In testimony to judge, Nathan Carman says he called out to his mother as his boat was sinking

Aug. 23--Nathan Carman, facing direct questioning from the federal judge who will rule on a civil lawsuit filed against him, reiterated on Friday how he searched continually for his mother after his boat sank off Long Island in 2016.

"I know when I got into the life raft I was yelling out: 'Mom, mom, mom,' making sure to pause, if she was yelling out, I'd be able to hear her," Carman said in a response to a direct question on the search from Judge McConnell. "I was standing on the raft trying to see her on the surface ... there was swell but I do think I would be able to see her."

Nathan Carman, facing a civil lawsuit in federal court in Providence, has stuck to his story that he did as much as he could as his boat sank and his mother disappeared during an ill-fated fishing trip off Long Island in September of 2016.

Two insurance companies are suing Carman over the $85,000 claim for the Chicken Pox. On Thursday, Carman faced rigorous questioning Thursday by David Farrell, a lawyer for the insurance companies, National Liability & Fire Insurance and the Boat Owners Association of the United States.

"Is the reason you didn't say anything to your mother ... is that because she couldn't talk or because she couldn't hear you?" Farrell asked. "Was your mother even on board at the time?"

Carman replied: "I've told you, yes, she's on board, I asked her to reel in the lines."

Farrell then quickly asked: "Is the reason your mother didn't say anything because she couldn't talk?" Carman quietly responded: "I believe she could talk."

Linda Carman has not been seen since she left with her son aboard the boat on Sept. 17, 2016 on a midnight fishing trip out of Ram Point Marina in Wakefield, R.I. Their trip ended when the Chicken Pox sank in an area off Long Island known as Block Canyon. Nathan Carman was rescued by a passing freighter days later.

Judge McConnell has prohibited questions about another controversy involving Nathan Carman -- the murder of his grandfather, John Chakalos, in 2013. Carman remains a person of interest in Chakalos' murder by investigators in Windsor.

Three of Linda Carman's sisters have said Nathan Carman scuttled the boat in a plot to kill his mother, and murdered his grandfather, in a plan to get a $7 million inheritance.

The insurance companies argue Carman, a Vermont resident who grew up in Connecticut, sank the boat to get family money or because of foolish and reckless repairs, so they denied his claim.

On Thursday, Farrell asked repeated questions about repairs Carman made to the boat first, focusing in the replacement of the bilge pump and then the removal of two trim tabs in the rear of the vessel and the holes left at the waterline.

Asked about the size of the holes, Carman said: "I know that I did not enlarge the holes. I remember at the time when my memory was fresh ... I said slightly larger than a quarter."

Carman questioned his memory at times but he said with certainty that he did not drill holes into the boat.

"I did not bore a hole in my boat. Period," Carman said. He acknowledged he used a drill or a wood saw but only to rough up the edges of the holes as per the instructions of the resin he used to fill them.

Carman testified that he filled the holes with epoxy putty. "I know for a fact the seals of putty I made were bigger than the holes," Carman said.

Farrell questioned Carman about the replacements to the ship's bilge pump, first in April 2016 then again right before the last trip.

Farrell's questions also took aim at Carman's replacement of the boat's bilge pump, first months before the ship went down and then again days before it went down.

When asked if he replaced the pump in April 2016, Carman said he could not recall.

"I did a lot of stuff that I've testified about. ... I don't remember everything," Carman said. "I don't know if I replaced it twice."

Farrell then asked if he ever tested the pumps before leaving on the trip.

"You will admit the bilge pumps weren't working as the boat took on water?" Farrell asked, but Carman said he did not know.

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