Prepare to be captivated by a chilling tale that blurs the lines between tragedy and suspicion: Netflix’s latest true crime documentary, The Carman Family Deaths, dives into the mysterious disappearance of a mother at sea—and the web of secrets that followed. But here’s where it gets controversial: Was it a tragic accident, or something far more sinister? Based on a gripping 2021 WIRED story by Evan Lubofsky, the film unravels the events surrounding Nathan Carman, a man rescued from a life raft off the coast of Martha’s Vineyard in 2016. His mother, Linda, who had been with him on a fishing trip near Block Island, was never found. Linda’s sister called it “one big Greek tragedy,” and the label fits eerily well. Nathan, described by his father as the “first-born grandson of a Greek dynasty,” became the center of a media storm as investigators questioned his account of what happened that day. Adding to the intrigue? Linda’s father had been shot and killed years earlier, and a substantial inheritance was at stake. For weeks, headlines speculated: Did Nathan’s story hold water, or was there more to it? His defenders pointed to his autism spectrum disorder, arguing he was often misunderstood. But in 2022, nearly a year after WIRED’s exposé, Nathan was charged with killing his mother in an alleged bid to inherit his family’s fortune. Directed by Yon Motskin and produced by the team behind Jesus Camp, this documentary promises to peel back the layers of a case that has divided opinions. And this is the part most people miss: How does a family’s history of tragedy intersect with a modern-day mystery? The Carman Family Deaths premieres on Netflix on November 19, leaving viewers to grapple with questions of guilt, inheritance, and the darker side of family dynamics. Is Nathan Carman a victim of circumstance, or a master manipulator? Weigh in below—this is one debate you won’t want to miss.
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