Irish Fashion Designer Found Dead on Boat in Montauk Identified as Martha Nolan-O'Slattara, Police Rule Out Homicide

Martha Nolan-O'Slattara was found dead on a yacht on Tuesday but did not die as a result of violence, cops said Tuesday

Authorities in Suffolk County, New York, have confirmed that 33-year-old Irish fashion designer Martha Nolan-O'Slattara, who was found dead aboard a boat in Montauk, was not the victim of foul play.

Nolan-O'Slattara was discovered on a vessel named Ripple docked at the Montauk Yacht Club just before midnight on Tuesday. Witnesses reported hearing screams in the vicinity around the same time her body was found. A man who located her on board alerted bystanders, who attempted CPR while awaiting emergency services.

Police said her body "did not show evidence of violence," and a spokesperson for the Suffolk County Police Department announced on Wednesday that a preliminary examination was “inconclusive.” The official cause of death remains pending further medical examination. Authorities declined to comment on whether drugs may have played a role.

Originally from Carlow, Ireland, Nolan-O'Slattara relocated to New York City in 2015 and had been living in Manhattan until her death. In a 2024 interview, she expressed her deep connection to the city, stating, “I love it in New York. It’s expensive but I don’t see myself living anywhere else for now.”

She was the founder of East X East, a fashion brand known for luxury swimwear, which had recently been hosting a pop-up event in Montauk, according to her social media activity.

Her sudden death has shocked both the fashion world and her home community in Ireland. Friends and colleagues have begun sharing tributes online, remembering her creativity, ambition, and vibrant personality.

The investigation remains ongoing as authorities await toxicology and autopsy results to determine the cause of death.