CONCORD, N.H. — Nathan Carman, accused by family members of killing his millionaire grandfather and possibly his mother in an attempt to collect inheritance money, appeared in probate court in New Hampshire.
Nathan Carman arrived at court in Concord for a hearing on Tuesday in response to a civil lawsuit filed by his aunts. They have pursued "slayer action" against Carman.
Carman walked into court representing himself after he said he fired his two attorneys. He did not acknowledge any of the reporters and kept his head down as he walked in.
When the hearing began, Judge David King expressed concern over Carman not having an attorney because "this is a murder case. A lot is at stake here."
Carman has been called a suspect in the 2013 shooting death of real estate developer John Chakalos in Connecticut. No one has been arrested. He also has been questioned about the day his boat sank with his mother, Linda Carman, aboard near Rhode Island in 2016.
Daniel Small, the lawyer representing the aunts said Carman knew well enough what he was doing.
"We've never doubted that Nathan Carman is intelligent, crafty, that he planned these murders carefully," said Small.
Small said Carman bought the $3,000 assault rifle in New Hampshire even though he was not employed. He believed Carman used his grandfather's money to buy it and then killed him with the rifle at Chakalos' home in Windsor in 2013.
Carman has been asked multiple times to provide documents such as bank statements, tax returns and credit cards as proof he purchased the rifle. However, under the 5th Amendment, Carman said he does not have to nor is he able to.
"I don't have those records. They are not in my possession, custody or control in the broadest sense of that term and I am incapable of producing them," said Carman.
Carman directed a comment at Small and said it was his aunts who had the motive to kill his grandfather.
"That's a terrible and offensive statement by Nathan. All of our clients are not suspects. They all passed the polygraph that Nathan refused to take. They've all answered questions that Nathan Carman has refused to answer and none of them has relied on the 5th Amendment," added Small.
Small also brought up accusations made by local fishermen and Carman's aunts who said he purposely tampered with the vessel in 2016 before embarking on a mother-son fishing trip.
The boat ended up sinking and Carman's mother was nowhere to be found. Officials later presumed her to be dead, but Carman was found alive eight days later.
"Even if you were to believe that, that's not a crime," added Carman.
Carman told the judge he plans to sell a house he was working to fix up so he can hire an attorney for the next hearing. Small said the house is listed in the market for $149,000.
Carman's next hearing is scheduled for May.
***Associated Press contributed to this report***