HARTFORD, Conn. _ The aunts of Nathan Carman are asking a New Hampshire court to declare him the murderer of his grandfather and bar him from receiving any of the proceeds from John Chakalos' $40 million estate.
The petition alleges that Nathan Carman committed the "heinous act" of shooting and killing Chakalos in 2013 out of "malice and greed" and states "the petitioners believe that Nathan murdered their father, and they ask this court to so find."
The petitioners are the sisters of Linda Carman, who was lost at sea in September while on a fishing trip with Nathan Carman, who was rescued. Linda Carman is presumed dead.
When the Chakalos probate case is closed, Nathan Carman would be in line to collect the portion of the estate that would have gone to Linda Carman.
"His aunts seek to prevent that unjust result," the petition states. The legal action is known as a "slayer" petition.
John Chakalos was killed in December 2013 inside his house in Windsor. Police have acknowledged that Nathan Carman was a suspect in that case but no one has been charged.
"In 2013, four sisters suffered an unthinkable tragedy when their father John Chakalos was murdered in his own home. Less than three years later one of those sisters, Linda Carman, disappeared at sea under highly suspicious circumstances," Boston attorney Dan Small said Monday.
Small is representing the three surviving daughters of John Chakalos.
"The last person to see both of these family members alive was Nathan Carman, John's grandson and Linda's son," Small said. "The details and evidence in the death of John and the disappearance of Linda all point to Nathan as the prime suspect. Yet he now stands to inherit millions of dollars from their estates."
"This is not about money, it is about justice. If the Chakalos sisters win this lawsuit and any money that would have gone to Nathan instead goes to the surviving sisters individually, they pledge to use those funds exclusively to pay for expenses incurred relating to the investigation into the death of their father and disappearance of their sister, and any remaining funds will go to charity."
Nathan Carman's lawyer, Hubert Santos, declined comment.
The FBI and police from several New England states have been investigating the murder of John Chakalos and the disappearance of Linda Carman.
Nathan and Linda Carman were reported missing Sept. 18 while on a fishing trip. They left from South Kingstown, R.I., late at night to go tuna fishing in Block Canyon, an area where Linda Carman had not wanted to fish.
Nathan Carman was rescued eight days later by a passing freighter off the coast of Martha's Vineyard after being found floating in an emergency raft.
Multiple law enforcement agencies are investigating Linda Carman's disappearance. They have obtained search warrants for Nathan Carman's vehicle, cellphone and Vermont home. In those documents, they indicate they are investigating whether to charge him with "operating (a boat) so as to endanger, resulting in death."
