Martha Nolan built her name designing high-end bikinis in Manhattan. But earlier this month, her glamorous life ended in mystery aboard a luxury yacht in Montauk. Ten days later, no one knows why the 33-year-old Irish fashion entrepreneur was found unresponsive on a 54-foot Sea Ray at one of Long Island’s most exclusive marinas.
For now, the cause of her death remains a chilling unknown.
Autopsy Raises More Questions Than Answers
Suffolk County forensic pathologists performed Nolan’s autopsy on August 6, just one day after her body was discovered. Officials confirmed there were no signs of violence, but the ultimate cause of death is still “pending additional investigation.”
Toxicology tests are underway, though results can take weeks. The county medical examiner typically doesn’t give families or reporters a timeline, leaving relatives to wait in anguish.
Adding to the uncertainty, the Irish Independent reported the family is seeking a second autopsy before returning Nolan’s remains to Ireland for burial. Their New York attorney, Arthur Aidala, did not confirm those plans when asked.
Family Meets Detectives as Case Escalates
Police have stayed mostly silent since the discovery, but homicide detectives have been assigned to the case and have already met with Nolan’s relatives. Aidala, a prominent New York defense attorney now representing the family, says the investigation is far from over.
He also pushed back against speculation in the press that drugs may have played a role.
Meanwhile, retired NYPD sergeant Joseph Giacalone, now a professor of criminal justice at Penn State Lehigh Valley, cautioned against making premature judgments.
“It makes me nuts when police say ‘no signs of foul play’ too early in the investigation,” Giacalone told. “The standard line should be, ‘We treat every death as if it’s a homicide until we conclude our scene investigation, confer with the ME (medical examiner), and get back all necessary reports.’ What police discovered at the scene and what the toxicology reports tell us, will allow the ME to make a certification.”
What Happened on the Yacht That Night?
Around midnight on August 5, East Hampton police rushed to the Montauk Yacht Club after reports of an unconscious woman. By the time officers arrived, good Samaritans were already performing CPR. First responders soon declared Nolan dead at the scene.
A preliminary investigation yielded little, but Suffolk County homicide detectives quickly took the lead.
The yacht belonged to a man described as an investor in Nolan’s business. According to the New York Post, he frantically banged on neighboring boats for help instead of using a cellphone.
Giacalone noted the odd behavior but stopped short of calling it suspicious.
“Running from boat to boat and throwing things at boats to wake people up is unusual if this is a homicide,” Giacalone said.
“He owns two boats and no cellphone? Unlikely. He’s 30-plus years older, and it sounds like panic. I hope they did more than a cursory scene investigation, however, hope is not a plan for death investigations.”
Digital Trail Under the Microscope
On Wednesday, Aidala revealed that Suffolk investigators are running what he described as a deep forensic review of Nolan’s communications and digital history.
Police are conducting a comprehensive “technological analysis” as part of a “deep, deep” probe into the circumstances surrounding Nolan’s death, he said.
That could include text messages and phone records, according to Giacalone.
“The text messages may play a part in this, however, she’s going through a divorce, in some 60-year-old guy’s yacht, she may not have told anyone exactly where and what she was doing,” he said. “Since ‘sources’ have said an overdose, maybe that will lead to the dealer, who can be prosecuted. One thing DA Tierney has done is prosecuted a number of dealers that have caused a death. That’s why publicly stating a drug overdose is not helpful to the future investigation.”
A Rising Designer, Gone Too Soon
Nolan was the founder of East x East, a Manhattan-based boutique swimwear and lifestyle company. Her line featured luxury bikinis, trendy sunglasses, and a Montauk-inspired hoodie reading, “I only love you in Montauk.”
At the time of her death, she was navigating a divorce from her husband, Sam Ryan. The yacht owner, investigators say, had also backed her business.
As friends and family mourn, detectives continue piecing together the unanswered questions from that fateful night on the water. For now, the Hamptons summer tragedy remains unsolved.
