found alone, clinging to the overturned hull of the vessel. His mother, Linda, was nowhere to be found.
Nathan was rescued by a passing freighter after drifting at sea for over a day. He was taken to a hospital in Boston, suffering from mild hypothermia and dehydration, but otherwise alive. His account of what happened during the fateful trip was harrowing: he claimed that the boat had suddenly taken on water and capsized, and he was thrown into the ocean. As for Linda, he said she had disappeared after the boat flipped, leaving no trace.
Authorities quickly launched a massive search for Linda, hoping to find her alive and drifting somewhere nearby. Tragically, no sign of Linda was found, and the search was eventually called off after several days of combing the waters.
A Questionable Account: Was it Really an Accident?
While the tragedy of a mother’s disappearance was deeply unsettling, the circumstances surrounding the event raised questions from the very beginning. Nathan’s account of what happened on the boat did not align with the evidence found by investigators, casting doubt on whether this was truly an accident—or something far darker.
In the days following the rescue, Nathan told authorities that the boat had capsized due to a sudden and unexplained flooding. However, investigators soon uncovered discrepancies in his story. For example, they found that Nathan had failed to activate the boat’s distress beacon—a vital piece of emergency equipment. It seemed odd that someone with his apparent experience on the water would neglect to use such an important tool.
Moreover, investigators found that the boat’s hull had been punctured in a manner that didn’t fit Nathan’s description of the event. Rather than an accidental flooding of the boat, the damage suggested that the boat had been intentionally disabled, leading some to wonder if this was not an accident at all.
As the investigation unfolded, suspicions began to mount that Nathan may have had a financial motive for his mother’s death. Linda Carman had been involved in a $300,000 life insurance policy, a potential windfall for Nathan if his mother died under mysterious circumstances. Some speculated that Nathan’s growing financial troubles, coupled with the promise of a large payout, may have driven him to orchestrate a tragic accident to claim the insurance money.
The Investigation: A Web of Secrets and Inconsistencies
As authorities delved deeper into the circumstances of the case, they found that Nathan had a history of financial difficulties and legal issues. He had been in the process of selling the family’s home and was reportedly in debt at the time of the trip. Further, questions arose about the boat’s condition before the fateful outing. Authorities discovered that Nathan had failed to properly maintain the boat, which could have contributed to the flooding and subsequent capsizing.
But perhaps the most puzzling aspect of the case was the lack of physical evidence. While Nathan was found alive, his mother’s body was never recovered, leaving no concrete proof of what really happened during those critical moments at sea. The lack of a clear explanation, coupled with the contradictory statements Nathan made, led some to believe that the incident may have been premeditated.
Despite the growing suspicions, Nathan was never arrested for his mother’s death. In 2017, a grand jury declined to indict him for any charges related to the incident. However, this did little to quell the public’s doubts about his innocence. Many believed that Nathan had been given an easy escape, and questions about whether justice would ever be served lingered.
The Legal Battle: Money, Motive, and Misfortune
The case of Nathan and Linda Carman continued to simmer in the public eye for years. In 2019, Nathan Carman was named as a defendant in a civil lawsuit filed by the estate of Linda Carman. The suit alleged that Nathan had intentionally caused the sinking of the boat in order to collect the life insurance payout. Nathan denied any wrongdoing, claiming that the accusations were baseless and that he had been the victim of a tragic accident. The civil case continued to unfold, but as of now, no criminal charges have been brought against him.
In 2021, Nathan also faced a separate civil suit from the Carman family’s survivors, who claimed that he had intentionally murdered his mother. This suit accused Nathan of wrongful death, fraud, and deceit in his attempt to collect the insurance payout. Once again, Nathan vehemently denied all allegations, maintaining that the incident was nothing more than a terrible accident at sea.
A Case that Remains Unresolved
Nearly a decade later, the mystery of what happened to Linda Carman still hangs over the Carman family and the New England coast. The tragedy of a mother’s disappearance, and the possible involvement of her son, has left more questions than answers.
Was Linda Carman truly the victim of a tragic accident, or was she the victim of a premeditated act of murder designed to line Nathan Carman’s pockets with insurance money? While the official narrative remains one of tragedy and loss, the case continues to fuel speculation, controversy, and deep mistrust.
As time passes, the mystery may never be fully resolved. But for those who were affected by the disappearance of Linda Carman, the pain and questions will persist—haunting the waters off New England for years to come.