Family of Irish designer found dead on NY yacht face agonising wait as cause of death result to take ‘quite some time'

The Irish Sun

8 hours ago

IT could take weeks to determine the cause of death of an Irish designer who was found dead at a US yacht club, officials have revealed.
Martha Nolan-O'Slatarra, 33, was found dead on a boat, called The Ripple, in The Hamptons early Tuesday morning.
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The woman was found dead onboard a docked boat in Montauk earlier this week
Credit: Social Media Collect
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The Carlow woman had been living in the states building a fashion brand
Credit: Social Media Collect
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Emergency services pronounced her dead on the boat
Credit: Denis A Clarke
Emergency services were contacted by a man at around midnight and they rushed to the scene at Montauk Yacht Club, in New York.
It is understood a "good samaritan" performed CPR on the Carlow woman but she was pronounced dead on the boat by paramedics.
The cause of death was "inconclusive" following an initial investigation and an autopsy was required.
While the autopsy did rule out a violent death, officials said determining Martha's cause of death would require "further investigation".
Officers said: "The preliminary investigation and exam were inconclusive regarding the cause of death, which will be determined by an autopsy."
Suffolk County Police Department later said: "An autopsy conducted on Martha Nolan-O'Slatarra, the woman found dead on a boat in Montauk on August 5, did not show evidence of violence and her final cause of death is pending further examination.'
It is understood toxicology testing has been ordered as part of the investigation's next step in attempting to establish a cause of death.
However, fresh updates indicate these further examinations will take "quite some time".
A spokesperson for Suffolk County Police Department told The Irish Mirror they could not give a timeframe for when the tests would be completed.
They told the paper: "We don't have information on that."
Mystery Surrounds the Sudden Death of Fashion Designer Martha Nolan-O'Slattara in the Hamptons
However, a source did reveal it could take several weeks, depending on how busy the laboratory is.
The source told The Irish Mirror: "It could take quite some time."
The wait comes in a fresh blow to Martha's family who are in "shock" following her passing.
The Department of Foreign Affairs is aware of the case and is providing consular assistance.
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Pals told us she had been enjoying a 'glam' life abroad
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She had hosted a fashion pop up before her tragic death at the yacht club
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Speaking to The Irish Independent Martha's mother Eleanor said: "I don't know what happened to my daughter. I feel numb and in shock."
don't know what happened. We weren't told anything about the circumstances.'
Eleanor last spoke to her daughter on July 29 in relation to plans she had for a visit home this week.
The heartbroken mum said: 'She wanted to know if I would be around to pick her up.
'It was a very quick call because she is so busy, but that's the last time we spoke.'
'SHE WAS A LOVELY WOMAN'
Pals of Martha's back in Ireland have also been left devastated by the news of her death.
One friend told us she was a "clever" business woman and had been living a "glamorous" life.
He told The Irish Sun: 'She was a lovely woman, very driven to be successful in business.
'I hadn't seen her in a few years since moving home from the US but she was living a very glamorous lifestyle in New York.
'She was clever and knew what she was doing with her posts on social media.
"She knew what she wanted and was committed to attainting it. It's very sad.'
FASHION EMPIRE
While Martha grew up Carlow she studied in UCD's Smurfit Business School and went on to work in finance and marketing.
She had been living on the Upper East Side of Manhattan and had no plans to move home.
And according to her LinkedIn page, her personal fashion brand, resort wear East x East, had been trading for four years.
She recently celebrated a major milestone when the brand, with the tagline "Built in the City x Made for the Sun", had its own pop up shop in The Hamptons.
Martha took to TikTok to share the special moment.
She posted a snap of the surf shack-inspired hut displaying t-shirts and bikinis.
The post is captioned: "Goals achieved."
Carlow councillor Jim Deane said: "I'd like to send my condolences to the family and it's very tragic that this has happened.
"By reading the earlier reports she seems like a very successful business person and it's very very tragic that this has happened.
"As a local representative, I'd offer my sincere sympathy to her family and all those who will be affected by this terrible tragedy."
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Further tests have been ordered amid an investigation into her death
Credit: SMG/Shutterstock