New York Fashion Designer Found Dead in Montauk

Martha Nolan-O’Slatarra, a 33-year-old New York designer, was found dead on a boat in Montauk early on Tuesday morning, according to a report from the Suffolk County Police Department. Around midnight, East Hampton Town Police Department officers responded to a 911 call that reported a woman unconscious aboard a boat docked at the Montauk Yacht Club. The police noted that some passersby unsuccessfully tried to perform CPR on Nolan-O’Slatarra.

Per police, investigators were unable to determine a cause of death in a preliminary exam, so an autopsy will be performed by the Suffolk County Medical Examiner’s Office.

Nolan-O’Slatarra, an Irish native known professionally as Martha Nolan, was the founder and designer behind the swimwear brand East x East. In the bio of her private Instagram account, she also listed herself as the founder of Brand Growth Consultants, a consulting agency. In July, Nolan-O’Slatarra opened an East x East pop-up in Montauk, which she documented in a TikTok captioned “Goals Achieved.”

“We are saddened to learn of the tragic incident that took place,” a spokesperson for the Montauk Yacht Club said in a statement to CBS News. “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.”

Speaking to the New York Post, a member of the Montauk Yacht Club said that Nolan-O’Slatarra was a well-liked member of the upscale community. “She was well known in the community. She was very friendly, always smiling,” the source told the paper.