BURLINGTON - The prosecution and defense say they believe there is currently no need to assess the mental health of a man from Windham County accused of murder on the high seas in his mother’s death and seven counts of fraud.
Nathan Carman, 28, of Vernon, was brought to U.S. District Court in Burlington by Deputy Federal Marshals for a brief hearing Friday afternoon. Karman wore a green prison suit, sneakers and a blue COVID mask.
Chief Federal Judge Jeffrey W. Crawford said he was interested in finding out sooner - not later - whether either side thought competence would become a problem and would need evaluation.
Assistant Federal Defender Mary M. Nerino said that she “firmly believes” that there is no reason to consider the need for a test.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Paul J. Van de Graaf said that the prosecution did not plan to question competence at this time and did not know the reason for asking for the test.
Van de Graf reminded the court that he is still free to order an assessment on his own initiative.
As everyone agreed that a mental health examination was not needed at the moment, Crawford interrupted the hearing. Crawford mentioned that he will consider all requests if something changes.
Federal prosecutors said earlier in court documents that Karman had been treated for mental health problems since he was a small child until he was 17 years old. He has since avoided further treatment, they said.
“For an individual who would kill members of his family, nothing is ruled out,” prosecutors wrote. The hearing is scheduled for Monday.
On May 11, Karman pleaded not guilty in the U.S. District Court in Rutland to an 8-count federal indictment.
Crawford ordered Karman’s detention pending a custody hearing. He is being held at the Northwest State Correctional Facility in St. Albans.
Assistant Federal Defender Sarah M. Pulse asked for a postponement of the detention hearing in order to prepare a possible release plan for Karman. She said it takes time to search for potential witnesses, record and conduct other consultations and investigations.
“This is a complex case with factual allegations dating back to 2016, when many accusations took place outside the country,” Pulse wrote.
Crawford agreed to provide 60 days to start and said he would be willing to consider additional time if needed.
A federal grand jury in Rutland returned a sealed indictment on May 2, charging Karman with three counts of mail fraud, four counts of fraud and one count of murder on the high seas.
Karman was arrested on May 10 at his home in Windham County and was brought before the accused the next day.
He is accused of killing his mother Linda Karman on September 17 and 18, 2016, “intentionally, intentionally, maliciously and with premeditation.” The killing took place “within the special maritime and territorial jurisdiction of the United States,” the indictment alleges.
If convicted of murder, Karman could face life in prison. Each charge of fraud carries up to 10 years.
The indictment also claims that Nathan Karman killed his grandfather John Chakalos on December 20, 2013, while sleeping in his house in Windsor, in the federal state of the United States, as part of a scheme to obtain money and property from his property. He was shot twice and no one was charged with murder.
Nathan Karman bought a Sig Sauer rifle on November 11, 2013 at Shooter’s Outpost in Hookset, NH, and that it was used as part of an inheritance fraud that covered almost a decade, prosecutors and indictments allege.
After Chakalos’ death, Karman received $ 550,000 as a user with two bank accounts opened by his grandfather - payable after his death.
Karman moved to Vernon in 2014 from an apartment in Bloomfield, Conn. He was unemployed most of the time. According to prosecutors, Karman was left without funds until the fall of 2016.
Authorities then said a death plan had been developed to take his mother fishing near Block Island, RI, and that they had manipulated the boat, Chicken Pock, so he could make it sink. Karman was found floating in an inflatable raft 8 days later. His mother’s body was never found.