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Montauk yacht death: Timeline reveals bikini mogul’s final days in Hamptons before mysterious demise
By Sarah Rumpf-Whitten, Michael Ruiz, Alexis McAdams
Published August 15, 2025
MONTAUK, N.Y. — A single line of newly released dispatch audio shows just how little distance New York authorities have covered in nearly two weeks since a luxury summer getaway turned into a mysterious tragedy when 33-year-old swimwear entrepreneur Martha Nolan-O’Slatarra was found dead aboard a docked yacht at the exclusive Montauk Yacht Club.
Suffolk County Police detectives launched a homicide investigation shortly after Nolan was discovered unresponsive on a vessel named the Ripple just after midnight on Aug. 5.
In a police radio recording provided by Broadcastify, a dispatcher can be heard announcing the situation in blunt terms.
"Adult female, unconscious, not breathing at the Montauk Yacht Club," he says.
Despite frantic CPR attempts by good Samaritans and first responders, she was pronounced dead on the yacht.
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Martha Nolan-O’Slatarra was identified as the woman found unresponsive on a docked boat. Suffolk County police are continuing to investigate the circumstances surrounding her death. (Tiktok/@martha_nolan)
Nolan, an Ireland-born businesswoman who ran a popular Manhattan-based summerwear label, had recently celebrated a successful pop-up event in the Hamptons and was days away from flying home to Ireland to visit family.
While an initial autopsy found no signs of trauma, investigators are awaiting toxicology results to determine her cause of death. Here is a timeline of what we know so far:
Early Tuesday, Aug. 5, 2025
Shortly after midnight: East Hampton Town police officers responded to a 911 call from a man who discovered a woman unresponsive aboard a Sea Ray 540 Sundancer docked at the Montauk Yacht Club. Good Samaritans attempted CPR before first responders arrived, but she was pronounced dead at the scene.
"Adult female, unconscious, not breathing at the Montauk Yacht Club," a dispatcher said in a police radio recording provided by Broadcastify.
People aboard other boats at the Montauk Yacht Club told 27East a man who owns two vessels in neighboring slips at the marina came crying for help from others on the dock at about midnight, throwing items at neighboring boats to wake up their crews.
Authorities say the cause and manner of Martha Nolan-O’Slatarra’s death remain undetermined pending an autopsy. The Suffolk County Homicide Squad is leading the investigation. (Facebook/ Martha Nolan)
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One witness, who declined to give his name, told the local outlet the man was naked and was shouting, "Do something, do something," as he ran along the dock trying to awaken others. In his haste, the outlet reported, he threw a tube of sunscreen at a neighboring vessel.
4 a.m. – Suffolk County Homicide Squad detectives were notified and took over the investigation. The department said in a statement that the scene investigation was inconclusive in regard to her cause of death.
Crime scene investigators conducted a detailed forensic sweep of the yacht, wearing gloves, photographing surfaces and locating fingerprint powder residue.
Martha Nolan, 33, of Manhattan, was found unresponsive on a boat in Montauk, N.Y., Aug. 5. The 33-year-old entrepreneur owned a resort wear company. (Martha Nolan/Instagram)
Wednesday, Aug. 6
Nolan's autopsy revealed no evidence of violence, though officials described the findings as preliminary and "pending," according to county police.
They identified the deceased as Nolan‑O’Slatarra, an Ireland-born fashion designer whose brand, East x East, primarily offers beach and summer wear for men and women.
Martha Nolan‑O’Slatarra, 33, owned a swimwear company based in Manhattan, N.Y. Her brand featured high-end bikinis. (Facebook/Martha Nolan)
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The 33-year-old was a Manhattan fashion entrepreneur known for her high-end bikinis, sunglasses and infectious social media presence.
According to her LinkedIn profile, Nolan received her bachelor's degree in commerce and master's degree in digital marketing from University College Dublin before moving to the Big Apple at age 26.
Thursday, Aug. 7
Nolan’s relatives, who live in Ireland, told The Irish Independent they were "numb with shock" after hearing the news.
"I don't know what happened to my daughter," her mother, Elma Nolan, said.
She recalled how her youngest daughter, Jacqui, had arrived at their home in Carlow, Ireland, Tuesday night "crying and shaking" to deliver the news no parent wanted to hear.
Suffolk County police are investigating the death of 33-year-old Martha Nolan‑O’Slatarra. (Tiktok/@martha_nolan)
Elma said she later spoke with a detective in Montauk but was told no further information could be released due to the early stage of the investigation.
"We weren’t told anything about the circumstances," she said, adding that Martha had planned to return to Ireland this week and had called just days earlier to ask about a ride from the airport.
A law enforcement officer on the bow of the yacht where 33-year-old Martha Nolan was found on Tuesday, August 5. She was found dead on the yacht docked in a marina at the Montauk Yacht Club at approximately 12 a.m. Tuesday morning. (Doug Kuntz)
"That was the last time we spoke."
Wednesday, Aug. 13
Prominent New York attorney Arthur Aidala reveals that he has been retained by Nolan's family, who immediately disputed reports, citing sources, that suggested Nolan's death was a suspected drug overdose.
"The cause of Martha’s death is inconclusive, and any reporting otherwise is mere speculation and irresponsible," he told Fox News Digital. "The family asks that you respect their privacy during this devastating tragedy. We are focused on honoring Martha’s legacy."
He said her family has met with county homicide detectives, and that a "deep, deep" investigation was underway, including an examination of "technological" devices.
The yacht owner has not been charged with a crime or accused of any wrongdoing.
Thursday, Aug. 14
Her family seeks a second autopsy, according to the Irish Independent, although relatives and their lawyer did not respond when asked about the report by Fox News Digital.
A second exam is reportedly expected to be performed in the U.S. before her remains are returned to Ireland for a funeral.
Martha Nolan-O’Slatarra, 33, was found dead aboard a boat docked at the Montauk Yacht Club. Police say the investigation is ongoing. (Tiktok/ @martha_nolan)
Friday, Aug. 15
Officially, police say they have no updates to share.
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According to sources close to the case, detectives are still conducting interviews.
Fox News Digital's Michael Dorgan contributed to this report.
https://www.foxnews.com/us/montauk-yacht-death-timeline-reveals-bikini-moguls-final-days-hamptons-before-mysterious-demise