DEAD IN THE WATER—David J. Farrell, Jr.
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In this gripping episode of True Murder, journalist Dan Zupansky interviews maritime attorney and author David J. Farrell Jr. about his book *Dead in the Water*, which unravels the chilling true story of Nathan Carman—a man who survived a mysterious boating accident at sea only to become the prime suspect in the murders of his mother and grandfather. Farrell, a seasoned maritime lawyer with decades of experience in commercial fishing and marine law, recounts how he was drawn into the case after Nathan filed an insurance claim for his lost boat. Through meticulous investigation, Farrell uncovered a web of inconsistencies: Nathan had made dangerous, unprofessional repairs to his vessel, including drilling holes in the hull and using ineffective putty instead of proper fiberglass sealing. Farrell’s five-hour examination under oath revealed contradictions in Nathan’s timeline, location, and behavior during the sinking, including his failure to send a distress signal or search for his mother. Expert testimony from oceanographers, naval architects, and a wilderness doctor further dismantled Nathan’s story, proving his life raft could not have drifted from his claimed sinking site to where he was found. The case culminated in a federal court ruling that denied insurance coverage due to unseaworthy repairs, but Farrell’s evidence also pointed to intentional murder—especially the theory that Nathan used chum to lure sharks and fed his mother to them. Ultimately, Nathan was arrested on criminal charges, but died by suicide in jail before trial. Farrell’s narrative blends legal precision with true crime suspense, painting a portrait of a manipulative, intelligent man who exploited his autism diagnosis to evade justice—until the evidence caught up with him.
Unprofessional boat repairs, including drilling holes and using inadequate putty, directly contributed to the boat’s sinking and voided insurance coverage.
Nathan Carman’s claim of being rescued 106 miles south of Martha’s Vineyard was impossible given the ocean currents and his stated sinking location.
The presence of chum (bait) on the boat with no fishing rods strongly suggests Nathan intentionally lured sharks to dispose of his mother.
Nathan’s failure to send a Mayday, use emergency beacons, or search for his mother during the sinking is a critical red flag of premeditation.
Despite being on the autism spectrum, Nathan demonstrated high intelligence and manipulative skills, using his diagnosis to deflect suspicion.
…and 2 more takeaways available in PodZeus
The Disappearance and the Survivor
“He was walking around, very healthy. I mean, it was a little awkward, certainly, but he seemed to be healthy. And this really, the whole idea of him being found seven days afterwards when there was an extensive Coast Guard search jumped out to me as pretty suspicious.”
The Insurance Claim That Unraveled a Lie
“He used this putty that he found at the western marine store bought that day... And he tried to stick the putty into these holes to keep water from going in. But sticking this ball of putty into a half dollar hole, you know, pieces would fall through the hole. You couldn't get a watertight seal...”
The Impossible Drift and Oceanographic Proof
“Nathan's story about this life raft drift was absolutely, absolutely a big fat lie.”
The Chum Theory and the Mother’s Fate
“I believe Nathan used that chum, got his mother overboard, and he fed her to the sharks. He needed to get rid of his mother as fast as possible because he knew the Coast Guard would be looking for them very soon.”
The Trial, the Evidence, and the Suicide
The federal court case focused on insurance fraud, not murder. Farrell successfully proved Nathan’s boat was unseaworthy due to his own repairs, leading to a ruling in favor of the insurer. Though the criminal case was separate, Farrell’s evidence was so damning that Nathan was arrested. He died by suicide in jail before his trial, leaving the full truth unresolved but the evidence overwhelmingly suggestive of guilt.
“I believe Nathan used that chum, got his mother overboard, and he fed her to the sharks. He needed to get rid of his mother as fast as possible because he knew the Coast Guard would be looking for them very soon.”
“You never yelled? You never told your mother the boat was going down? You never did anything to, you didn't give your mother a life jacket? And Nathan's response was, you know, I told her to reel in the lines because I wanted to keep her busy because my mother was part of the problem.”
“Nathan's story about this life raft drift was absolutely, absolutely a big fat lie.”
Host
Guest
David J. Farrell Jr.
person
Nathan Carman
person
Linda Carman
person
Coast Guard
organization
Block Canyon
other
Sig Sauer 308
other
Orient Lucky
other
Rhode Island
other
Judge Connell
person
John Chakalos
person
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