A dream turned to tragedy for Martha Nolan-O’Slatarra, a rising Manhattan-based fashion designer, who was found dead aboard a luxury yacht at the exclusive Montauk Yacht Club in the East Hamptons.

The 33-year-old’s sudden and unexplained death has sparked a wave of shock – and now, as tributes pour in, police have started to unravel the mystery, releasing new details as the investigation intensifies.

When swimwear designer Martha Nolan-O’Slatarra was 26, she decided to pack up her life from a small county in southeast Ireland and chase her dreams in New York.

In a 2024 interview with the Irish Independent, she described herself as a “small town girl who needed to get out to achieve her big dreams.”

“I always knew I wanted to be successful, that I was money-driven, business-driven – and that fashion is a tough industry and it would be a slow road,” said Nolan-O’Slatarra, who in 2022 founded East x East, a swimwear and resort brand made from sustainable materials.

‘Goals achieved’

“Our tagline is ‘Built in the city, made for the sun,’” she said in an April 2024 clip shared on TikTok. “I think it resonates with so many people on so many levels because at some point, everyone in their lives is grinding, but everyone’s destined for the sun.”

“I know I am, and pretty much everyone else is, so I think it was very fitting,” she teased.

And then, on July 1, 2025, the ambitious entrepreneur reached a major milestone.

“The brand you started three years ago has a pop up in the Hamptons,”  she shared on TikTok, announcing that her label had been operating a summer pop-up store in Montauk.

“Goals achieved. Visit our Pop Up at Gurneys in Montauk!”

Body found on yacht

But her dreams came crashing down on August 5.

Just after midnight, the body of 33-year-old Nolan–O’Slatarra was found on a yacht docked at the Montauk Yacht Club, an upscale waterfront resort in East Hampton that’s hosted some of America’s most powerful names, including J.P. Morgan, Vincent Astor, and Charles Lindbergh.

According to Suffolk County Police Department (SCPD), officers responded to a 911 call placed by a man who discovered a “Manhattan woman” unconscious aboard the 50-to-60-foot vessel. “Good Samaritans” attempted CPR, but she was pronounced dead at the scene by first responders.

The victim was later identified as Nolan-O’Slatarra.

“We are saddened to learn of the tragic incident that took place. Our team is cooperating with law enforcement in their ongoing investigation and remains committed to the safety and well-being of our guests and staff. We have no further comment at this time,” a Montauk Yacht Club spokesperson said, per CBS.

‘Fly high girl’

Meanwhile, locals at the resort described Nolan-O’Slatarra as a warm and inspiring presence in the area.

“She was very friendly, always smiling,” one yacht club member told the New York Post. “She was well known in the community. There’s going to be a lot of conversation out of this.”

Her sudden death has left many stunned, especially those who admired her journey from a small Irish town to becoming a recognized figure in the competitive world of fashion entrepreneurship.

Her friend Dylan Grace shared a heartbreaking Instagram tribute to Nolan-O’Slatarra, who was also his partner at the sustainable swim brand, East x East.

“We dreamed big together, laughed harder than anyone else could understand and built so much from nothing,” Grace wrote in the August 6 post alongside several photos of the woman who died at the ritzy club. “I’m truly blessed and grateful to have had you in my life,” Grace wrote of. “Love you so much Mar. Fly high girl.”

Autopsy results

While heartbreaking tributes continue to flood in from around the globe, SCPD confirmed they now have the autopsy results in the ongoing investigation into the tragic death – shedding new light on the case.

“An autopsy conducted on Martha Nolan-O’Slatarra, the woman found dead on a boat in Montauk on August 5, did not show evidence of violence,” the update noted. “Her final cause of death is pending further examination.”

Rest in peace, Martha Nolan-O’Slatarra. Please share your tributes in the comment section below and then share this story so we can hear from others.

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