HARTFORD -- A controversial memorial service was held Wednesday for a Middletown woman who has been lost at sea since a mother-and-son fishing trip last month.
The service was planned, by Linda Carman's son, Nathan Carman, but he could not convince his family members to attend, including Linda's three sisters.
Linda's sisters said through an attorney that the event is "inappropriate" because of an ongoing probe into Linda’s disappearance. The sinking still under investigation by multiple police agencies, and Nathan is being investigated in several states for reckless endangerment in relation to the boating tragedy.
Also, in 2014 he was considered a suspect in the still unsolved murder of John Chakalos, his multi-millionaire grandfather.
Linda Carman has been missing since September when the mother and son’s boat sank during a fishing trip. Nathan was eventually found by a freighter days later about 100 miles off the coast of Martha's Vineyard on a life raft with food and water.
After the service, Nathan and his father, Clark Carman, spoke to FOX 61's Erin Logan on his way out of the church. “I wish very much that my whole family could've come together to pray for my mom and they were invited and had an opportunity to come,” he said.
Nathan Carman originally scheduled a service at a West Hartford church, but the Catholic Archdiocese announced it was canceled. Still, Nathan went forward with his plan at a different church, St. Patrick- St. Anthony in Hartford, where he arrived with flowers.
Carman said, “I wish desperately that my mom was rescued. I hope that she will be found. I’m very grateful to the friends and family who attended in memory of my mother.”
The small service was attended by more than a dozen people, including Nathan's father, Clark, who didn't have much to say. We asked Clark Carman if the service gave him a little closure , and he replied, “Ah, it's what he wanted. That's all I can say.”
When asked how the father and son are doing he added, "I'm doing alright thank you. He's surviving, making it through.”
Linda Carman’s friend, Sharon Hartstein, who's been very vocal since her disappearance, was also at the service.
