THE family of the fashion designer who was found dead on a yacht in the Hamptons last week is firing back at speculation about her death.
Martha Nolan-O’Slatarra’s family is seeking answers regarding their daughter’s death and have recently employed a lawyer to advocate for them as the police continue to delve into the unresolved circumstances.
Nolan was found unconscious on a boat named the Ripple that was docked at the luxurious Montauk Yacht Club on August 5, police said.
The boat belonged to insurance mogul Christopher Durnan, 60, who reportedly ran down the dock screaming for help that night.
Speculation has arisen that Nolan may have succumbed to a drug overdose, following police statements indicating no signs of violence, and the involvement of a drug task force in the investigation.
Now, the family’s attorney, Arthur Aidal, shot down the rumors at a press conference on Wednesday.
The Irish-born entrepreneur’s family “did not know her to be someone who used drugs,” Aidala said.
He said the family is worried that if there were drugs involved, then Nolan might have been unknowingly slipped something.
“If there was any kind of drug and drug use, they want to know. Who’s doing the drugs?” Aidala said.
‘FAR FROM TYPICAL’
The family is asking for anyone with information about Nolan’s final hours to come forward as cops continue their “deep dive” into the case.
“They want more details. The circumstances surrounding this are far from typical,” Aidala said.
He said the family wants to know who was with Nolan that night.
“Earlier that evening, at the time of the actual incident, we know one person who was there. Was anyone else around?” Aidala said.
He said police are still working to interview people who might know anything about Nolan’s death.
“The family has had a sit-down with the Suffolk County homicide detectives,” Aidala told reporters.
“They are doing a deep, deep dive, a deep investigation.”
Timeline of Martha Nolan’s death
Young entreprenur Martha Nolan, 33, was found dead on a yacht in the Hamptons last Tuesday. Below is a timeline of her final days:
Tuesday, August 5
In the early hours, East Hampton police responded to a 911 call from a man who discovered an unresponsive woman aboard a docked vessel at the Montauk Yacht Club. Despite Good Samaritans performing CPR, emergency personnel declared her dead upon arrival.
Wednesday, August 6
An initial autopsy finds no evidence of violence. The woman is identified as Martha Nolan-O’Slattara.
Thursday, August 7
Nolan’s mom tells the Irish Independent that her family is “numb with shock.”
Tuesday, August 12
Suffolk County’s East End Drug Task Force joins the investigation into Nolan’s death.
He added, “People are still being questioned, there are technological analyses still being done.”
No one has been charged with any crime in connection with the case. Police ruled out any foul play.
Toxicology results are still pending from the medical examiner’s office.
Nolan’s mother, Elma, and sister, Jacqui, along with several family members, traveled from the small Irish town of Carlow to begin the process of bringing the designer’s body back home, as reported by the Irish Times.
The family is seeking a second postmortem examination so they can determine the cause of her death.
Nolan, who lived in the Upper East Side, spent the summers in the Hamptons to host pop-ups for her swimwear brand, East x East.
She often showcased luxury vacations and trips on private jets on her social media accounts.
On the evening of her death, Nolan informed her boyfriend, a sales executive who was traveling, that she had a business meeting and planned to return home via Uber by 1 am.
She was with Durnan, who reportedly invested over $200,000 in her high-end swimwear line East x East and who has a house in the Montauk area.
He owns an insurance company called the Durnan Group, which focuses on workers’ compensation insurance.
If you or someone you know is impacted by any issues mentioned in this story, please contact SAMHSA (Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration) at 1-800-662-HELP (4357)
