Rising Fashion Designer Martha Nolan Found Dead on Hamptons Yacht: Timeline, Cause of Death & Latest Updates

Subhead: Rising Irish Designer Found Lifeless on Luxury Vessel in Montauk Martha Nolan-O’Slatarra, the 33-year-old Irish entrepreneur who turned her East × East swimwear label into a Hamptons must-have, was discovered unresponsive in the early hours of 5 August aboard the 70-foot yacht Déjà Vu at Montauk Yacht Club. Suffolk County police confirmed first responders pronounced her dead at the scene, triggering a high-profile homicide probe that now leans toward an accidental drug overdose, according to law-enforcement sources familiar with the case. Subhead: Final Hours and Key Figures Investigators say Nolan-O’Slatarra spent the evening with Long Island insurance executive Christopher Durnan, an early investor who reportedly injected more than $200,000 into the designer’s brand. Surveillance footage shows the pair boarding the yacht shortly before midnight; crew members later called 911 after finding her unconscious. While toxicology tests are pending, preliminary autopsy findings showed “no signs of foul play,” steering detectives toward an overdose scenario, a source told Vanity Fair. Police recovered prescription medication and traces of cocaine on board, but officials stress the investigation remains open. Subhead: Meteoric Career and Personal Turmoil Born in County Wicklow, Ireland, Nolan-O’Slatarra relocated to New York in 2018, parlaying Instagram buzz into retail partnerships with Revolve and Saks. Her bold, sustainable bikinis appeared in Sports Illustrated’s 2024 Swimsuit Issue, cementing her reputation as “the next big thing” in swim fashion. Behind the glamour, court filings reveal the designer finalized a contentious divorce from financier Liam O’Slatarra in May, three months before her death. The split included a nondisclosure agreement and a separate civil suit over brand ownership rights, both of which weighed heavily on her, friends say. Subhead: Community Shock and Industry Response News of Nolan-O’Slatarra’s passing sent shock waves through the Hamptons social circuit and Ireland’s startup community. Fashion influencer Ciara Walsh remembered her as “fearless, with a gift for turning setbacks into style statements.” The Irish Consulate in New York said it is assisting family members who traveled to the U.S. to repatriate her remains. Subhead: What Happens Next • Toxicology results expected within two weeks will determine the official cause of death. • Suffolk County detectives continue to interview witnesses and examine phone records. • East × East’s board has appointed COO Jaime Delgado as interim CEO; product launches slated for Labor Day weekend are on hold. Subhead: Legacy of a Disruptor Whether designing biodegradable neoprene or championing body-positive campaigns, Martha Nolan-O’Slatarra embodied the new wave of conscious luxury. Her sudden death leaves unanswered questions, but industry insiders agree her influence on sustainable swimwear and Irish entrepreneurship will ripple far beyond Montauk’s shores.