In one of New England’s most notorious murder mysteries, Nathan Carman is accused of killing his mother and grandfather to gain access to the family’s fortune.Author Casey Sherman, a Cape Cod native, digs into the case in his new book, “Blood in the Water.”It’s at the center of a “20/20″ special airing on Friday night.NewsCenter 5’s Jennifer Eagan spoke with Sherman on Friday to learn more about his book.”I think that people that watch the special or read my book, you’re going to hear some people say that, ‘oh, Nathan Carmen’s innocent,'” Sherman said. “Then you’re going to hear other people that say, ‘no, he’s guilty.'”Carman set out on a boat from Rhode Island in September 2016 with his mother, Linda Carman, on board.He told investigators it suddenly sank.Included in the “20/20″ special is a police interview with Carman broadcast for the first time.”I didn’t realize we were sinking,” Carman said. “I knew there was water in the bilge. I knew there was a lot of water in the bilge, which is why I wanted to bring the safety stuff up as a precaution.”Carman survived on a life raft, picked up by a Chinese cargo ship.Linda Carman’s body was never recovered.Carman quickly came under suspicion, but Sherman said he has his questions.”How does he stay 115 miles south of Martha’s Vineyard in a life raft, allegedly for seven days, hoping that a Chinese cargo ship passing in the shipping lanes of the North Atlantic is not only going to rescue him, but even see him?” Sherman said.In June 2023, Carman took his own life in jail. He had denied the allegations he killed his mother. He had also been questioned in connection to his grandfather’s murder in 2013 but was never charged.His grandfather, John Chakalos, a wealthy real estate developer, was shot in his Connecticut home.However, once again, Sherman said he found a complex story.He interviewed a caretaker who had an odd story to tell.”She was approached by someone, an associate, so to speak, of the family who said, ‘You’re a hunter, correct?’ She said, ‘Yes, I am,'” Sherman said. “Can you take John chocolates out to the woods and kill him? Shoot him, make it look like a hunting accident, and we’ll pay you $10,000. Now, she laughed it off, thought it was a dark, sick joke, until two weeks later, John Chakalos is murdered in his bed.”

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